Felipe Gonzalez Gutierrez, M.D.

What this award means: The award is especially meaningful, given its recognition of values that I embrace as a future physician: clinical excellence, empathetic leadership, and compassionate care for patients.

Mentor comment: Felipe is an exceptionally mature and compassionate clinician whose care is defined by empathy, integrity, and excellence. Proactive, reliable, and deeply collegial, he elevates the teams he serves. His journey, marked by resilience, grit, and an unwavering work ethic, reflects a profound commitment to medicine and service. – Reeni Abraham, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine

Background and family: I was born in Jalisco, Mexico. At age 8, my family and I moved to Waxahachie, Texas. As the youngest of four siblings, I always had a strong support system to pursue my passions, which include music, football, and medicine.

College: I attended UT Austin and graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Arts with honors in biology in 2022.

What led to your career path: Growing up in Mexico, I witnessed friends and family struggle with chronic health problems due to limited access to healthcare. After moving to the U.S., I continued to witness the same pattern of people struggling with health problems due to a lack resources, which made me realize that it was not a problem unique to Mexico. I became committed to pursuing medicine to provide excellent and compassionate care. During college, I served in a student-run free clinic that provided comprehensive care and support for people going through homelessness, which reinforced my goal to become a doctor.

UTSW activities: I served as the clinical enrichment manager for the Agape Multidisciplinary Clinic, a student-run free clinic in East Dallas. I also served in a leadership role with United Rocks, a nonprofit that provides kids with disabilities an avenue for socializing and staying active through rock climbing. I also volunteered at the United to Serve health fair and the Binational Health Fair, connecting community members with medical resources.

What words describe your UTSW experience: Meaningful, educational, exciting, and fun.

One tip for medical school success: Take time to do things that keep you refreshed. I found that traveling or spending time with loved ones was worthwhile for me.

Favorite way to relieve stress: Participating in outdoor or fitness activities. Whether working out, rock climbing, or camping for a weekend, staying active and letting my mind take a break is a great way to relax!

Surprising fact: Ironically, despite my love of rock climbing and hiking up mountains, I have a terrible fear of heights.

Future plans: I will start my internal medicine residency this summer at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in California. I am interested in following that up with a fellowship in cardiology. Regardless of my path forward, I hope to practice in an academic setting where I can contribute to educating future physicians, advancing the medical literature, and serving the underserved with comprehensive and compassionate care.

About the award: The Dr. Richard Mays Smith Award is given annually to one or more graduating medical students who excel academically during clinical rotations and exhibit an interest in and compassion for patients.