Eagle Pass ISD Students Gain Inside Experience in Public Health at Maverick County Hospital District
By Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc
Two Eagle Pass Independent School District high school students received a firsthand look at healthcare leadership and public service during a recent job-shadowing experience at the Maverick County Hospital District.
Ethan Gonzalez and Natalie Rodriguez, students from Eagle Pass High School and C.C. Winn High School participating in the City of Eagle Pass Water Works System’s Water Warriors program, spent time alongside MCHD Chief Executive Officer Nestor Bonilla learning about the responsibilities involved in leading a local healthcare organization.
During their visit, the students participated in physician recruitment calls, departmental meetings and discussions with MCHD leadership.
They also toured district facilities and learned about the different healthcare programs and services available to Maverick County residents.
The experience provided Gonzalez and Rodriguez with an opportunity to see that leadership extends beyond holding a title and often involves collaboration, decision-making, problem-solving and working with others toward improving services within the community.
The Maverick County Hospital District thanked the City of Eagle Pass Water Works System for developing the Water Warriors program and providing local students with opportunities to explore careers, leadership and public service.
MCHD officials said experiences such as the job-shadowing visit can help young people better understand the professional opportunities available within their own community while introducing them to the responsibilities that come with serving the public.
For Gonzalez and Rodriguez, the visit also offered a behind-the-scenes look at an important part of healthcare administration that patients rarely see, including the work involved in recruiting physicians, coordinating departments and making decisions affecting healthcare services.
MCHD expressed hope that the experience will encourage both students to continue learning, developing their leadership skills and exploring opportunities to serve their community in the future.
