Twenty years ago, reconstructive surgery was not an option for relatives of Dr. Cristina Sanchez and others who lived in the small village of Guanajuato, Mexico, where she grew up. That’s something she would like to change and part of the reason she decided to specialize in that field today.

Cristina Sanchez, M.D.

What this award means: I am extremely honored and humbled to have received the Excellence in Plastic Surgery Award. To me, this award shows that I am one step closer to reaching my career goals.

Mentor comment: She is one of the strongest and hardest working medical students I have worked with. This type of grit, determination, and extraordinary ability to work hard and focus, regardless of a tumultuous environment, is one of her hallmarks. She is bright, ambitious, and a team player. Cristina will be a superb resident and a great future ambassador for our specialty. – Shai Rozen, M.D., Professor of Plastic Surgery

Background and family: I am originally from a small village in Guanajuato, Mexico. After moving to the United States, our family grew and I became the oldest sister of four siblings. While my parents did not have the opportunity to pursue higher education, I became the first in my generation to graduate from high school. Though my parents were unable to pursue higher education, their hard work and grit taught me how to be resilient and appreciate the chance for a better future.

What led to your career path: Growing up, my family did not have access to, nor the knowledge of, reconstructive options following breast cancer or cleft lip treatment. After being exposed to plastic and reconstructive surgery in undergraduate school, and more so in medical school, I realized how this field could have changed the lives of my relatives. While some of my family members passed away before having the opportunity for reconstructive options, I hope to one day increase the accessibility and awareness of this field.

College: I attended the University of Texas at Austin (Hook ’Em!) as a Gates Millennium Scholar. I graduated in May 2019 with a major in biochemistry and Spanish.

UTSW activities: I was a co-officer of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Interest Group. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was co-Chair of the Class of 2023 Wellness Committee, which focused on promoting camaraderie and support among our classmates. I also had the opportunity to spend a year focusing on facial reanimation research and taking graduate research-related courses through the Dean’s Research Scholars.

Surprising fact: I biked from Austin, Texas, to Alaska in the summer of 2019 over a span of 60 days to raise money for cancer research and support as part of a nonprofit organization called Texas 4000.

Future plans: I aspire to become a plastic and reconstructive surgeon and pursue a fellowship in microsurgery or hand surgery. Afterward, I hope to work in academia and be involved in resident and medical student education. Furthermore, I would like to one day create community outreach programs so that no community goes without having knowledge and accessibility to the many aspects of plastic surgery.

About the award: This annual award is presented by the Department of Plastic Surgery to a fourth-year medical student who has exemplified excellence in clinical care, integrity, compassion, ingenuity, and scholarly activity.