Published October 8, 2026
By Darlene Muguiro
UTEP College of Health Sciences

Cindy and Maite Jabalera, identical twin sisters and first-year students in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program, felt an early calling to go into health care. Both attended Bel Air High School’s health professions magnet program; Cindy pursued a path that led her to become a pharmacy technician, while Maite’s interests led her down the road of dental assistantship.

After graduating from Bel Air, the sisters entered UTEP together and began their higher education journey as biology majors. After realizing the field wasn’t really for them, they began seeking guidance from family. Their older brother, a registered nurse, and their uncle, a physical therapist, provided some guidance, with their brother suggesting nursing and their uncle suggesting the rehabilitation professions.

“I remember that we were looking at YouTube videos to try to determine the difference between PT and OT, and OT just seemed like a really fun profession; they use play in therapy;” said Cindy. “Nursing was also in the running, but in the end, OT really stood out and took over our interest.”

Shortly after determining that OT had won their hearts, the sisters switched their major to Rehabilitation Sciences. One of Cindy’s favorite memories during her time in the program was visiting an assistive technology store on the east side of El Paso during class to see what was available to patients. Maite recalls being impressed by the transition from large class settings to the smaller settings for her junior- and senior-year courses.

“On the first day of class for one of my intro courses, I remember thinking this was going to be like all of my other undergrad courses, in a big auditorium, but this was different. We were really engaged with the professor and our peers. We started working in groups and making friends,” she said.

The Jabaleras moved through their undergraduate degrees, eventually graduating in 2024, and into the application process for the OTD program, where they spent time in different clinical settings shadowing occupational therapists. They say this time was invaluable, confirming that their choice was the right one.

Now having begun their first semester in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, the sisters are noticing big changes. Despite carpooling, studying together, and even taking the same courses at the same time, they’ve had opportunities to strike out as individuals, particularly in group settings. They’ve been able to avoid a common twin foible – completing each other’s sentences – during class because the groups are assigned randomly, so they typically are not in the same one. The individuality has also hit home – literally.

“We used to share a room, and now we have our own, which was a big change,” said Maite.

The Jabaleras say that they felt connected to their professors and cohort peers from the first day in the program, noting a very strong supportive and caring culture.

“Our professors are so wonderful, and they tell us all the time that we belong here,” said Cindy. “The dynamic is very student focused, so we feel safe asking questions.”

With a bright future ahead of them, the sisters say they have given some consideration for their preferred area of practice. Cindy anticipates focusing on pediatric populations, while Maite is open, with a slight preference for working with the elderly. Both are advocates for the field, noting that the profession is both meaningful and joyful.

“If you are looking for a job that doesn’t feel like a job, consider OT. It’s fun, and we have the opportunity to work with other professionals like PTs and SLPs,” said Cindy.

Maite agreed, adding that the profession brings patients and practitioners together in the best way possible.

“We are not only working with a patient’s injury or disability; we are working around their life. We need to get to know the patient as a person in order to understand how we can help them best,” she said.

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Go Miners!

For more information about the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program, please visit: https://www.utep.edu/chs/ot