Inside the gleaming halls of the University of Houston’s Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, future physicians are on the cutting edge of technology and innovation — every tool, from digital anatomy tables to virtual surgery modules, is designed to prepare them for the rapidly evolving world of modern medicine.

As the new school year approached, the UH Health Family Care Center, partnering with Boynton Chapel Methodist Church, opened its doors and heart to the community with its Back-to-School Block Party. The event offered families more than just school supplies; it provided a day of fun, connection, and vital health resources in one of Houston’s underserved neighborhoods.

At the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, the rigor of medical school is met with a unique antidote: learning communities. These groups of students, supported by faculty mentors, provide academic, social, and emotional connection throughout the program. What begins as a shared space often grows into something much deeper, a source of friendship, mentorship and resilience.