University of Arizona Crowdfunding

On Friday, July 24, we proudly welcomed the MedCat Class of 2030 to the medical profession during the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson’s annual White Coat Ceremony.

Surrounded by family, friends, faculty, mentors, and supporters, approximately 160 incoming medical students received their white coats and took the first steps in their journey to becoming compassionate, skilled physicians, speaker Stephen D. Neeleman, M.D., inspired all in saying, “This white coat is not a symbol that you have arrived. It is a reminder that every person you meet is placing something priceless into your hands—their trust. AI will help you become faster. Science will help you become smarter. But your personal character will determine the kind of physician you become.”

We are grateful to all who helped make this special tradition possible and to those who gave in support of each new medical student to receive their first white coat and stethoscope. Together, we are welcoming the next generation of physicians.

If you haven't yet had the opportunity to make a gift, there's still time to be part of welcoming the Class of 2030. Your support today helps ensure every future physician begins their journey knowing an entire community believes in them.

“I want to be the person families trust”

To help address the primary care physician shortage and to follow her dreams of serving her community, Alanie Flores is embarking on a new and innovative three-year MD program.

First-year medical student Alanie Flores found her path to medical school in middle school, when diving into lessons learned in the classroom helped her to understand health crises in her own family.

Alanie Flores was only 13 years old when a middle school physiology class changed the course of her life. As she learned about diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol in the classroom, the lessons became deeply personal. Many of the conditions her teacher described were the same ones affecting her own family in Buckeye, Arizona. She began to understand the health issues her parents and relatives were experiencing — and she found herself bringing those lessons home.

“I would go home and tell my dad, ‘In class I learned ...,’” Flores recalled. “Then my family started asking me questions. I wasn’t qualified to answer them, but it was the first time I felt like I could help.”

That experience planted the seed for a career in medicine, but it wasn’t until years later, after losing her grandmother during the COVID-19 pandemic, that her purpose became clear.

“My family could tell me she had a stroke, but nobody could explain how we got there,” Flores said. “I threw myself into learning because I wanted to understand. Looking back, that was how I coped.”

Finding her path

That search for answers led her to the University of Arizona, one of the few universities in the country offering physiology as a standalone undergraduate major. For Flores, the subject transformed learning from an obligation into a passion.

“I realized I could spend four years learning physiology,” she said. “I thought, ‘Sign me up.’”

For Flores, a degree in physiology was the first step toward a career as a doctor, and her experiences after graduation reinforced that goal. Working as both a caregiver and medical scribe, Flores saw firsthand how empathy shapes patient care. Caring for older adults in their homes taught her lessons she will carry with her throughout her medical education.

“It humbled me,” she said. “You learn that treating someone is one thing, but helping them get dressed, comb their hair and preserve their dignity is something entirely different.”

Accelerating her pace

Preparing for her next steps, Flores discovered the Primary Care Accelerated Medical Pathway (PCAMP) program, an innovative three-year MD program at the College of Medicine – Tucson that reduces the time and financial burden of medical school. After receiving their MD in three years, students complete a three-year family medicine residency here in Tucson, helping to address Arizona’s growing primary care physician shortage.

The program’s mission immediately resonated with her.  “I felt like someone finally had my back,” she said. “They weren’t just talking about helping students. They had created a program that actually addressed the challenges we face.”

As she explored the program’s requirements and its focus on a specialty in family medicine, she realized it aligned perfectly with her goals.

“I wanted to be the person families trust,” she said. “Not someone they see once and never see again. I feel honored to help address Arizona’s physician shortage,” she said. “My family is here, my community is here, and this is where I want to make a difference.”

As she reflects on the kind of physician she hopes to become, Flores believes the foundation of good medicine is built on strong patient relationships. She hopes to combine clinical excellence with empathy and thoughtful communication at every stage of a patient’s care.

“If I’m going to be a physician,” she said, “I want to be the one who never loses my humanity.”

~By Angela Martinez

We're on the way—thank you!

Because of your incredible support, we're now 72% of the way to our goal towards welcoming the Class of 2030 with a white coat and stethoscope that says, "We have your back."

Thank you to those who have already made a gift! Your generosity is helping ensure every incoming medical student begins this important milestone knowing that a community believes in them from day one.  You can amplify your impact by forwarding this campaign to your family, friends, colleagues, and social networks. Every share helps us reach people who believe in supporting the next generation of compassionate physicians.

With the White Coat Ceremony this Friday, we're in the final stretch. If you haven't had a chance to participate, you can still make a meaningful difference for Arizona's newest future physicians.

Together, we are showing every member of the Class of 2030 that, from the moment they don their white coat, “we have your back.”

Shout out to everyone who has generously contributed to the White Coat Campaign in support of the Class of 2030 MedCats!

"We have your back."

That's the message we're sending to the Class of 2030 as they prepare to receive their first white coat on July 24.  Your generosity is helping welcome a dedicated new cohort of future physicians, and we are truly grateful for your support.

Thanks to donors like you, $6,380 has been raised toward our $20,000 goal! Every gift brings us one step closer to ensuring each incoming medical student receives the symbolic white coat and stethoscope that mark the beginning of their journey into medicine.

If you haven't had a chance to give, there's still time. And if you've already donated, one of the most meaningful ways you can help is by sharing this campaign with your family, friends, and colleagues. Together, we can cross the finish line before the White Coat Ceremony on July 24.

We're on our way to supporting the largest incoming class of future physicians! Every donation is helping us build momentum for the College of Medicine – Tucson White Coat Campaign.

Thank you to everyone who has already contributed. Your generosity helps welcome the Class of 2030 and reminds our newest medical students that an incredible community is standing behind them from day one.

Keep the momentum going by sharing this campaign with your friends, family, colleagues, and fellow alumni. Every gift and every share brings us one step closer to our goal—and lets our future physicians know they have a community cheering them on from the very beginning.