Class Spotlight - Alberto Parra

Name: Alberto Parra
Birthday: 09/14/1983
Hometown: Arlington, Texas
Currently residing: Arlington, Texas

Activities involved in while at Texas A&M: Texas A&M Foundation scholarship recipient, Fort Worth A&M Club Scholarship recipient, Texas A&M Football Manager, Texas A&M Football Letterman, Genetics and Biochemistry Research with Dr. David Peterson, Volunteered at the Oncology Ward at the Med Hospital and MSC Hospitality

What is your most memorable Aggie experience?
My most memorable Aggie experience is not a single instance but a combination of experiences. As a Texas A&M Football manager and Coach Dennis Franchione’s personal manager, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to have a college experience that was unparalleled. Every Saturday, the opportunity to experience the 12th man roar in support of the team is still one of the most awe-inspiring experiences of my life.

How has your time at Texas A&M impacted where you are today, personally and/or professionally?
During my tenure at Texas A&M, I had the opportunity to embrace many of the Aggie ideals that we hold dear. The University embodies integrity, family, perseverance and a commitment to academic excellence. These traits, among others, have only grown and strengthened in my person and professional life. I do my best to be an example of Aggie ideals to my family, patients and community.

Where do you want to be in 5 years?
I have been fortunate to be asked to be a part of the North Texas Board for the American Cancer Society and a Member of the Hispanic Wellness Coalition. In addition to maintaining a thriving oncology practice, I hope that I can expand my role in projects that continue to spread awareness of cancer screening and highlighting medical issues within the community at large.

What’s your favorite way to spend a weekend or Sunday afternoon?
While being a physician does not define who I am, it is a large part of my identity. When I am not actively caring for patients, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Catherine Parra (Texas A&M Class of 2006), twin girls, Alexa and Avery, and son, Albert “AJ”. We enjoy getting together with our parents, family and friends to host parties and get togethers. While being together is the basis of our family thesis, we enjoy traveling and exercise. This year, Catherine and I, have pledged to run a race in every month of 2019. We started the year off by running the Walt Disney World Full Marathon followed by the Fort Worth Cowtown and the Arlington Half Marathons.

What most excites you about your work & the contribution you can make?
I am currently a Triple Board Certified Physician in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Oncology at The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Our practice serves Arlington, Fort Worth and the surrounding area. My position allows me to make contact with persons on a very intimate and personal level. This also affords me the luxury to be a part of many projects and organizations. I was honored to be the winner of the inaugural “Real Men Wear Pink 2017” that brought awareness to breast cancer while raising money for the American Cancer Society. At the end of the day, I am fortunate to have a job that allows me to make an impact on patients lives on a daily basis.

What do you miss most about Texas A&M or Bryan/College Station?
We make it to as many Aggie events as possible but I do miss the true comradery you feel when on campus. Also Wings and More.

What are you passionate about personally? What do you really enjoy /what can’t you stop talking about?
I am passionate about my family, faith and my profession. I am proud to be able to show my aggie spirit in these different avenues of life.

Any volunteer activities you’re crazy about? Any nonprofits you love & why?
I am on the board for the American Cancer Society and truly appreciate the ideals that they uphold. In the summer of 2018, I was asked to go on TV to speak about risk stratification for malignancies and also with HPV vaccination to prevent various cancers. It is this outreach that I really enjoy.
I have also been a part of other organizations in speaking and various capacities. These include the Hispanic Wellness Coalition and Reel Recovery. The Hispanic Wellness Coalition focuses on health awareness in all persons while specifically highlighting the Latino population in North Texas. Reel Recovery is a nonprofit organization that highlights helping men dealing with the stress of being diagnosed and living with a malignancy.

What would be impossible for you to give up?
Aside from my wife and family, there are many activities that make life enjoyable, personal fitness, is one that I would have trouble giving up.

Brief Synopsis of my life:
I am a first generation Latino American who was born in El Paso, Texas and raised in Arlington, Texas. My parents taught me the value of persistence, integrity and resilience that propelled me to succeed in High School and graduate in the top 10% of my class. I was awarded scholarship at Texas A&M and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Genetics. Life took me to the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio for Medical School and Residency in Internal Medicine. Along with other accolades such as Vice President of my medical school class, I was fortunate to be first author in a paper in the Journal of Clinical Oncology highlighting Latinos in oncology. The paper highlighted Latinos in clinical trials that helped get me into UT Southwestern for fellowship in Hematology and Oncology. I am triple board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology. Despite the 14 years of post high school training, long hours and multiple missed personal events, I would not change one minute of my journey. While this is all has shaped me into the man and physician I am today, it does not define me. This was not possible without the love of my parents, in-laws, three beautiful children, cat, dog and most importantly my strong, beautiful wife. I am fortunate to serve the Fort Worth-Arlington area and cherish every opportunity to meet and help patients at their most vulnerable moments in life.

What I learned during medical training:
The “Art of Medicine” is trusting in your abilities and striving to do the right thing. While there may not always be a right answer, if you treat the patient first, you always win. The drive that keeps me going is the love of my family, my spirituality, the hug from the daughter of a mom with breast cancer, the tear filled handshake of a man with prostate cancer and the twinkle in the smile of my leukemia patient. If you have a pure heart and determined spirit, you will succeed.

If interested in reaching out to Alberto: Aparra06@gmail.com