In 2002, Dr. Carlos Cantu ‘05 began working as an undergraduate student at Texas A&M University in the lab of Department of Biology Professor Dr. Deborah “Debby” Siegele, where she quickly became a mentor. Two decades later, he now owns the second largest pathology laboratory in Arizona and has established the Debby Siegele Endowed Fellowship in Biology to honor the person he says made “an indelible impression” on him.
“To get to where I am, I had to do four years of undergraduate, four years of medical school, four years of residency and then fellowships, so it’s a long road,” Cantu said. “Each step along the way, you have people helping you. I would say Debby was the first and most instrumental person to help me in my career.”
The fellowship will provide funds to full-time biology graduate students and help them in their own journey, regardless of where it leads them. It’s a full-circle moment for Cantu, who originally came to Texas A&M to study infectious diseases and helped Siegele research E. coli. While his interest veered off this path eventually — he is now a pathologist who specializes in lymphoma and leukemia — Siegele remained steadfast in her support.
“Debby always taught me to keep my options open; to not get tunnel vision,” Cantu said. “She wasn’t the kind to push you in one direction or another but would help facilitate whatever it is you need to succeed. She was a true educator.”
A Journey's Beginning
Originally from Brownsville, Texas, Cantu said he was familiar with both Texas A&M and the University of Texas, and he knew he would choose between the two.
“Being from a small town, I just felt more at home at Texas A&M,” he said.
While he had to decide where to go, Cantu said he never wondered what to study.
“I knew I was going to go into medicine since the mid-1990s,” he said. “That’s when you had the Ebola outbreak in sub-Saharan Africa, which caught my attention. I wanted to be one of those virus hunters, so I thought I’d study infectious diseases.”
Which is how he came to meet Siegele during his sophomore year.
“We met at a meeting of the Microbiology Undergraduate Club,” Siegele said. “I was talking about my E. coli research and looking for students to work in my lab, and Carlos was interested. I really enjoyed working with him; he was bright, motivated and enthusiastic.”
He was so motivated, in fact, that he took a graduate-level course led by Siegele.
“He held his own with the graduate students,” she said. “He wasn’t intimidated or shy in expressing his thoughts. He realized that in this setting that the thought process was more important than being right or wrong, and if you didn’t speak up, you may not realize there’s something you don’t understand.”
After graduating cum laude, Cantu went on to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, where he pursued a pathology program and realized his true purpose. He chose his specialty and received his medical degree in 2009.
In many ways, Debby was the model educator, and I carry her philosophies on how to teach and how to guide students as an educator. That’s why I chose to create a fellowship in her name — to honor her and her importance in my career. And maybe that can translate into helping others find their way in their career.
Full Circle
In his current role, Cantu finds himself back in the lab studying tissue samples of cancer patients and working closely with oncologists and surgeons.
“The piece of the puzzle that I provide for the patient is one of the most important: What is the disease that we’re treating?” he said. “My diagnosis translates to therapies. I’m performing a role in the care of the patient that truly matters.”
Cantu also works with medical students who come through his lab, where he strives to emulate Siegele and support them, rather than push them toward any particular career path.
“In many ways, Debby was the model educator, and I carry her philosophies on how to teach and how to guide students as an educator,” Cantu said. “That’s why I chose to create a fellowship in her name — to honor her and her importance in my career. And maybe that can translate into helping others find their way in their career.”
This fellowship is yet another way Cantu has come full circle.
“The reason I’m doing this is to give back,” he said. “I told Debby 20 years ago that if I have a way to give back, I will.”
Siegele said she is overwhelmed and honored by Cantu cementing her legacy with a gift in her name.
“I’m really proud of Carlos’ accomplishments, and I’m really happy he found a career that is satisfying and that he enjoys doing,” she said. “Seeing them grow up and become independent adults is just my favorite part of my job.”