As a high school student in Laredo, Texas, Christine Ramos Camacho, M.D., M.S., wasn’t just drawn to the field of healthcare—she was determined to find a place in it. In 2002, as part of her school’s health and science magnet program, she joined HOSA–Future Health Professionals and immersed herself in leadership and competition. What began as an extracurricular activity quickly became a launchpad for her future in medicine.

Now a dual board-certified Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine physician and an Assistant Professor at UT Health San Antonio, Camacho credits HOSA with giving her the confidence and skills that helped shape her professional journey.

“I remember my first state competition like it was yesterday,” she said. “When they called my name as the first-place winner, I was shocked—it was one of the first times I realized my potential was bigger than I thought.” 

That moment came after years of competitive involvement in Parliamentary Procedure and Prepared Speaking, where she honed public speaking, teamwork, and collaboration—tools that would serve her well in both medicine and academia.

A first-generation Filipino American, Camacho was inspired early by her father, a pathologist who often brought her into the lab. “Seeing his dedication made a deep impression on me,” she recalled. “I wanted to give back and be in a profession rooted in service.” 

Though she initially planned to become a pediatrician, her medical school rotations revealed a stronger pull toward family medicine. “I missed my adult patients,” she said. “I didn’t want to choose just one age group. In family medicine, I get to care for people through all stages of life.”

Her second specialization—obesity medicine—grew from a residency rotation in a weight-loss clinic. 

“Obesity impacts so many chronic conditions. I saw how meaningful those one-on-one conversations could be,” she explained. That passion for prevention and long-term care now guides much of her clinical and research work.

At UT Health San Antonio, Camacho wears many hats: clinician, educator, and researcher. Her focus areas include pre-diabetes intervention, tobacco cessation, and health literacy—especially in underserved, immigrant, and low-income populations in downtown San Antonio. She’s led community workshops, partnered with Metro Health initiatives, and gathered data to support resource-driven interventions. “Every community has needs. Our role is to listen and meet them where they are.”

In her role as core faculty in the Family Medicine Residency Program, Camacho also mentors medical students and residents, drawing on the same collaborative spirit she found in HOSA. 

Ms. Maria Castillo, her Parliamentary Procedure mentor and HOSA advisor, modeled leadership through patience, encouragement, and giving people room to grow—something Camacho emulates today with her own students.

Mentorship, she emphasizes, is crucial. For HOSA members interested in healthcare, Camacho offers this advice: “Find a career that’s rewarding and aligns with your values.” She recommends talking to mentors early and people who’ve walked the path they’re most interested in. 

“Know that roadblocks will come, but never give up. If you pursue this with all your heart, you’ll never regret it,” Camacho said.

From a reserved high school student discovering her voice in a prepared speaking event to a physician shaping health outcomes across San Antonio, Camacho embodies what it means to make an impact on the future of healthcare—one patient, one student, and one community at a time.