Written by Kristen Zapata

Jorgie Ann Contreras, PhD, MSN, RN, CPN, has been singing since she was five years old, performing everywhere from church and school choirs to talent shows.

“Currently, my husband and I are in an acoustic cover band called Wasted Talent. We perform together in and all around San Antonio,” she said.

Her love for music extends beyond the stage, shaping her life as a form of self-care and family bonding. For the past decade, Contreras has had the honor of singing the National Anthem at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Cattle Sales, and this year she performed at a San Antonio Missions baseball game.

“My son plays baseball, and we are huge fans of the sport, so being able to sing at the Missions game was such an honor and so much fun,” she said.

Some of Contreras’ most cherished memories include her children joining her to sing and play instruments on stage or at home.

“My daughter sings and plays the piano, and my son plays the drums and guitar every now and then,” she said. “During COVID, we used to do live shows on social media from our living room to help entertain anyone who was stuck in quarantine. Music truly bonds us as a family.”

Drawing inspiration from a wide range of artists, Contreras enjoys engaging with audiences by taking song requests to create an unforgettable experience, which even fueled her own educational endeavors.

“Music actually inspired my dissertation study for my PhD,” she added. “My dissertation title was ‘The Effects of a Music Intervention on Stress, Anxiety and Academic Performance Among New Undergraduate Nursing Students.’

Her research found that the students who listened to music experienced a significant drop in their anxiety levels after intervention, which was measured by a test called the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory or STAI. The drop in anxiety was very unlikely due to chance based on her statistical results (p < .001). The same was true when examining changes in anxiety levels, demonstrating music’s positive impact on reducing both stress and anxiety.

Contreras is an associate professor/clinical in the School of Nursing.

Written by Kristen Zapata

First-generation graduate and first-year dental student Carlos Hernandez has faced a challenging path to be where he is now, including the experience of his childhood home burning to the ground. Raised alongside his seven siblings by a single mother, first in Mexico and then immigrating to the U.S. as a boy, Hernandez learned early on the value of hard work.

Every summer, he and his brothers worked on fields in Indiana to earn money for school clothes, guided by their mother’s wisdom that anything worth having must be earned. His grandfather pushed him to pursue his education by reminding him that without a focus on his future, he could spend his life in those fields.

Hernandez credits his family and Mexican-American heritage for teaching him resilience, the importance of community and a deep sense of responsibility.

“I grew up in a household where taking the first step was the hardest part,” he said. “As a first-generation Latino student, we often don’t have guidance and are afraid to take risks. My mother always told me, ‘Vergüenza es que te pesquen robando, no por andar pidiendo ayuda,’ which means, ‘Shame is getting caught stealing, not asking for help.’ This reminder has helped me overcome fear and push forward.”

These lessons influence how he approaches life, and now, patient care. For those who, like him, face barriers to accessing health care, Hernandez’s goal as a future dentist is to ensure that all his patients receive the care they deserve, regardless of their background.

Written by Kristen Zapata

Macie Randol, BSN, RN, is the dedicated primary care nurse at the School of Nursing’s Wellness 360 pediatric clinic, located at Respite Care of San Antonio, a foster home for children with developmental disabilities and their neurotypical siblings. During the workday, she provides primary care services to the children in residence, though her care extends beyond just meeting their physical health needs.

“My heart really grew towards these kids,” Randol said. “I kept thinking, ‘I don’t have any control over where they came from or where they’re going next, but maybe I can teach them to have faith.’”

Every other Sunday, she shifts from devoted nurse to faithful guide by leading a voluntary-attendance children’s church program at the foster home in her free time. On those days, toddlers to teens gather in the group home’s large dining room.

“We watch a video Bible story and then do a craft or activity together, allowing time for the kids to ask questions or just enjoy some time together. Sometimes, I have three kids join, other times I have 15 kids,” she said.

Her leadership has built a sense of community and belonging among the children, creating strong, lasting bonds that go beyond traditional caregiving. Through this experience, the children now see Randol as more than just a nurse. By knowing that time with her isn’t always about a clinic visit, it has helped them feel more comfortable and cared for, both in body and in spirit.

Written by Kristen Zapata

Kelley M. K. Hitchman, PhD, MS, F(ACHI) works to pair kidney donors with recipients, helping to save lives one transplant at a time. But her commitment to the cause goes beyond her professional work.

In 2021, Hitchman made the remarkable decision to donate one of her own kidneys to a stranger, a life-changing experience that ignited a new personal mission — scaling the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro as part of an international Kidney Donor Athletes team. Her goal? To raise awareness for the need of kidney donation and to inspire others to become donors.

“Fear holds a lot of people back from donating a kidney, or a portion of their liver,” Hitchman said. “One of the most vocalized myths is that most folks don’t have the same quality of life and health after living donation. What better way to prove that this myth is just a myth than to climb the tallest freestanding mountain in the world — with one healthy kidney.”

She reached the top of the iconic mountain on World Kidney Day, March 14, 2024, in honor of her work and the many lives touched by kidney transplantation.

“Living organ donors can continue to live full and active lives in every way,” she said. “I am fortunate to know many donors who participate in marathons, triathlons, weightlifting, cycling — you name it! Donors continue to live normal lives following donation with no restrictions.”

Hitchman said that most donors are advised to refrain from vigorous activity or heavy lifting for about eight weeks following donation, but after that, she said, “life moves on.

“I walked around the hospital the day after my donation without assistance,” she said. “I did not require any pain medication by the third day after my donation, and I could walk four miles within a week of donation. I continue to work full time, exercise and parent my two children without at all physically noticing that I only have a single kidney. The donation was a wonderful experience for me — one that I wish everyone could experience.”

Hitchman is an associate professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine and the Malú and Carlos Alvarez Center for Transplantation, Hepatobiliary Surgery and Innovation. She is also the section chief and director of the Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (HLA) Laboratory at University Health.

“Normal people can do extraordinary things and can keep living full and active lives,” she said.

Written by Kristen Zapata

By day, Brian Purcell is an IT security systems architect in the Department of Information Technology Security Engineering who navigates the complexities of its everchanging technology. But outside the office, he’s better known as the “Texas Highway Man,” a local legend when it comes to all things transportation.

With a lifelong passion for roads, highways and urban planning, Purcell has spent decades curating his website, TexasHighwayMan.com, where he shares comprehensive insights into local roadways. His deep knowledge even earned him the prestigious Road Hand Award from the Texas Department of Transportation in 2020 for his contributions to preserving San Antonio’s transportation history.

“Typically, this award is given to local politicians and community leaders who help champion projects or otherwise have supported TxDOT’s efforts in their communities, so as someone who is neither in the road construction business nor politics, it was quite a surprise and honor to receive this recognition,” Purcell said.

His interest in transportation was enriched by time spent in Germany, where he gained an appreciation for trains and public transit, a subject he continues to explore through his companion website.

With a busy family life and a full-time career, Brian’s alter ego shines as a quiet community resource, helping San Antonians navigate their roads with precision and passion. His knack for directions and his ability to simplify complex transportation issues have made him an unsung hero of the roadways.