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The College of Health Professions, together with Health Forward, invites students, health professionals, educators, researchers, and community members across South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley to register and join us on April 16th and April 17th, 2026, at the Edinburg Community Engagement and Student Success Building (ECESS), located at 1407 E. Freddy Gonzalez Dr., Edinburg, TX 78539. As a leading institution committed to excellence in health and human services, education, health care, and research, we continue to develop highly skilled practitioners through high‑quality academic programs, meaningful experiential learning, and scientific inquiry. Health Forward will bring our community together to explore current health research, share innovative teaching practices, and train in best‑practice interprofessional education that strengthens interprofessional practice. This collaborative effort aims to unite and motivate our region to collectively move Health Forward.
Conference Registration Fees
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Faculty: $30
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Faculty Presenter*: $25
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Student: $20
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Student Presenter*: $15
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Community: $30
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Other: $30
Online registration is now closed. Onsite registration will be available.
Coming Soon
Conference Schedule-at-a-Glance
Day 1 – Thursday, April 16, 2026
7:30 AM Registration – Poster Set Up
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM Social and Light Breakfast
8:45 AM Opening Remarks
9:00 AM Keynote Presentation – Everardo Cobos, MD, FACP, Dean, UTRGV School of Medicine, Chair, Department of Medicine and Oncology
10:15 – 10:30 AM Break
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Poster Session 1 ECESS 1.300
Research Poster Session 1
Innovations in Teaching and Interprofessional Education/Community Engagement Poster Session
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Networking Lunch
12:30 PM – 1:45 PM Breakout 1
Research Breakout 1 ECESS 1.117
Teaching Breakout 1 ECESS 1.300
IPE/CE Breakout 1 ECESS 1.118
1:45 PM – 3:00 PM Breakout 2
Research Breakout 2 ECESS 1.117
Teaching Breakout 2 ECESS 1.300
IPE/CE Breakout 2 ECESS 1.118
3:00 PM – 3:15 PM Break
3:15 PM – 4:30 PM Breakout 3
Research Breakout 3 ECESS 1.117
Teaching Breakout 3 ECESS 1.300
Day 2 – Friday, April 17, 2026
7:30 AM Registration, Poster Set Up, Social and Light Breakfast
8:00 AM – 8:50 AM Research Poster Session 2 ECESS 1.300
9:00 AM – 10:15 AM Breakout 4
Research Breakout 4 ECESS 1.117
Teaching Breakout 4 ECESS 1.300
IPE/CE Breakout 4 ECESS 1.118
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM Breakout 5
Research Breakout 5 ECESS 1.117
Teaching Breakout 5 ECESS 1.300
IPE/CE Breakout 5 ECESS 1.118
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM Student Awards and Networking Lunch ECESS 1.300
Everardo Cobos, MD, FACPDean, UTRGV School of Medicine Chair, Department of Medicine and Oncology |
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Dr. Everardo Cobos is a distinguished academic physician and clinical leader who has been appointed the Dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine. He also chairs the Department of Medicine and Oncology, a position he has held since joining UTRGV in April 2023.
Dr. Cobos also directs the cancer service line at UT Health RGV. Under his leadership, the South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research, composed of nationally recognized cancer researchers, is integrated into the service line, advancing both patient care and cutting-edge oncology research.
As a practicing hematologist and oncologist, Dr. Cobos remains deeply committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care. He and his team at UTRGV and UT Health RGV develop and lead innovative clinical trials that offer new hope for patients in a medically underserved region.
Dr. Cobos earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He completed his residency in internal medicine and fellowship training in hematology and oncology at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco. Before joining UTRGV, he held academic appointments at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Nationally recognized for his excellence in clinical medicine, research, education, and leadership, Dr. Cobos has received over 20 consecutive years of recognition from students, residents, and fellows for his exceptional teaching. Above all, he is most proud of his continuous, uninterrupted practice of medicine and care for patients over a span now exceeding 40 years.