Dr. Christine Loftis, a graduate student of UTRGV School of Medicine's inaugural class. Photo Courtesy Dr.Loftis
Christine Loftis, a member of the School of Medicine’s inaugural graduating class, now serves as an assistant professor in the Division of Medicine.
Dr. Loftis said the Valley faces a growing need for specialized care for patients with autoimmune conditions and inflammatory arthritis.
“A lot of the clinics that we have locally have a wait time between six and nine months to see patients, ” Loftis said.
She added patients who delay treatment risk developing long-term complications.
Dr. Loftis said her interest in rheumatology began during medical school, when she learned some patients spend months or years waiting for a diagnosis.
She said she also experienced the challenges of the health care system firsthand after developing an autoimmune condition during her fourth year of medical school which helped her understand the difficulties patients face when accessing treatment, medications and medical services.
She added her experiences at UTRGV strengthened her commitment to provide care beyond a patient’s diagnosis. As the first doctor in her family, Loftis faced challenges adjusting to the demands of medical school. She said mentorship, determination and support from others helped her succeed.
Dr. Loftis said she encourages students pursuing careers in medicine to remain committed to their goals despite the challenges.
“If you truly have it in [your] heart that you want to be a physician, go for it, ” Loftis said.
She said after pursuing specialized training in Colorado, returning to the Valley represents one
of her proudest accomplishments because the community played an important role in her
personal and professional journey.
“I think what I’m most proud of is the fact that I kept going, and I’m back, ” Loftis said.
Chief Medical Officer for UT Health RGV Brandon Cantazaro said Dr. Loftis’ return represents the university’s goal of training physicians who will serve their communities.
“I think that Dr. Loftis is a perfect example of that, ” Cantazaro said.
Dr. Cantazaro said Dr. Loftis demonstrated strong medical knowledge, compassion and dedication to her patients throughout her education.
He said her commitment to understanding patients’ challenges and supporting their families distinguished her from other medical students and also recognized the challenges Dr. Loftis faced as part of the School of Medicine’s inaugural class.
He added the school’s early years required students to remain flexible as faculty, staff and hospital partners developed new medical programs. Dr. Loftis demonstrated leadership and adaptability while helping shape the school’s early medical training experiences.
Dr. Cantazaro said he recognized her potential during her first hospital rotation as a third-year medical student.
“I could see from the 1st day of rounding with her that she was going to be exceptional,”
Cantazaro said.He added her accomplishments can inspire current medical students and demonstrate the long-term impact of investing in medical education. Her journey also highlights the importance of developing physicians who return to serve the communities where they are trained.
This is Emilio Suarez for Vaquero Radio.
