News and Events
Congratulations to Venessa Cobarrubias!
One of our PA alumnus has been selected for the 2022-2023 Class of White House Fellows.
Vanessa Cobarrubias is from Harlingen, Texas, and is placed at the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of the First Lady focusing on the Cancer Moonshot Initiative. After receiving a Bachelor of Communication Arts from St. Mary’s University and prior to transitioning into healthcare, Vanessa was an accomplished educator and speech language pathology assistant. Since obtaining a Master of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley, she has worked tirelessly to serve the Rio Grande community (an area in which COVID-related deaths were twice that of the rest of the state of Texas) throughout the pandemic. In addition to overseeing antibody infusions for over 10,000 patients, she founded and worked diligently on a door-to-door vaccine awareness program serving the region’s indigent population. A community-recognized “Texas Healthcare Hero,” this daughter of educators and granddaughter of immigrant farmworkers is driven to empower those who cannot speak for themselves.
Read the full article here: White House Appoints 2022-2023 Class of White House Fellows
Congratulations Martha Patricia Rodriguez
The Latest in HIV Prevention – NCCPA PA Ambassador Talks PrEP Injectable Treatment
Martha Patricia Rodriguez, PA-C did not plan to specialize in HIV. As a new mom, she was desperate to find a job with a family friendly schedule. She searched for PA jobs that would provide the flexibility she needed, and a position in HIV care turned up from a simple online job search. Today, Rodriguez practices in the only HIV clinic in Rio Grande Valley, Texas; and in July 2022, she was part of the health care team that administered the first HIV prevention injectable treatment at the clinic.
The College of Health Professions in collaboration with other Health and Wellness Organizations will be holding a Community Health Fair at the McAllen Public Library.
Saturday, July 30, 2022 at 10AM - 1PM
Facebook event link: MPL Community Health Fair | Facebook
Join us Saturday, April 30, 2022 for our BMED program Open house!
Visit the BMED website to learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences program
College of Health Professions
Innovations in Teaching 2022 Conference
Friday January 28, 2022- UTRGV Edinburg campus
Read the Innovations in Teaching information flyer here
Virtual Open House
Date: Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Time: 6:30PM-8:00PM
Since 1995, the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) has celebrated National Health Education Week (NHEW), (initially in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services), during the third week of October.
NHEW is focused on increasing national awareness of major public health issues and promoting a better understanding of the role of health education.
Broche De Oro
October 15, 2021 @6PM
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Zelma Mata
Happy National Rehabilitation Awareness Week!
We are proud to celebrate National Rehabilitation Awareness Week this year with @AMRPA. This week, we reflect on the remarkable patient outcomes that are achieved through the #powerofmedicalrehab and reaffirm our commitment to transforming lives. #NationalRehabAwarenessWeek
Visit the UTRGV School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling website to see the programs we have to offer for you.
International Week Of Deaf People 2021
Learn more about our Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders programs.
Or visit the World Federation of the Deaf website for more information on these events.
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
| With the end of the 2017-2018 school year, came the close of the Aetna Foundation funded CHECK (Creating Healthy Eating Choices for Kids) Plus! program. The UTRGV COHA Border Health Office in partnership with the School of Nursing and the Donna ISD implemented an 18-month program aimed at empowering 4 th grade students and their families to make healthy lifestyle choices. CHECK provided nutrition lessons to the students and helped these students construct above-ground gardens at each of 14 elementary campuses. Upon completion of the nutrition education and raising of the above ground gardens, the CHECK Plus! program proceeded with the establishment of Nutrition Creation Stations. |  |
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Through the Aetna Foundation grant money, commercial blenders and salad carts were used to make healthy fruit and vegetable smoothies. The Nutrition Creation Stations allowed students to create and make their own smoothies using fresh fruits and vegetables, and in some cases, fruits and vegetables from their very own gardens. On-site facilitators and teachers included an education piece to introduce the students to making healthy smoothies. Students were also encouraged students to make smoothies at home for all the family to share and always with the consent of a parent and proper supervision at home. As students tried different combinations, the most popular smoothie included kale and banana smoothie using either flavored (usually pineapple) or non-flavored drinkable yogurt. |
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CHECK Plus! project directors Doreen Garza and David Salazar attended several of the smoothie-making activities and noticed that the young students enjoyed looking at the smoothie ingredients, the freshly sliced bananas and the green kale. Students seemed intrigued and enthused by the idea of mixing all the ingredients into a drink. Many of the students were surprised that something with kale in it could taste good. |
| With the end of the school year came the end-of-the project community garden fruit and vegetable celebrations. Each of the 14 campuses distributed over 1,100 fruit and vegetable bags to parents and the surrounding communities. |  |
Rio Grande Valley Childhood Obesity Seminar
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On May 18 th over 45 Rio Grande Valley school nurse nurses and school nurse administrators participated in a half-day seminar focusing on childhood obesity and the multivariate factors that influence obesity/overweight prevalence in children and adolescents. Obesity in children and adolescents carries serious health and social consequences and has continued to be a concerning and costly epidemic for families, communities, schools, and health care providers. During the past 30 years, obesity rates doubled for adults and preschool children, while tripling among school-age children and adolescents. |
| Dr. Otto Velasquez, Board Certified Pediatrician and Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at UTRGV and UTHSCSA spoke to the school nurses about the health consequences of overweight in children and the importance of early detection and early intervention. |  |
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Dr. Dora Zamora-Flores, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics UTHSCSA School of Medicine shared information about the G.O.A.L. ( Get rid of Overweight with Appropriate Life choices) program. G.O.A.L. is a community-based program which includes a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals that work with children and adolescents and their families in helping them improve their lifestyles for better health. |
Creating Healthy Eating Choices for Kids (CHECK) 2018
| On March 22, 2018, John F. Kennedy Elementary 4 th grade students and their teachers hosted a Creating Healthy Eating Choices for Kids (CHECK) fruit and vegetable celebration to commemorate their participation in The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Border Health Office CHECK program funded by the Raul Tijerina Jr. Foundation. All parents and students were invited to view the new above ground garden at the campus. |  |
| Over 100 bags filled with fruits and vegetables were distributed to local households. In addition, parents and students were able to visit booths to learn about nutrition, dental hygiene, and emergency services. Parents and students also enjoyed quality time reading books published by the Arte Público Press, The Patchwork Garden “Pedacitos de Huerto” and Adelita and the Veggie Cousins “Adelita y las Primas Verduritas”. Each 4 th grade student received a complimentary copy of each book to take home. | |
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Creating Healthy Eating Choices for Kids (CHECK) is a health promotion program developed by The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) College of Health Affairs (COHA) Border Health Office (BHO) and UTRGV COHA School of Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner Program. |
| The CHECK program focuses on healthy nutrition for school-age children and their parents from communities in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) of South Texas. The CHECK program delivers nutrition education lessons and engages graduate nursing students in facilitation of USDA’s “Serving Up MyPlate: A Yummy Curriculum”. | |
| 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. Providing nutrition education for both students and families is an essential component in children and adolescent health promotion. |  |
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.