Recognized for their aspirations to care for the medically underserved, five Texas medical students have received scholarships awarded from the Lone Star Caucus, which comprises nonmetro county medical societies.
Each student will receive a $2,000 scholarship to support their education. Recipients are selected based in part on academic achievement and leadership experience.
Paola Castrejon: With five years of nursing experience in an intensive care unit and drawing from access-to-care barriers she witnessed “growing up in a predominantly Hispanic and medically underserved area of East Texas,” the third-year student at The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine plans to enter rural practice.
Samir Cayenne: A fourth-year student at UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine (JSSOM) in Galveston, the ophthalmologist-to-be has “always been eager to give back to the community that raised me,” his nearby hometown of League City.
Jonathan Cummock: Pursuing his doctorate alongside his MD, the fourth-year student has experience in artificial intelligence (AI), neuroimaging, and oncology from Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine, which he hopes to apply to cancer care in a “a physician-scientist career.”
Soroush Omidvarnia: Pairing his MD with a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in AI, he has co-founded and directed three free clinics and plans to continue his work around vision screening and preventable sight loss. He is in his fourth year at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine.
Madeline Pan: The third-year JSSOM student is currently exploring neurology and aspires to “bridge gaps in health outcomes by helping patients navigate complex neurological conditions.”
The Lone Star Caucus raises scholarship funds through contributions from its members. The funds are managed by the Texas Medical Association’s Office of Trust Fund Administration. Donate online (login required) or by check, payable to TMA Special Funds Foundation, Attn: Finance Dept/Lone Star Caucus Scholarship, 401 W. 15th St., Austin, TX 78701-1680.
Last Updated On
June 10, 2026
Originally Published On
June 10, 2026