Creighton partnership creates new learning opportunities in Mexico
For Randy R. Richardson, MD, professor and former regional dean of Creighton University School of Medicine in Phoenix, the relationship between Creighton University and Ibero Tijuana represents years of collaboration and a shared commitment to forming physicians equipped to serve diverse communities.
The connection began about three years ago when Richardson was introduced to leaders at Ibero Tijuana as Creighton was developing its new medical school.
"We decided we'd invite each other to our campuses and see if we could build a partnership," Richardson said.
The partnership built upon Creighton's longstanding connection to Mexico. For about 15 years, Creighton medical students have traveled to Puerto Peñasco to participate in clinical service experiences. While those experiences have remained popular among students, Richardson saw the potential for something more expansive.
"We never had an academic partnership," Richardson said. "We would go down [to Mexico], help and then come back. It was really a unidirectional opportunity for service."
Partnering with Ibero Tijuana transformed that model into a reciprocal relationship between two Jesuit institutions. Through the collaboration, students and faculty from both universities can participate in exchanges, share expertise and gain insight into different healthcare systems and patient populations.
From service to academic exchange
The collaboration has already led to visits between leaders, faculty and students from both universities. Faculty members have presented grand rounds on each other's campuses, while students have participated in immersion experiences designed to deepen their understanding of healthcare delivery, culture and community needs.
Support from Creighton and the State of Arizona has helped advance the initiative. An initial Creighton grant helped establish the relationship, while a subsequent $125,000 grant from the State of Arizona is supporting the development of curriculum, faculty appointments and shared educational experiences between the two institutions.
Beyond the academic benefits, Richardson believes the collaboration reflects the shared mission of both Creighton and Ibero Tijuana.
"It's a mutual opportunity to help each other and learn from each other through the Jesuit, Catholic culture and values both institutions share," Richardson said.
Learning across borders
While the partnership creates new academic experiences, students say some of its greatest lessons come from learning alongside one another and experiencing healthcare through a different cultural lens.
For Paula González, a medical student at Ibero Tijuana, returning to Creighton's Phoenix campus for a second exchange deepened her academic and personal growth.
"Beyond technical knowledge, I believe we can learn valuable human qualities from one another,” González said, “including empathy, adaptability, cultural awareness and open-mindedness."
During her time in Phoenix, González participated in clinical experiences, observed patient care and visited the Heard Museum, where she said learning about Native American history and culture reinforced the importance of providing compassionate, culturally sensitive care. She also found meaningful connections beyond the classroom, describing the Creighton community as welcoming and supportive throughout her stay.
For Arielle Condes, a Creighton University School of Medicine Phoenix student, traveling to Tijuana offered the chance to strengthen her Spanish language skills while learning how culture, faith and community influence healthcare.
One of the most memorable moments of the immersion came while caring for patients at Centro de Salud and visiting Instituto Madre Asunta, where mothers and children from across Central and South America receive support as they rebuild their lives in Tijuana.
"As I progress in my career, this trip will continue to inform the way I interact with Spanish-speaking patients in the future. Not only will I keep pursuing Spanish fluency, but I will continue expanding my cultural humility towards the patients I serve," Condes said.
Although students observed differences between the two medical schools, González and Condes said they were struck by the shared commitment to educating compassionate physicians. González pointed to each institution's dedication to developing students as both healthcare professionals and people, while Condes said the close-knit community and supportive faculty at Ibero reminded her of Creighton's own learning environment.
Looking ahead, the two students hope the partnership continues to grow, creating more opportunities for future physicians to learn from different healthcare systems and cultures while building lasting relationships across borders.
"Programs like this do much more than offer international experiences," González said. "They help develop future physicians with a broader, more collaborative and more compassionate perspective on healthcare."
Looking toward the future
Richardson envisions expanding the collaboration through formal clinical rotations that would allow students to complete specialty experiences in both countries. Future opportunities could include rotations in cardiology, pediatrics and surgery, giving students firsthand experience in another healthcare system and cultural environment.
"I think it's just the beginning of something incredibly special," Richardson said.
