They exited the Hafter Student Community Center arm in arm, both wearing their white coats. But it was just the next step in the journey for husband-and-wife team of Ricardo Delgado ‘26MSCO and Patricia Ramirez Rojas ‘26MSCO to fulfil their ultimate dream – of becoming optometrists in the United States.
“We met in high school, and we’ve been in school together before. I went to medical school, and Patricia went to optometry school in Mexico, but we've never received our white coats together,” said Delgado. “So, this is pretty special for us.”
It’s been an exciting and interesting path for the couple, who received their white coats during ceremonies on Friday, April 17, 2026, at the Elkins Park, Pennsylvania campus of Drexel University.
Both trained together in optometry in Guadalajara, Mexico, but at the time there was no bachelor’s or Doctor of Optometry pathway available to them. Nevertheless, they built a strong clinical foundation and began working side by side. After Delgado completed medical school, the two opened and ran their own optometry practice in Mexico for three years.
“That period was very meaningful to us. It was the first time we built something together and cared for our own patients as a team,” said Delgado.
The couple then moved to California, where Delgado briefly joined the UCLA Family Medicine residency program. While he said that was an important experience to have, the couple missed working together in eye care.
“I stepped away from that path and spent some time working in the industry, which allowed us to stabilize financially and better understand the U.S. system,” he said.
Ramirez Rojas, who trained in optometry in Mexico, already had extensive clinical experience. To align with U.S. academic requirements, she completed a hybrid Bachelor of Science in optometry in Mexico during the COVID-19 period. Over four years, she traveled back and forth between the U.S. and Mexico to complete the program.
Over time, it became clear to both that they wanted to return to optometry, not just as a profession but as something they truly valued doing together. But to practice in the U.S., they both needed to pursue formal education. And that led them to the Master of Science in Clinical Optometry (MSCO) program at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Drexel University.
According to Melissa Vitek, OD ‘95, EdD, FAAO, director of Advanced Placement in the Doctor of Optometry program at PCO/Drexel, Delgado and Ramirez Rojas are, to her knowledge, the first husband-and-wife team going through the master’s program and entering into the Advanced Placement OD program together in the history of PCO.
“They’re really strong applicants, and we feel so lucky to have them,” said Dr. Vitek. She added that Delgado has taken on a leadership role in the master’s program and both have previously been engaged in the co-curricular interprofessional micro-credential badging program offered at the Elkins Park campus.
“Going through this process together has been very meaningful for us,” said Ramirez Rojas. “We have studied and worked side by side since we were very young, so continuing that partnership here feels natural. We support each other through the challenges, and it makes the experience even more rewarding.”
Delgado said that the MSCO program has been an excellent next-step for them and has provided strong clinical exposure and hands-on experience. And, it brings them much closer to their ultimate goal, of practicing together again, this time in the U.S.
The couple has three children and resides in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, where Ramirez Rojas said the family feels safe, supported and able to focus on building the its future. All of the children and Delgado’s mother attended the White Coat ceremony.
“The ceremony was very nice and inspiring for everyone,” said Ramirez Rojas. “I loved that we had the opportunity to share this with our children and family. While we miss our family in Mexico very much, we are grateful for the life we are creating here.”
