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A World
of Opportunity
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From Aspiration to Action
Ask a classroom full of children what they want to be when they grow up, and many will say “doctor.” But the reality of achieving that dream is quite sobering: Only about 17% of U.S. college freshmen who begin on a premed track make it to medical school. For students from under-resourced communities, the odds are even steeper — not because of a lack of talent, but a lack of opportunity.
Leaders at the Houston Methodist Clinical and Surgical Opportunity Academy are working to improve these odds through a collection of immersive programs designed to cultivate medical careers and open doors for students in the local community and beyond. This longtime vision of Dr. A. Osama Gaber, who holds the John F., Jr. and Carolyn Bookout Presidential Distinguished Chair in the Department of Surgery, was brought to life through the generosity of two families determined to make a difference.
“it's not just about education — it's about giving everyone a fair shot.”
A transformational gift from Randa and Kane Weiner launched the Opportunity Academy, and Linda and Steven Webster joined the effort a few months later. Both families share a deep commitment to ensuring that learners from all backgrounds have the tools, mentorship and clinical exposure needed to thrive in the medical profession. “It’s not just about education — it’s about giving everyone a fair shot,” says Randa. “Regardless of someone’s cultural or socioeconomic background, passionate and capable young adults should be given the chance to achieve their dreams and help people.”
Students in the Opportunity Academy even have the chance to scrub in, assist and gain real-world experience that can shape their career paths and ignite a lifelong passion for health care. “This extraordinary academy built by Dr. Gaber and his team provides individuals from all walks of life with hands-on experience,” says Linda. “These learners aren’t just observing; they’re engaging.”
For Melanie Watanak, a recent alumna and current mentor for the academy’s Rising Stars Program for high school students, the experience was life-changing. “Coming into the internship after my sophomore year, I had a small idea of what I wanted to do,” she shares. “But once I stepped into the operating room for the first time, I felt invigorated. I fell in love with surgery.” Now a freshman at The University of Texas at Austin on the premed track, she recalls scrubbing in for a liver transplant at just 16 years old. “Standing over the table, watching the surgeons work so meticulously, I realized how powerful it is to give someone a second chance at life.”
But the Opportunity Academy isn’t only about training future surgeons and doctors — it introduces students to the full spectrum of roles that make modern medicine possible. From surgical nurses and technologists to biomedical engineers and computer scientists, there are many lifelong, fulfilling career paths that make a meaningful impact in patient care. With continued support from the community and the leadership of families like the Weiners and the Websters, the Opportunity Academy is building a future where potential is as universal as ambition.