UDEM Health builds an educational ecosystem with a transformative mission

• Universidad de Monterrey has launched UDEM Health, an integrated educational ecosystem designed to prepare healthcare professionals as agents of change, equipped with strong clinical skills and a profound commitment to service.

Training professionals who not only acquire knowledge of the highest quality, but also develop a global vision, empathy, and the ability to lead projects with real impact in the face of today’s and tomorrow’s challenges is the focus of Universidad de Monterrey with the launch of UDEM Health.

By building an ecosystem that brings together education, clinical care, and research—with both local and international reach—UDEM reaffirms its commitment to shaping a future where community well-being is a priority, and where care is delivered with generosity, humanity, and deep respect for the dignity of every person, always aligned with its Catholic inspiration.

This was highlighted by Lilia García Rodríguez, Vice-President for Health Sciences at UDEM, who outlined the scope and significance of this initiative during the launch of this comprehensive strategy for healthcare professionals, held on Thursday, August 28, at Teatro UDEM.

The institutional presentation featured Álvaro Fernández Garza, President of the UDEM Board; Mario Páez González, UDEM President; Nery Gracia, Vice-President for Communication and Marketing; and Vice-President García Rodríguez.

The strategy encompasses five professional schools, clinical centers for student training, specialized laboratories, a strong research and innovation agenda, undergraduate and graduate programs with an international outlook, as well as strategic partnerships with key hospitals and government institutions.

In her remarks, Vice-President Gracia underscored that UDEM Health is founded on a powerful declaration: to be a global leader in health sciences education that inspires the best version of communities.

“The incorporation of the word Health into our brand strengthens our connection with academic and professional communities worldwide,” she added.

Gracia also explained that the campaign’s emblematic logo is a cross formed by the books from the university’s emblem, evoking the international symbol of health while also reflecting the Catholic inspiration of this institution.

“For the launch of UDEM Health, the campaign photographs feature our own community—students, faculty, and staff. In every face, we reaffirm UDEM’s commitment to placing the person at the center,” she noted.

At UDEM Health, she continued, the central message is clear: “Inspiring the future of health”—a declaration that reflects the conviction of the UDEM community that health is transformed when science and service come together.

“With this campaign, we extend our reach and strengthen the local and national presence of the Universidad de Monterrey,” she concluded.

ORIGINS AND BASIS OF UDEM HEALTH

García Rodríguez explained that UDEM Health emerged from identifying a strategic opportunity within the Vice-Presidency of Health Sciences. Beyond offering accredited programs and outstanding centres, there was a clear need for greater integration and visibility.

“Implementing a strategy of this kind undoubtedly presents major challenges, including ensuring coordination among the different programs and disciplinary areas—academics, operations, and, of course, administration,” she noted.

The Vice-President added that UDEM Health was created to represent, articulate, and project the mission of Universidad de Monterrey. Its purpose is to transform health through education, patient care, and innovative science, thereby consolidating its impact.

UDEM Health brings together five schools: Medicine, Dentistry, Psychology, Nursing, and Allied Health Sciences, which include programs in Nutrition, Environmental Science and Health, and Biomedical Engineering, along with 41 medical specialties and subspecialties.

The initiative also encompasses UDEM’s two dental clinics, the Anxiety Treatment and Research Center (CETIA), and a network of advanced laboratories—such as Bromatology, Movement Analysis, and Nutrition Analysis—together with the Psychological Care Center.

“Research and innovation were integrated across all areas, enabling us to advance knowledge and place it at the service of society, driving scientific progress,” García Rodríguez explained.

She highlighted strategic partnerships with leading hospitals such as CHRISTUS Muguerza, Hospital Clínica Nova, and Hospital Ángeles Valle Oriente, all of which are essential for students’ clinical training.

“In the public sector, we have also established collaboration with IMSS, ISSSTE, and, of course, the Government of the State of Nuevo León, through the State Ministry of Health,” she added.

On the research front, UDEM has forged important partnerships with institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, the University of Cambridge, and King’s College London, among others, further enriching its academic offering.

IMPACT AND FUTURE VISION

The UDEM Health initiative rests on three core pillars: academic excellence through accredited programs, research and innovation, and healthcare delivery across its centres.

“The research and innovation pillar includes more than 60 researchers, 24 of whom belong to the National System of Researchers, which significantly strengthens our scientific capacity,” García Rodríguez affirmed.

She emphasised that the disciplines within the Vice-Presidency of Health Sciences were never conceived as isolated elements. Instead, a culture of ongoing collaboration was promoted across degree programs, educational levels, and care centres.

This has resulted in joint projects, interdisciplinary initiatives, and collaborative research,” she said, “as well as shared training and clinical practices, which are essential in the healthcare sector.”

“Healthcare is not a solitary endeavour; it requires collective, team-based action, always grounded in human and ethical values,” she added.

In addition to national partnerships, students now have access to opportunities in more than 50 countries, including clinical placements, rotations, and academic exchanges, broadening their global perspective.

“Universidad de Monterrey has distinguished itself with an academic model backed by strong differentiating attributes, institutional prestige, accredited programs, and state-of-the-art infrastructure,” she pointed out.

The implementation of this model required careful coordination among academic, operational, and administrative areas. The main challenge, García Rodríguez acknowledged, was maintaining rigorous standards while preserving flexibility.

She envisioned UDEM Health as a leading benchmark in Latin America, inspiring the future of healthcare through comprehensive, ethical, and transformative training.

She concluded by emphasising that the ultimate goal is for society to trust that when treated by a UDEM Health graduate, “they are being cared for by a professional who combines empathy and compassion with scientific knowledge, and who treats each person with profound respect for their human dignity.”