News Archive
Telemundo came and did an interview with our very own Eric Cardenas from the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders about our Deaf Awareness Week celebration happening this September! Our very own ASLI Club President, Lily Hernandez stepped into to interpret!
Telemundo - Promueven la inclusión de personas con discapacidad auditiva mediante la lengua de señas
SEPTIEMBRE 20, 2021 - Un profesor de UTRGV nos cuenta cómo fue crecer siendo sordomudo, las discriminaciones que ha vivido en carne propia y cómo ahora quiere generar un cambio desde las aulas.
Translation:
Telmundo - Promote the inclusion of people with hearing impairments through sign language
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 - A UTRGV teacher tells us what it was like to grow up being deaf-mute, the discriminations he has experienced in his own flesh and how he now wants to generate a change from the classroom.
Congratulations to the NSSLHA-UTRGV Chapter for their National NSSLHA Gold Honors award!
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders student organization, UTRGV Chapter of the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA), has been awarded Gold Level Honors by National NSSLHA for the first time in the chapter’s history.
The NSSLHA chapter worked diligently on several projects, during this unprecedented year, to attain this level. Some of these endeavors included our NSSLHA chapter president posting monthly chapter updates in the National NSSLHA Community blog throughout the academic year, a donation to the ASHA Foundation NSSLHA Scholarship Fund, engaging in two legislative advocacy activities on legislature that would impact the field of speech-language pathology and audiology, and having a minimum of 30% of the members be national NSSLHA members. The chapter exceeded this with having 46% of the NSSLHA membership (102 members) being National NSSLHA members in addition to being local chapter members.
In this pandemic and unprecedented year, the NSSLHA chapter was successful in raising monies for the Rio Grande Valley Down Syndrome Association and for the Capable Kids Foundation through participation in virtual runs. The NSSLHA chapter’s philanthropic service also included donations to organizations such as Operation Smile, Easter Seals of the Rio Grande, the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association, and the Stuttering Foundation.
https://www.nsslha.org/Programs/Chapter-Honors-Recipients/
The UTRGV CHECK Program Helps RCR Elementary Students Learn About Eating Healthy
Did you know that grains like rice, wheat, and oats are actually the seeds of grasses? Or that proper food portion sizes can be determined by using your hand? The 4th grade students at Ruben C. Rodriguez (RCR) Elementary in Edcouch-Elsa ISD learned this and more while participating in The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Creating Healthy Eating Choices for Kids (CHECK) program. The CHECK program is a collaboration between the UTRGV School of Nursing and UTRGV College of Health Professions Border Health Office that focuses on healthy nutrition for school-age children across the Rio Grande Valley. The program also helps participating schools raise above-ground fruit and vegetable gardens to extend the students’ connection to the sources of their food and further empower them to incorporate healthy food choices into their lifestyles.
The students were able to learn about fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy foods. To capture the students’ interest, the CHECK program presents interesting facts on healthy foods. Apples, for example, should be eaten with the peel. Why? Because the peel is where the most nutrients are found. “It’s a fun strategy to help children understand why it’s important to eat fruits and vegetables”, said Doreen Garza, Director of the Border Health Office. The program also teaches children to use their hand and familiar household objects to determine proper food portion sizes.
UTRGV Family Nurse Practitioner students help 4th grade students at RCR Elementary plant fruits and vegetables in their new above ground fruit & vegetable garden.
The CHECK lessons are taught by graduate nursing students enrolled in the UTRGV Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner Program. In a typical year, the CHECK instruction is conducted in the classroom. Due to the pandemic, most students learned about CHECK via Zoom. Dr. Lilia Fuentes, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs for the UTRGV School of Nursing said that the graduate nursing students enjoyed the opportunity to share what they have learned during the course of their program with 4th grade students at RCR elementary. “As nurses, our commitment is to health and wellness. The CHECK program provides a vital opportunity to give back to our community.”
To celebrate the culmination of the CHECK program, 4th grade students who were attending campus planted fruits and vegetables in 4 raised garden beds. But students who were receiving instruction from home did not miss out on the fun. Each 4th grade student was provided with a pot, soil, seeds and growing instructions so that they could grow a fruit or vegetable at home. Each student also received the books “Adelita and the Veggie Cousins” and “The Patchwork Garden” to help reinforce the CHECK lessons. The CHECK program also provided each 4th grade student with a bag of fruits and vegetables so they could enjoy with their families at home. Finally, the students received an H-E-Buddy plate and cup, courtesy of HEB, so students can properly portion their meals. RCR Principal Marisela Olivarez and her staff were instrumental in coordinating the CHECK program at their campus, from the CHECK zoom lessons, raising the garden beds, and distributing the fruit and vegetable bags to parents. Olivarez was grateful to have had her campus participate in the CHECK program. “I want to thank UTRGV for helping our students learn about the importance of eating healthy. Our students were thrilled to participate in this program and the parents were appreciative for receiving the fruit and vegetable bags.”
The UTRGV CHECK program has provided nutrition instruction to over 2,000 4th grade students in the Lyford, Monte Alto, La Villa, Edcouch-Elsa and Donna school districts and more than 100 above-ground garden beds being raised at their elementary campuses.
PA Foundation IMPACT Grant Recipients
2021 Recipients
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (project led by Christina Granado Gonzales, MPAS, PA-C, and Evelyn Jimenez, MPH, PA-S)
Grant Amount: $8,800
Project Name: Bridging the Digital Literacy Gap: Physician Assistant Students Teach Technology
Project Description: The Physician Assistant Students Teach Technology (PASTT) project is designed to bridge the digital literacy gap encountered in vulnerable populations. Over the past year, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an unprecedented shift from in-person care to telehealth in nearly every form of healthcare. This rapid transition has exacerbated healthcare disparities among the most vulnerable populations (low-income, uninsured, minority, elderly, etc.) due to lack of technology access and knowledge. The project team seeks to address this issue with a PA-led educational intervention to augment familiarity with and competency in the usage of a telemedicine platform to improve overall patient health outcomes in a low-income, primary care clinical setting. Through the tangible use of intentional education directed toward increasing patients’ digital literacy as well as the provision of self-care medical kits to monitor non-communicable disease status, the project is designed to improve the local population’s comfort level with technology and telehealth encounters, which will ultimately improve overall patient care access, quality, and outcomes.
Congratulations to our Physician Assistant Studies programs for their recognition as top PA programs in the U.S.
A confluence of factors is contributing to unprecedented growth in the healthcare industry. Enter the rewarding field of medicine as a physician assistant by earning a master's degree, and make a positive difference in the lives of patients. This list focuses on graduate programs in physician assistant studies that offer a master’s degree. Physician assistant programs typically award a Master of Science degree. Other commonly awarded degrees include Master of Health Science and Master of Medical Science degrees. We reviewed programs that are offered online, in person, and in blended formats.
Our Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program is #1 Intelligent Pick
The Top 49 Physician Assistant Degree Programs
Our Master of Physician Assistant Studies Bridge Program is #4 Best Bridge Program Pick
The Top 10 Online Physician Assistant Programs
Congratulations COMD NSSLHA chapter was awarded national Silver Chapter Honors May 1, 2020
The Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders have worked so hard to be eligible for this level. The NSSLHA officers and members did a phenomenal job this year in spite of the obstacles encountered this academic year. This is the first time in the Chapter's history that they have been awarded Silver Chapter Honors. Our COMD NSSLHA chapter has been awarded Bronze Chapter Honors for the last two years.
The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) 2020 Chapter Honors Recipients
UTRGV Announces Physician Assistant Career Track Program (PACT)
PACT will provide South Texas high school students with a career path to becoming a future physician assistant while studying close to home. - November 20, 2019
View Photos from the PACT Press Conference
To learn more about PACT and eligibility requirements, click here.
The Department of Physician Assistants celebrated its 25 th White Coat Ceremony, welcoming 100 students into its program.
Congratulations to each one of them on reaching this new milestone and receiving their very own White Coat!
2019 PA White Coat ceremony photo album
To learn more about Physician Assistant Studies visit their website here.
UTRGV students learn, experience the world through Study Abroad courses
UTRGV Study Abroad students stand at the historic Roman Bridge, which crosses the Tormes River on the banks of the city of Salamanca, in Castilla y León, Spain. (Courtesy Photo)
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – June 26, 2019 - This summer, 170 UTRGV students are traveling the world to discover new experiences through the Study Abroad program. In May, students along with their faculty advisors traveled to China, Spain, London, and South Korea as part of UTRGV’s Minimester Study Abroad program.
Amanda Meda, who has a bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders , was one of six graduate students who participated in a seminar in Multicultural Speech Langauge Pathology in Spain. The course was designed to expose students to diverse cultures and immerse them in a new environment. Meda said she enjoyed the food and the sights, and that the trip was “unlike any other educational experience” she had ever had.
RedRover Readers Program
The RedRover Readers program provides volunteers the tools they need to teach children empathy while developing literacy skills. During the Fall 2018-Spring 2019 academic year, this program was implemented by 25 seniors at the South Texas ISD Business, Education, Technology Academy (BETA), now known as World Scholars, with children from Pre-K to 3rd grade at L.P.A. PAWS Center and Lee Elementary in Edinburg, TX. The program was a success thanks to the coordination of BETA teachers, Ms. April Gutierrez and Ms. Rosa Gonzalez; BETA Principal, Mr. Efrain Garza; Lee Elementary principal, Ms. Alondra Navarro; UTRGV RedRover Readers coordinators, Dr. Janet Martinez, Dr. Catherine Faver, and Dr. Christopher Ledingham; RedRover Readers directors, Ms. Karly Noel, Ms. Tara Lenehan, and Ms. Caty Franco; and L.P.A. PAWS leaders, Ms. Mari Gonzalez and Ms. Valerie Cerda.
UTRGV, Harlingen CISD to form high school to medical school pipeline for health professions
December 12, 2018 - The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday, Dec. 11, signed a letter of intent with the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District to expand their partnership to create a pipeline for students enrolled at the Harlingen High School of Health Professions to the university’s Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences (BMED) program and the UTRGV School of Medicine. (Photo Courtesy of the Harlingen CISD).
2017-2018 Creating Healthy Eating Choices for Kids (CHECK) Plus! Program
Rio Grande Valley Childhood Obesity Seminar
Creating Healthy Eating Choices for Kids (CHECK) 2018
UTRGV - Challenge of the Deans
Thursday, Feb. 22nd at 7pm
Dr. Michael Lehker, Dean of the College of Health Affairs participated in the Half Time Free-throw contest with the other UTRGV Deans as CoHA Faculty, Staff and Students cheer him on.
Creating Healthy Eating Choices for Kids (CHECK)
A $15,000 grant was awarded to the Border Health Office from the Raul Tijerina Foundation. The grant will be used to implement the CHECK program.
About the program:
The CHECK program will help approximately 100 4 th grade students from J.F.Kennedy Elementary school in the Edcouch-Elsa Independent School District raise above ground fruit and vegetable gardens and provide nutrition education. Both these activities will allow students’ to connect to the sources of their food and further empower them to incorporate healthy food choices into their lifestyles. Students will learn the importance of eating a balanced diet comprised of foods from the five (5) food groups. The “Serving Up MyPlate: A Yummy Curriculum” lessons will be facilitated by MSN FNP nursing students throughout the Spring 2018 semester. The planting of an above-ground fruit and vegetable garden on school grounds will provide the foundation for continuous reinforcement for healthy food choices.