Andrew Lam expected to find patients, doctors and medicine in the emergency department. What surprised him? Finding a classroom.
Working as a medical scribe in a pediatric emergency room after graduating high school, he watched the medical staff do more than just treat patients. They comforted anxious parents, explained complex medical decisions in a way that children could understand and, as a teaching hospital, guided residents through life-changing cases with precision and patience.
“I didn’t realize there were teaching hospitals,” he said, recalling how this discovery combined everything he loved: science, education and service. “I wanted to do something in science, but I also loved teaching. Being able to practice medicine and help people but also help teach and lead the next generation of physicians, is kind of my end goal.”
Learning to belong
That realization led Lam to the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at The University of Texas at San Antonio, where he is currently navigating the importance of his studies, mentorship and his personal life. As a second-year student, Lam looks back on two moments that confirmed he was on the right path: receiving his acceptance to medical school and standing alongside his classmates during his white coat ceremony. The ceremony is a rite of passage for students of healthcare professions, symbolizing the transition from student to medical professional-in-training.
Like many students in their first year, Lam occasionally wrestled with imposter syndrome, wondering whether he truly belonged amongst his peers. But looking into the crowd and seeing his family, friends and future colleagues gathered to support him, he was reminded that countless people believed in his potential.
Today, he is paying it forward as a Veritas Peer Advisor, mentoring incoming medical students while balancing the demands of coursework and clinical experiences. His advice to students has shaped his own journey: “You are here because someone chose you and someone believes in you.”
The impact of donor support
As a 2026 Presidential Ambassador Scholarship recipient, Lam has increased reassurance that he is on the right path. “One less stressor in your life can honestly make a huge difference in terms of your focus, your energy and your passion,” he said.
Rather than worrying about educational expenses, study resources and the financial pressures that accompany medical school, the scholarship's support allows him to devote more time and energy to becoming the physician and educator he hopes to be.
The scholarship takes a lot of pressure off me so I can pursue my passions and my journey without having to worry so much.
Andrew Lam, Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine
Lam hopes to advocate for patients, educate families and ensure every person feels seen as more than a diagnosis. One day, he also hopes to teach future physicians, passing along the same compassion and mentorship that he has experienced at the Long School of Medicine.
The Presidential Ambassador Scholarship is supported by the generous donors united through the Health Excellence Circle (formerly known as the President's Council), helping to advance the success of students like Lam, who represent the kind of future physicians every patient deserves, and from whom every resident hopes to learn.
To explore how you can support compassionate care, education and research at UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio visit www.Giving.uthscsa.edu.
