Learning Communities
Learning communities are a group of students established to provide academic, social and peer support to one another. Learning communities can meet to study, socialize and support each other throughout the program.
A learning community professor is assigned to each learning community during the pre-clerkship phase. Learning community mentors are faculty members who are available to discuss any issues that may arise, academically or personally. They can direct you to resources or simply be a listening ear.
Dr. Thelma Patten Law Learning CommunityDr. Patten Law was one of the first African American female physicians in Texas and the first in Houston. She attended Howard University and received her medical license in 1923. She spent her long career focused on improving health care for African Americans and other underserved populations in Houston. |
|
Learning Community Professor
Shereen Alikhan, M.D., F.A.A.P.
Assistant Clerkship Director, Pediatrics | Clinical Associate Professor
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler Learning CommunityDr. Crumpler was the first African American woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. She graduated from the New England Female Medical College in 1864. Crumpler’s life story is a testament to her commitment to helping other people despite prejudice against her race and gender. Learn more about Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler. |
|
Learning Community Professor
Vinh-Son Nguyen, M.D.
Adjunct Faculty, Clinical Sciences Department
Dr. Helen Rodriguez Trias Learning CommunityDr. Rodriguez Trias trained as a pediatrician and spent her early career in Puerto Rico where she established the first center for the care of newborns. She returned to her native New York City where she was an advocate for the Puerto Rican community, cultural awareness, women and children’s health, and people with HIV/AIDS. She received the Presidential Citizen’s Medal in 2001 in recognition of her life’s work. Learn more about Dr. Helen Rodriquez Trias. |
|
Learning Community Professor
Camille M. Leugers, M.D.
Clinical Associate Professor, Adult Medicine
Dr. Catherine J. Roett Learning CommunityCatherine J. Roett, M.D. was the first black pediatrician in the city. She joined her father’s practice, located just a few blocks from the Houston Negro Hospital. Growing up in Houston, Catherine Roett drew inspiration from the obstetrician/gynecologist Dr. Thelma Patten Law and her husband James Law, a teacher at Jack Yates High School. In turn, Dr. Roett influenced generations of black Houstonians. Learn more about Dr. Catherine J. Roett. |
|
Learning Community Professor
Tameka A. Clemons, Ph.D.
Assistant Director, Medical Student Research | Clinical Associate Professor, Biochemistry
Dr. Paul Farmer Learning CommunityPaul Edward Farmer, M.D., Ph.D. was a transformative figure in global health and a co-founder of Partners In Health, where he pioneered innovative healthcare delivery models for impoverished communities, particularly in Haiti and Rwanda. He focused on treating infectious diseases and emphasized the importance of equitable access to care as a fundamental human right. His advocacy work showcased how healthcare providers can address systemic inequalities and advocate for vulnerable populations. |
|
Learning Community Professor
Maryam Vasefi, Ph.D.
Clinical Associate Professor, Neuroscience
Dr. John Fryer Learning CommunityJohn Ercel Fryer, M.D. was an American psychiatrist and advocate for gay rights. He is most notably remembered for his impactful speech at the 1972 American Psychiatric (APA) annual conference. Fryer addressed the conference under the pseudonym Dr. Henry Anonymous, catalyzing the movement to remove homosexuality as a classified mental illness from the APA Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders. Learn more about Dr. John Ercel Fryer. |
|
Learning Community Professor
Woods Nash, M.P.H., Ph.D.
Clinical Associate Professor, Bioethics & Medical Humanities