³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ

Published April 23, 2026
By Darlene Muguiro
³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ College of Health Sciences

This May, five CHS students will serve in honorific roles at the Spring 2026 commencement ceremony at the Don Haskins Center. These students were selected for their positions based on academic achievement, extracurricular participation, and community and University service. Our third story features Irene John Tomy, University Banner Bearer.

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Irene John Tomy, a candidate for the Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science degree, says her passion for improving metabolic health was sparked by witnessing the toll of disease on her family. Growing up in Mexico while being of Indian origin, John Tomy was surrounded by two cultures that use food to connect. Unfortunately, unhealthy eating habits combined with insufficient physical activity ultimately led to diagnoses of high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity for some of her loved ones.

John Tomy decided to attend ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ because of its border location, where she could combine her interests with service to a community that experiences high rates of metabolic disease. She began her degree in Clinical Lab Science because she knew the key role that laboratory professionals play in diagnosing and monitoring disease. Fueled by an equally strong passion for scientifically informed healthcare practice, John Tomy eventually found the Metabolic, Nutrition and Exercise Research (MiNER) Lab, where she spent the next several years as part of an interdisciplinary team of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral student researchers.

As an undergraduate student researcher, John Tomy assisted with data collection, laboratory procedures, and literature reviews while learning how to communicate scientific findings through presentations at professional conferences. She was awarded the Texas ACSM Undergraduate Major of the Year Award, the Barbara A. Horwitz and John M. Horwitz Outstanding Abstract Award, and, most recently, an American Physiological Society Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, where she met with researchers and students from across the country.

“The APS fellowship experience strengthened my research skills, exposed me to a broader scientific community, and solidified my interest in pursuing a career that integrates laboratory science and research,” she said.

Throughout her undergraduate studies, John Tomy balanced her academics and time with the MiNER Lab with a position as the vice president of the CLS Class of 2026. In this role, she organized meetings, helped promote the field of clinical laboratory science through community outreach, and volunteered in community health fairs, including HOPE+, where CLS students provide free health screenings to vulnerable community members.

“My work in HOPE+ has been meaningful because it allows me to combine leadership, service and advocacy while sharing the impact of our field with the public,” she said.

After graduation, John Tomy plans to work as a certified medical laboratory scientist. She ultimately aims to transition into biomedical research, focusing on metabolic disorders and health outcomes for the border community.

“My journey at ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ and the College of Health Sciences has been defined by academic dedication, research engagement, leadership, and service,” she said. “This has prepared me to contribute meaningfully to both clinical practice and research while addressing the metabolic health needs of diverse communities.”

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Go Miners!