News Archive 2018
UTRGV, Harlingen CISD to form high school to medical school pipeline for health professions
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 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).
Making a positive change: UTRGV students, faculty traveled to rural Peru to provide medical care
December 7, 2018 - Rio Grande Valley - Twenty-two UTRGV students traveled to Cusco, Peru, led by Dr. Hugo Rodriguez, clinical associate professor, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences, and Dr. Saraswathy Nair, associate professor, Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences chair, back in spring 2018 to provide adults and children with medical and dental care. The group was part of the UTRGV Medical Brigade, a student organization that primarily focuses on providing healthcare to under-resourced areas. While in Peru, the group assisted many patients who had limited accessibility to medical resources.
New Course on Statistical Data Mining (STAT 4399) offered Spring 2019
This course is designed in a way that students will get a better understanding on popular data mining techniques, how and when to use them. Students will be given opportunities to apply these methods on real world data sets and get some hands on experience.
For more information contact:
Dr. Hansapani Rodrigo
School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
hansapani.rodrigo@utrgv.edu
Personal Growth and Healing using Creativity Minor Program
These elective courses are open to all majors - many expressive art modalities (e.g., drawing, photography, writing, dance) will be explored as applied to behavioral/mental health counseling. Students need not have a background in art (or even counseling) to successfully take these courses.
UTRGV Ranked 1st among Texas institutions for awarding the most biology and biomedical sciences bachelor's degrees to Hispanics
Other UTRGV rankings and recognitions:
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- The largest Hispanic enrollment in the state of Texas.
- 1st among Texas institutions for awarding the most undergraduate 4-year degrees to Hispanics (2nd nationally).
- 1st among Texas institutions for awarding the most graduate degrees to Hispanics (4th nationally).
- Read more about UTRGV's state/national Rankings and Recognitions here.
Superhero Project
Super Hero Project is a university-wide initiative to promote the idea that individual Vaqueros have the power to prevent high-risk behavior and harm. The Super Hero Project builds on the existing expertise of campus centers and departments at UTRGV and unifies these with consistent messaging and content.
We currently offer the following Superhero Project training's:
- Active Bystander Training - General Presentation on how to be an active bystander at UTRGV ( 1 hour)
- Academic Integrity Training -A presentation on university policy which includes: plagiarism, collusion, and cheating (1 hour)
- One Love: Escalation Video (Healthy Relationships) Training - A video and debriefing session to begin an open discussion on dating violence (1 hour & 30 minutes)
- One Love: #BehindThePost (Healthy Relationships) Training - A video and debriefing on signs of abuse and social media influence (1 hour minutes)
- Alcohol Awareness Bystander Presentation - Training on being an Active Bystander when dealing with alcohol (1 hour)
- DNA Anti Smoking Policy Presentation -This presentation is to inform students, faculty, and staff about the anti smoking policies here at UTRGV. (1 hour)
- Stalking Awareness Presentation - Training on resources if you or someone is being stalked and how you can be a bystander (1 hour)
- Title IX Training (w/SRR) - Training on what is Title IX and how this law affects you (1 hour)
- Green Zone Training - This training is intended to teach civilians about how to support veterans with their transition into university life (1 hour)
If any of the presentation lengths are of concern we can always adjust them to meet the classes needs. We hope that we can work with you to inform our Vaqueros on important issues when it comes to the University and University policy.
If you would like a presentation in the Brownsville or Edinburg Campus contact:
Brownsville: 956-882-8292
Edinburg: 956-665-5375
Email: srr@utrgv.edu
Website: Superhero Project
Graduate School Information Session College of Health Professions
Your invited to get information on the master's and doctoral programs this college offers! During this event you will get insider information on submitting a competitive application, financial aid and learn about the NEW scholarships and assistance opportunities. There will be program faculty available to answer questions and staff to assist you with starting your graduate application!
Date: Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Time: 6:30-7:30pm
Location: Salon Cassia BMAIN 2.402
RSVP to: Mari Montelongo,
Senior Graduate Recruiter
Brownsville Campus, 956-882-7787,
mari.montelongo@utrgv.edu
Date: Monday, October 22, 2018
Time: 6:30-7:30pm
Location: Dining & Ballroom Complex (EDBCX)
RSVP to: Gianina Espinosa ,
Graduate Recruiter
Edinburg Campus, 956-882-1951,
gianina.espinosa@utrgv.edu
8th Annual ¡Vive tu Vida! Get Up! Get Moving!
Saturday, October 20, 2018 from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Dean Porter Park
501 E. Ringgold Street, Brownsville, Texas 78521
Expected Number of Participants: 4,000+
Brownsville Community Health Center has been selected by the National Alliance for Hispanic Health to host the national project Vive Tu Vida! Get Up! Get Moving! This event has been created to promote healthy behaviors which will lead to good health for all families. We will partner with as many community entities as possible for this exciting event.
¡Vive tu Vida! Booth Registration form
B MED 3224: Independent Research IV
Dr. John Vandeberg (STDOI, SOM) would be happy to supervise another student or two in BMED 3224 beginning in the spring semester. The research project would involve conducting assays of HbA1c levels (percentage of total hemoglobin) from stored blood samples from a population in which diabetes and Chagas disease are highly prevalent. The goal would be to conduct a preliminary study to determine if chronic infection with Trypanosoma cruzi (t he parasite that causes Chagas disease) is a risk factor for developing pre-diabetes and diabetes. This work and embellishments of it could continue for several semesters if the student did well and wanted to continue working on the project longer term. The possibility also exists for offering Independent Research sections with Dr. Vandeberg in summer.
Please contact Dr. Vandeberg
john.vandeberg@utrgv.edu
Capital of Texas Undergraduate Research Conference
GREAT NEWS! To accommodate students who are just now getting to school we have extended our submission deadline. The new submission undefined deadline is September 28th, and the conference will still take place at UT on Saturday, November 3rd. For further information please contact us at cturccontact@gmail.com if you have any questions. Our website has had substantial updates with more detailed information.
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Saturday, September 15, 2018 Deadline for Registration and Abstract Submissions:
For more information: https://www.utrgv.edu/som/research-administration/symposium/index.htm
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BMED Induction Ceremony 2018
Incoming BMED students receive their white coats at the 2018 BMED Induction Ceremony August 24, 2018.
BMED Induction Ceremony 2018 photo album
Student Success Academy 2018
Incoming Fall 2018 BMED students attend the Student Success Academy August 22 & 23, 2018.
Student Success Academy 2018 photo album
Medical Brigades in Peru
21 BMED students along with faculty (Drs. Rodriguez and Nair) volunteered at rural health clinics in Peru in Summer 2018
Medical Brigades in Peru photo album
Congratulations to Dr. Roy's new research grant for Anti-HIV drug research making the local news.
UTRGV working on new anti-HIV drug
Channel 4 - ValleyCentral - Aug. 7, 2018 - With HIV cases increasing in the Rio Grande Valley, UTRGV is currently working on a new innovative drug to crackdown on the virus. It is all part of a grant from the National Institute of Health that awarded the university about $430,000 to research on an anti-HIV drug.
UTRGV awarded grant for anti-HIV drug research
The Edinburg Review - Aug. 4, 2018 - Researchers at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences are working to develop a next generation of anti-HIV drugs that are more effective and have fewer side effects.
UTRGV to research HIV drug - School granted $500,000 to study development of nano drug
The Monitor - July 11, 2018 - The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley received nearly half-a-million-dollars to research and develop a new anti-HIV drug using nanotechnology that could place the academic institution at the forefront of a possible medical breakthrough.
Title of award: NANODIAMOND BASED ANTI-HIV DRUG DELIVERY TARGETED TOWARDS THE BRAIN
Role: Principal Investigator
Collaborators: Dr. Shizue Mito, Department of Chemistry, UTRGV and Dr. Vadym Drozd, Florida International University
Mechanism/ funding agency/ award number: R15NS108815-01, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE
Award amount, length of award: $432,729, 3 years
Summary: Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) associated comorbidities including HIV associated neurological disorders (HAND) is one of the high priority areas of investigation considering its social and economic impact on our society. Considering the fact that there is no effective treatment for HAND, our new nanodiamond based nano drug delivery can fulfill this dual aim by introducing the multidisciplinary approach of nanotechnology-based targeted drug delivery to the brain and potential reduction of HIV infected microglial reservoir in the brain. This will accelerate the discovery and validation of novel agent for the cellular and viral target to develop a safe, tolerable, low-cost antiviral agent. This basic and cross-disciplinary approach to research will stimulate the interest of students from underserved population to engage in the biomedical sciences and it will also strengthen the research environment of our leading Hispanic Serving Institution.
Volunteering/Donating Opportunities
Thousands of immigrant children have been separated from their parents at the Texas-Mexico border. If you or someone you know would like to help, h ere are some helpful links for you to volunteer or donate.
Congratulations BMED Spring Class of 2018!
2018 Spring Graduation photo album
BMED Graduation Celebration photo album
Gold Standard MCAT Prep Courses
Gold Standard MCAT prep courses offer everything you need to prepare for your MCAT: a complete package of review, practice and study schedules to take you from your first day of study to the day you sit your exam.
About Gold Standard MCAT
We have been providing MCAT test preparation tools for over 25 years. We have a number of MCAT prep programs with as many as 20 full-length MCAT practice tests which include official AAMC exams.
Check out these free MCAT, DAT, and OAT prep resources from Gold Standard.
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- Free MCAT Practice Test (GS-Free) https://www.mcat-prep.com/signup/?id=9
- MCAT Guide (scoring, test dates, topics covered, sample questions and advice) https://www.mcat-prep.com/what-is-the-mcat/
- MCAT Scores for Medical School Admissions https://www.mcat-prep.com/mcat-scores/
- Physics Equations Sheet https://www.mcat-prep.com/mcat-physics-equations-sheet/
- Biochemistry Review Summary https://www.mcat-prep.com/mcat-biochemistry-review-summary/
- Organic Chemistry Reactions https://www.mcat-prep.com/mcat-organic-chemistry-mechanisms/
- General Chemistry Review Summary https://www.mcat-prep.com/mcat-general-chemistry-review-summary/
- Blog www.mcat-prep.com/mcat-blog/
- Free OAT http://www.oatbooks.com/free-oat-practice-test.html
New accelerated program for College of Science and College of Health Affairs undergraduate students.
UTRGV is collaborating with UTHealth to provide a new accelerated curriculum in both Public Health and Biomedical Informatics.
As opposed to the traditional four years of undergraduate work and two years of graduate study,
you can earn both your bachelor’s and master’s degree in just five years.
The first cohort will start in the Fall of 2018. The deadline to apply for the Accelerated Master’s program is June 1, 2018. If you would like additional information, you may contact the UTH Program Manager Jeanette L. Broshears at 956-755-0678 or by email at Jeanette.L.Broshears@uth.tmc.edu
Deadline to apply is June 1, 2018.
Read more about the new UTRGV 4 + 1 accelerated program here.
ENGL 2331.90L - Introduction to World Literature
This fully online course will be offered in Fall 2018 and fulfills the Language, Philosophy, and Culture (040) section of the core curriculum.
American Pre Veterinary Medical Association - Brownsville Chapter
Medical Brigades to Peru
There are currently some open spots for the upcoming brigade to Cuzco, Peru. We would like to give this opportunity to students who are passionate about healthcare and would like to make an impact in underprivileged communities.
If you are interested please contact:
nitchelle.rodriguez01@utrgv.edu or hugo.rodriguez@utrgv.edu
Engaged Scholar Symposium Keynote Speaker Dr. Melissa Reynolds
On behalf of the Office of Engaged Scholarship & Learning, we invite you and your students to join us at The Engaged Scholar Symposium (ES2), taking place on April 10 in Brownsville and April 11 in Edinburg. ES2 is the largest multidisciplinary gathering of undergraduate scholars in South Texas and was conceived to share and celebrate multidisciplinary undergraduate research, service learning, and creative works projects. Presentations will be hosted all-day, starting with our Keynote, Dr. Melissa Reynolds from Colorado State University, at 9:25 am on both days.
Melissa Reynolds, Ph.D., is an outstanding scholar of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering. She has developed new approaches to address long term biocompatibility and prevent biofouling on surfaces. These efforts have included collaborative and fruitful discussions with clinicians, manufacturers, engineers, and chemists. By bringing together the various parties, her team addresses the key scientific questions at the same time as the clinical challenges. She currently serves as the Associate Dean for Research in the College of Natural Sciences and is an Associate Professor in Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering at Colorado State University. We are pleased to announce that she will be our keynote speaker at the upcoming Engaged Scholar Symposium, where she can address students about the importance of getting engaged in research.
Brownsville Chapter - American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association
A new pre-veterinary club that aims in helping and informing prospective veterinary students about the needed coursework and field demands. The club will also help students add community service related to the pre-veterinary field. American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association information flyer
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February 14, 2018 Guest Speaker: Students will benefit learning what it takes to be successful in a professional career and a good candidate for the Baylor College of Medicine. |
RSVP: alexa.perez01@utrgv.edu or karina.sanchez@utrgv.edu
UTRGV School of Medicine Research Seminar Series
Byungwoo Ryu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Dermatology & Pathology, Boston University School of Medicine - "Epigenetic roles in the malignant progression of melanoma and targeted-therapy resistance."
Date: January 25, 2018
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location: Edinburg Medical Education Building 1.203
For more information read the info flyer here: UTRGV SOM Research Seminar Flyer.