Cancer Survivor Returns to UNM as Medical Student

Tyler Tabor never imagined he'd return to The University of New Mexico Hospital wearing a white coat instead of a hospital gown.

At 18, Tabor was diagnosed with Stage IIB Hodgkin's lymphoma in his neck. The cancer came back once, requiring treatment in New Mexico and a stem cell transplant in Colorado before he finally beat it at age 20.

Last month, Tabor received his white coat as a first-year medical student at UNM School of Medicine. He'll train at the same academic medical center where he once fought for his life.

"It was a transition to the other side of the gurney, so to speak," Tabor said. The symbolic ceremony marked the beginning of a journey he'd dreamed about since childhood.

His mother, a UNM Hospital nurse turned case manager, first sparked his interest in healthcare. She'd come home with stories from different ICUs and emergency rooms, painting a picture of meaningful work that stuck with him.

But it was his own battle with cancer that gave him something textbooks can't teach: the patient's perspective. "I am incredibly grateful, in some regard, for this journey and this experience," Tabor said.

Getting into medical school wasn't easy. After earning degrees in Biology and Chemistry from UNM, he worked as a medical scribe in a primary care clinic. His first application was rejected, but he kept going.

Why This Inspires

Dr. Jessica Valdez, Tabor's pediatric oncologist, remembers their first conversation after his diagnosis. "He told me he wanted to go to medical school," she said. "Part of our first conversation was, 'We are going to get you there.'"

Valdez became more than his doctor. She mentored him through recovery and the medical school application process, providing emotional support and professional guidance.

Tabor now gives back as lead cabin counselor at Camp Enchantment, where pediatric cancer patients and survivors connect. He also founded "Out Living!" a group for cancer survivors to share their experiences.

"As soon as I found the wonderful world of survivorship and other cancer survivors, my world brightened up tenfold," he said. These connections helped him heal mentally and physically in ways medicine alone couldn't.

He's not sure yet what specialty he'll choose, though surgery is calling to him. Either way, he knows exactly why he's there: "What better way to repay the great state of New Mexico, that has treated me, than to treat others?"

No matter how many hours he spends in the library, Tabor reminds himself he asked to be here, and he's grateful for every challenging moment.