Quality of Life

UNM’s small size and ample opportunities helped alumni couple gain an edge in their careers

By Michelle G. McRuiz

When it comes to squeezing maximum value out of higher education, it’s hard to beat UNM, says Rhys Brooks, MD. Both he and his wife, Christina Termini, PhD, MM, earned their advanced degrees here. The personal attention, hands-on experience, and mentorship they received impacted them deeply. And now, as two busy professionals in Seattle, Washington, Rhys and Christina are making an impact in the Pacific Northwest.

Small … in a big way
Rhys earned his undergraduate degree at UNM in biochemistry, then attended the School of Medicine (SOM), graduating in 2018. At SOM, both the price tag and the size of the program were manageable, he says.

“The medical school was fantastic for me,” he recalls. “As a small institution, it gave me a wider range of opportunities. And it was affordable.”

Originally, Rhys considered specializing in adult oncology, but his advisor, Teresa Vigil-Baca, MD, Senior Associate Dean for Education and Professor of Pediatrics at SOM, questioned his thinking.

“She said, ‘Why? You’re so happy in pediatrics,’” Rhys says. “It was true. I was stressed out in oncology, but happy to see kids every day.”

It wasn’t until he completed his training and received the prestigious Lineberry Award that Rhys decided against oncology altogether. After ruling out adult oncology, he thought about pediatric oncology. The $30,000 award made it easier for Rhys to reduce his financial burden after graduation and choosing general pediatrics over a more lucrative specialty. He has no regrets about his choice. 

“My wife says the quality of life I have as a general pediatrician is so good,” Rhys says. “It’s purely clinical work, and it has been amazing.”

Rhys obtained significantly more hands-on experience than medical students at larger universities typically do. That experience paid off – both during his residency and beyond.

Starting on a higher note
Rhys parlayed his SOM education into a successful pediatric residency at the University of California, Los Angeles. He credits the SOM with providing him with the skills and confidence he needed to stand out.

“At UCLA,” says Rhys, “I saw that my colleagues from Ivy League schools didn’t have the chance to do and see what I did. I was able to start on a higher note than the other residents did. I really enjoyed my time there, whereas everyone else was struggling, because I had felt so comfortable at UNM.”

Rhys’ skill and hard work earned him a great honor at UCLA: Being elected chief resident. Only those who receive the highest accolades in their residency obtain that role.

“It helped me learn how to manage people and what life would be like at a medical center,” Rhys says.

Dr. Vigil-Baca remembers her former student fondly.

“As a scholar, Rhys excelled in academics, research, and clinical work,” she says. “He also formed meaningful connections with his peers, his patients, and their families. He was deeply committed to serving underserved communities. Rhys’s story is a testament to his character and perseverance, and I am so proud to see him thriving in his career.”

A leader in her field
Christina, a biomedical researcher, brought the couple to the Pacific Northwest in 2022. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland but returned to New Mexico, where her family is from, to complete her education at UNM.

“Through graduate school and her mentor, she found what she wanted to research,” Rhys says. “She had a wonderful time at UNM and was really thankful for the opportunities to get more experience.”

Christina worked toward her master’s degree in music and her doctoral degree in biomedical science simultaneously. Like Rhys, she went to UCLA for her postdoctoral fellowship and, thanks to UNM, had an edge over the other students.

“She was really able to grow at UCLA,” he says.

Christina’s skill and talent caught the attention of recruiters at Seattle’s Fred Hutch Cancer Center (FHCC), one of the top cancer centers in the United States. She is an assistant professor there in the Translational Science and Therapeutics Division and the Human Biology Division. Christina also runs the Termini Lab, where she and her colleagues study bone marrow regeneration after radiation and chemotherapy.

At FHCC, Christina is a leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). She created the Atlas of Inspiring Hispanic/Latinx Scientists, an online compilation that aims to increase diversity within the scientific community. She has won accolades and awards for her work – in DEI and in research, such as the recent $600,000, three-year award for her lab from the V Foundation for Cancer Research.  

Deep roots
As busy, successful professionals in their mid-30s, Rhys and Christina aren’t going anywhere for a while. Rhys is a pediatrician at Optum Care Washington, with a patient population of about 1,500 in the Seattle area. He also is involved with committees that advocate for children’s health and how the healthcare system could better serve their needs. And Christina relies on the resources at FHCC to continue her important cancer research.

They’re both giving back to their community. But they haven’t forgotten New Mexico.

“Nothing like New Mexico exists in the world,” Rhys says. “We have always wanted to go back. Christina’s family has such deep roots there; a lot of them still live there. We also feel a connection to UNM for all it has done for us.”

He thinks about practicing pediatrics in Albuquerque, as a UNM Health Sciences Center provider or elsewhere. Christina would want to relocate her lab here. “UNM would be the only place she would do that,” he says.

Rhys, who received several merit- and need-based scholarships, awards, and grants while in medical school, would like to help future medical students receive financial assistance, too. For him, an ideal place to begin is the White Coat Campaign. It provides medical students with white coats and stethoscopes. During a special ceremony, students don their white coats, which symbolize the students’ dedication to their profession and their transition from student to physician.

“The campaign has so many donors, many of them like us,” says Rhys. “I received my white coat from a private donor. Someone cared enough to do this for me, and I want to pass it on.”