The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso Paul L. Foster School of Medicine is a 4-year MD-granting program that originally began in 1973 as a regional site for third- and fourth-year medical students. In 2009, it welcomed its first four-year class. The Paul L. Foster School of Medicine has students learn basic and clinical science through organ systems and learning in the context of clinical presentations. Students receive clinical exposure within the first semester and have an opportunity to volunteer at a student-run clinic, which provides primary care to all ages. Students are also separated into learning communities called colleges where their student performance is monitored on a weekly basis. This facilitates success and provides resources if a student needs them.