TCOM heralds first African American parent-child legacy

Dralves Edwards, DO, was the first African American on the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine campus. And now he and his daughter, Jessica I. Edwards-Shepherd, MS, are TCOM’s first African American parent-child legacy.

She graduates Friday as part of the Class of 2014, then sets out for Christ Hospital in Jersey City, N.J., where she will begin a residency in family medicine.

She plans to practice family medicine because she enjoys treating a variety of needs in patients of all ages.

“It’s a shame families have to ‘fire’ their pediatrician when their child is past age 18 or 21,” she said.

Her dad practiced family medicine for 21 years and now is site medical director of emergency medicine at University General Hospital in Dallas.

He was a pre-med major at North Texas State University (now UNT) in the early 1970s. “The first TCOM class was taking biology courses in the same building. I met DOs and liked the philosophy,” he recalled.

He played football at UNT and had a short stint with the St. Louis Cardinals. He completed coursework at Prairie View A&M for a master of science degree and was admitted to TCOM in 1976.

Was it difficult being the first African American? “After playing football, you kind of can handle anything,” he said. “I wanted to serve. The atmosphere didn’t bother me at all, but everyone needs cultural support, and the next year a Prairie View friend joined me at TCOM.

“I’m still friends with TCOM classmates. The DO profession is special that way.”

His daughter earned her master of science degree from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in 2010.

“Diversifying the face of medicine is my personal mission,” Edwards-Shepherd said. “I would like to work where I have role models in bringing diversity.”

Recent News

Ashenafi 768x768
  • Our People
|Sep 20, 2023

Dr. Ashenafi Cherkos awarded prestigious AIM-AHEAD Fellowship in Leadership

Dr. Ashenafi Cherkos, assistant professor at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, has been awarded the prestigious AIM-AHEAD Fellowship in Leadership for the Fall 2023 cohort. Cherkos serves in the School of Public Health’s Department of Population and Community Healt...
Djperera
  • On Campus
|Sep 20, 2023

Innovate Fort Worth podcast: DJ Perera of New Age Media New Age Learning program

Innovate Fort Worth, the local podcast showcasing local innovation and its dynamic creators, recently featured DJ Perera, a trailblazing artist and educator. Hosted by Cameron Cushman of The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, the podcast episode delves into the intersecti...
Darlene Watkins
  • On Campus
|Sep 20, 2023

HSC student advocates for falls prevention awareness in Tarrant County

Darlene Watkins has dedicated her life to creating healthier and sustainable communities. Her background in interdisciplinary design led her to work with various community organizations from Atlanta to California, but it was her passion for educating aging populations that fueled her desire to wo...
Glenn Forister
  • On Campus
|Sep 19, 2023

HSC’s School of Health Professions to host Health Professions Workforce Symposium

Modern medicine is a team sport, and roughly 60% of that team is composed of practitioners who exist outside of the doctor-nurse paradigm. These vital pillars make up the backbone of the $3 trillion health care sector, and they’re among the fastest-growing professions in the world. From 5 to 8 p....