Jessica F. Sandoval, MD, Class of 2010
Why did you choose UT Health San Antonio?
A large part of my journey into medicine stemmed from my strong belief that representation was important for improving patient outcomes. Subsequently, it was really important to me to attend a school in a city where there was a large Latinx community.
During my time visiting and during interviews, I felt like this was a good fit for me and my family, and we loved San Antonio – so it was an easy choice in the end.
How did UT Health San Antonio help you?
The many mentors and great teachers who shaped my experience at UT Health helped me realize my career path. While that may not sound extraordinary given that is the goal of medical school, my initial vision of what being a physician would look like for me was remarkably different. I learned about myself, my strengths, and ultimately what I enjoyed the most and was the best fit for me.
I realized over my lifetime I had unconsciously accepted many stigmas about mental health. But throughout my clinical experience, learning about the significance of development, empathy and reflection, changed my world view in many ways. I now can’t imagine having pursued any other specialty than psychiatry.
What was your most rewarding experience at UT Health?
This is so hard to choose just one – Hearing parents tell me that I “gave [them] their child back” after treatment for severe depression, or the teenager who sends me a thank you card in honor of his or her high school graduation, a milestone they hadn’t imagined they would reach years prior when they were avoiding school due to anxiety. Those types of moments are the ultimate reward.
How are you giving back to UT Health?
I am currently on the faculty for the Department of Psychiatry in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Division. I am also an Associate Program Director for the General Psychiatry program. Through these roles, I do a lot of teaching, clinical supervision, and many hours of mentorship.
It continues to be my mission to help increase those underrepresented in medicine, investing time and energy in curriculum, initiatives, building relationships, and education to make our program an inclusive and welcoming environment that will support the needs of all trainees and allows Underrepresented Minorities (URMs) to thrive. Although there is still much work to be done, I believe we are making progress and contributing to UT Health’s goals of diversity, inclusion, and equity.
What is greatest professional achievement? What are you most proud of?
I am so proud of my mentees! Being a part of their journey and growth, helping them sort through and articulate what is most important to them, what their values are, and finding their passions is the best part of my job. For several, we continue to meet even after graduation, and I love hearing about their successes, their continued growth, and how they are impacting their communities.
