TCOM students serve Texas on statewide boards

May 27, 2014

Gerald “Jerry” Korty, MS

Christopher D. Vera

Gov. Rick Perry has appointed two students in the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine to the governing boards of statewide institutions.

Gerald “Jerry” Korty, MS, a TCOM second-year student, will serve as the student member of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, a nine-member body tasked with improving Texas students’ college education.

Christopher D. Vera will serve as the student member of the UNT System Board of Regents. The board is the governing body for UNTHSC and also the University of North Texas in Denton and UNT Dallas.

Korty earned his master of science degree in medical sciences at UNTHSC and a bachelor’s degree in behavioral neuroscience from Purdue University.

He says his goals include “making higher education programs more affordable so fewer people will be discouraged from attending,” from technical higher education through post-graduate level.

He also wants to increase enrollments. “I believe everyone should attain higher education,” Korty said. “Regardless of their specific interest, there’s a degree program out there for everyone.”

Korty has an interest in neonatology but is considering various medical specialties.

Vera is a TCOM third-year student who also is pursuing a master’s degree in UNTHSC’s School of Public Health.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology at UNT and is TCOM 2015 Class President. He plans to practice primary care or emergency medicine.

In his new role on the Board of Regents, Vera plans to form liaisons with student leaders on all three UNT system campuses in order to advocate for students’ needs and to encourage Regents to fulfill them.

“It’s important that I best represent the student experience across the UNT System and make this perspective available to the Board of Regents,” Vera said.