Gift from Wayne and Millie Martin supports El Paso’s next generation of physicians and nurses
Claudia Bañuelos had just come off work when she walked into a classroom at the Foster School of Medicine, expecting to give feedback on the application process. Instead, she learned her dream had come true — she’d been accepted into medical school.
Then came a second surprise: the school awarded her a life-changing scholarship from Wayne and Millie Martin.
“There are no words to truly capture what this scholarship means to me,” Bañuelos said. “My parents and I had discussed making cakes and selling lunches during my four years of medical school to help cover some expenses, while relying on loans to manage the rest. I’ve been working two jobs, saving as much as I could to pay for medical school costs and to reduce the debt from my undergraduate education. I never expected to receive a scholarship ... I just had the hope of getting into one school. To be awarded this scholarship, alongside an acceptance from my top choice, is an incredible honor and blessing.”
The scholarship honored Wayne Martin, the founder and former CEO of Vision Ford Lincoln in Alamogordo, and his wife Millie, who helped run the dealership alongside him. Their daughter, Charmaine A. Martin, M.D., now serves as associate dean for Student Affairs at the Foster School of Medicine. A proud El Paso native, Dr. Martin returned home to practice and help shape the next generation of physicians — embodying our mission of growing our own here at Texas Tech Health El Paso.
The Martin family gifted $100,000 to Texas Tech Health El Paso, with the funds divided evenly to support scholarships for medical and nursing students. In addition to the scholarship awarded to Bañuelos, Hunt School of Nursing student Abril Huerta Tello was also selected as a recipient of a scholarship from Wayne and Millie Martin.
Bañuelos, a first-generation college graduate and the first future doctor in her family, was stunned to be named the recipient.
“Honestly, it’s something very unexpected that I didn’t really visualize for myself,” Bañuelos said. “When they said there was a special person here, I didn’t even think it was me — I was looking around, thinking ‘Oooh, who is it?’ It still feels like a dream.”
A proud El Pasoan, Bañuelos has long aspired to give back to the community that shaped her.
“I love that it’s in my community, the El Paso community that I grew up with,” she said of the Foster School of Medicine. “Everyone here just seems so nice and genuine. They want you to succeed, they want to help you out in whatever way they can. That’s one of the values emphasized at the Foster School of Medicine, and I want my actions to reflect it.”
Currently working two jobs to help support her educational journey, Bañuelos said the scholarship is a blessing that will ease the financial burden of medical school.
“I was kind of thinking, ‘how am I going to pay off medical school?’ I know I’m going to need loans. My grandma saved up some money for my brothers and me — she said she couldn’t pay for everything but wanted to help with something. And now, with this scholarship, it’s definitely going to help me out so much.”
Bañuelos plans to become a surgeon, driven in part by a personal experience involving her grandfather's battle with stomach cancer.
“He couldn’t get the surgery he needed because we were short on doctors in the area,” she said. “Surgery can be very invasive, but sometimes it’s the only way to truly help a patient. I want to be that person who’s there when the stakes are high.”
The future Fox Cancer Center, to be built on the Texas Tech Health El Paso campus, aims to support patients like her grandfather by providing comprehensive cancer care, from early detection and diagnosis to advanced treatment options and support services — all in one location.
For Wayne Martin, the surprise scholarship was a full-circle moment rooted in values of humility and generosity.
“Years ago, I was earning $98 a month after being drafted into the Army,” Martin recalled. “I rented a trailer, and the landlord told me when the electric bill came in, to bring him the bill and the money. When I brought him the $43 bill, he handed it right back and said, ‘You have your family here, don’t you? If you keep the bill under $50, I’ll take care of it.’ That moment stuck with us. We’ve had people influence our lives in so many ways — so we’ve got to keep giving back, because you never know where you’re going to wind up.”
Bañuelos hopes to remain in El Paso after graduation and serve the region as a physician. She also looks forward to mentoring future generations in her family and community.
“I didn’t have family who knew how to navigate the path to medical school, but I was fortunate to find guidance from others along the way,” Bañuelos said. “Now I hope to be that guidance for those who come after me. I want to help my community, just like my community helped me.”
Nursing Student Also Awarded Martin Scholarship
Abril Huerta Tello, a Hunt School of Nursing student, also has received a scholarship from the Martin family. The support is helping her overcome financial challenges that might have otherwise delayed or derailed her path to a nursing career.
At a luncheon on April 2 with the Martin family, Huerta with a hug and a smile for each of them, was able to express her gratitude to them for the scholarship and share how she’s excited for graduation in May.
During her remarks at the lunch, Millie shared a deeply personal story about the extraordinary care she received from a nurse named Denise during her chemotherapy treatments. Denise’s compassion went far beyond administering medication. She coordinated musical performances and skits to lift patients' spirits and she even visiting Millie at home to give her shots.
“I still remember Denise mentoring a student nurse,” Millie said. “She told her, ‘Yes, you give the medication. But you also say hello. You ask how she’s doing. Can you get her anything?’ And then she added, ‘Because that’s how you heal and comfort your patients.’”
Martin’s story served as a powerful reminder that healing involves both clinical expertise and genuine human connection.
"This scholarship means so much to me because it has given me the opportunity to continue pursuing my dream of becoming a nurse despite the challenges I have faced," she said. "It’s more than just financial support, it’s a reminder that my hard work and perseverance are paying off. With this opportunity, I’m one step closer to providing compassionate care to others and making a meaningful impact in the lives of those in need.”
Growing Our Own
The Foster School of Medicine was established to improve health care in our Borderplex community by increasing the number of physicians in our historically medically underserved region.
Before the school opened, El Paso had 75% fewer physicians per 100,000 people than the national average. Since 2009, the number of physicians in El Paso County has grown from 1,034 to 1,715 — a 66% increase — thanks in large part to the presence of a four-year medical school and robust residency programs.
Following Match Day 2025, 140 new resident doctors will begin their training with Texas Tech Health El Paso.
Foster School of Medicine has become a leader in clinically focused education, offering students hands-on experience beginning in their first year — an unconventional approach among most U.S. medical schools. It was also among the first in the nation to integrate a medical Spanish requirement. The curriculum emphasizes culturally competent care and includes community service as a core component of training.
Research shows that patients with limited English proficiency have better outcomes when treated by bilingual providers. They are more likely to understand their diagnosis and treatment plan and adhere to medication instructions. With 30% of Foster School of Medicine students identifying as Hispanic and all students completing immersive medical Spanish training, the school is playing a critical role in transforming the future of culturally competent health care.
YOU CAN HELP
At Texas Tech Health El Paso, we're committed to growing our own health care heroes and changing the state of health care in our Borderplex. For more information about how to help, please email@example.com firstname.lastname@example.org or visit