A determined journey to transform cancer care

“Cancer patients need dedicated physicians to change cancer care and to keep going until we find a cure.”

– Jessica Treviño Jones, MD

When facing an enemy as potentially devastating as cancer, determination can be a physician’s greatest weapon. Fortunately for her patients and students, Dr. Jessica Treviño Jones has been determined to help others since the second grade.

Her persistence, fueled by fierce intellect and hard work, took Dr. Jones from the southside of San Antonio to her current position as associate professor in the Division of Hematology-Oncology at UT Health and a breast medical oncologist at Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center.

No one makes that journey alone, however. As a first-generation college student, Dr. Jones found allies early on. She recalls the words of her elementary teacher, Miss Sutherland, affirming her dream of becoming a doctor, saying, “Yes, you will. Let’s get you there.”

Getting There: The Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Presidential Scholar Award

As a UT Health medical student, Jones’ commitment to education and patient care earned her numerous accolades, including the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Presidential Scholar award.

“We are very proud to see so many accomplished graduates who are now practicing medicine across South Texas, and we know there will be many more in the future.” -Joe R. Long

In 2000, equally determined to make lives better, Joe and Teresa Lozano Long established the program to award full scholarships to support deserving medical students from South Texas, many of whom like Dr. Jones are the first in their families to attend college. The Longs’ visionary leadership and transformational investment in students has paid life-changing dividends for scholarship recipients and the lives of thousands of patients those physicians serve.

Dr. Jones’ career has borne that out. Her determination to make lives better comes through in her leadership in cancer research, treatment and education at Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center. In addition to clinical care and teaching, she is also the founder and director of Mays Cancer Center’s Cancer Risk Reduction and Education Clinic. Her holistic approach to care focuses on treating cancer, reducing risk factors, and providing comprehensive support for patients and their families.

Today, Dr. Jones’ determined path has her walking side-by-side with patients and students, encouraging each to never give up the fight.

Learn more about Dr. Jones’ life and work.

Learn more about the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Presidential Scholar Award

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