News
Congratulations! Dr. Murat Karabulut!
Dr. Karabulut has received the 2022 Texas Society for Advancement of Health Professions Research and Innovative Practice Grant Award for his project entitled “The Effects of Low Volume HIIT vs. MIIT+BFR on Body Composition, Hormone Concentration, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Arterial Elasticity in Overweight or Obese Male Adults”.
A certificate and check for $1,500.00 will be presented to Dr Karabulut at the TSAHP Annual Conference during the Awards Dinner on September 22, 2022.
Congratulations to Biomedical Student, Melanie Mendoza!
Ms. Mendoza completed GET PHIT’s online Summer 2022 Bootcamp and was awarded a “Certificate of Excellence” for her final project work by the UT Health Houston GET PHIT faculty.
Ms. Mendoza’s project was in collaboration with Ms. Andrea Salcedo, a student from the University of Texas El Paso. Using a Texas Department of State Health Services data set, Melanie and Andrea explored whether uninsured hospitalized Hispanic female patients with a primary diagnosis of diabetes experienced a longer hospital length of stay relative to their insured counterparts. The project was ranked first based on the outstanding quality of the presenters’ knowledge, research question, methods and approach, results and discussion, and presentation.
The 8-week GET PHIT Online Bootcamp consists of:
- 4 weeks of lectures and assessment/activity materials on public health informatics, data standards and analytics, epidemiology, public health surveillance, bias and equity in data use, among other topics
- 4 weeks of working on a group research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor
We are very proud of Melanie’s achievement, and we feel certain you are as well.
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Congratulations to BMED student Karina Cantu for receiving a $5000 research stipend to conduct research in the data science field with Purdue University through the all-new National Data Mine Network program funded by the National Science Foundation. |
| Congratulations to BMED student Viviana Villalobos on placing 1st at the UT MD Anderson Summer Undergraduate Research Program Poster Competition for her presentation titled “Substance P Receptor Antagonism Enhances Chemotherapeutic Responses in Triple Negative Breast Cancer" |
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Congratulations on Emerging Scholar Faculty Excellence Award!
Ten faculty named recipients of UTRGV Faculty Excellence Awards
May 12, 2022 - RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – Ten faculty members have been named recipients of the 2021-2022 UTRGV Faculty Excellence Awards .
The awards are given annually and recognize UTRGV faculty who have demonstrated outstanding work in seven areas: teaching (both for tenure/tenure-track and non-tenure track ranks), online teaching, research, service, student mentoring, community-engaged scholarship and sustainability education.
Two new awards were installed this year: Distinguished Career and Emerging Scholar.
Dr. Janna Arney, UTRGV executive vice president and provost, congratulated the honorees.
“We are proud to celebrate our esteemed faculty and all they have accomplished,” Arney said. “UTRGV is fortunate to have exceptional faculty shaping our students and having an impact on the university and the Rio Grande Valley community. These awards recognize their dedication and their successes, and I am grateful they are Vaqueros.”
Each faculty winner receives a $5,000 monetary award.
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“The reason I got into medicine was because I feel that it is a profession I can wake up to every day and know that I'm going to effect change, every single day.” -Eloy Lozoya, |
Eloy Lozoya, from Brownsville, will graduate on Friday with a bachelor's degree in biomedical sciences. He is part of the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP), a partnership between nine UT System medical schools to provide a seamless transition from undergraduate to medical school. He will be attending the UT Health McGovern School of Medicine in Houston this fall.
May 11, 2022 - By Victoria Brito Morales - BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS – Sometimes, the pieces just fall into place.
For Brownsville native Eloy Lozoya, simple curiosity led him to a place he never imagined. Now, the 22-year-old is about to graduate from UTRGV with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences.
Commencement is Friday and he already has big plans for the fall. Lozoya is part of the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP), a partnership between the nine UT System medical schools to provide a seamless transition from undergraduate to medical school. He will be attending the UT Health McGovern School of Medicine in Houston this fall. Read the full article here.
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Ms. Rachel Villarreal, Clinical Associate Professor, was selected as the Latinos and Hispanics in Dietetics and Nutrition (LAHIDAN) member spotlight for the January edition of Adelante. LAHIDAN is member interest group within the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics whose mission is to empower members to be the nation's food and nutrition leaders for Latinos and Hispanics. |
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You can read Rachel's interview in the Adelante Newsletter "Member spotlite 2022" here |
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UTRGV Holiday Card Contest expands to include President’s and Provost’s winners
The annual UTRGV Holiday Card Contest this year has awarded six students with scholarships for their holiday card submissions. For the first time this year, in addition to three President’s Holiday Card winners, UTRGV added three Provost’s Holiday Card winners. (Left) Emily Guerra, a junior and graphic design major, took first place for the President’s Holiday Card contest. (Right) Karla Zurita, an Edinburg resident working on her master’s degree in dietetics, was awarded first place for the Provost’s Holiday Card contest. (UTRGV Photos by Paul Chouy and David Pike)
By Amanda Alaniz - RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – December 2, 2021 - When the holidays roll around, people come together to celebrate, and many exchange tokens of appreciation – like holiday cards with unique designs.
The annual UTRGV Holiday Card Contest this year has awarded six students with scholarships for their holiday card submissions, each of which showcased the artist’s appreciation of the university, and the Valley community.
For the first time this year, in addition to three President’s Holiday Card winners, UTRGV added three Provost’s Holiday Card winners.
November 8, 2021 - RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – UTRGV researchers have been awarded $2.8 million over four years by the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, for a study aimed at reducing childhood obesity in preschool children.
Principal Investigator Dr. Roberto Treviño, director for the Social and Health Research Center in San Antonio, will work with four professors/researchers from UTRGV to help educate local school districts about physical activity and nutrition.
The researchers will implement the Bienestar coordinated school curriculum and study its impact through the “South Texas Early Prevention Studies/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education” (STEPS/SNAP-ED) project.
Read more... UTRGV awarded $2.8 million grant to study obesity-reducing curriculum in elementary schools
Paid Internship with The National Association of Medical Spanish (NAMS)
The National Association of Medical Spanish (NAMS), also known as la Asociación Nacional de
Español Médico (ANEM), is a non-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization aimed to create a standardized
evidence-based approach to teaching medical Spanish as well as promoting and assessing
bilingualism in medical providers in the United States. It focuses on improving health equity, patient
safety, quality of care for Spanish-speaking patients and physicians’ communication skills.
In alignment with NAMS’s mission, the Internship Program is designed to provide the selected
candidate with a wide range of learning opportunities to build skills for the healthcare industry,
with emphasis on non-for-profit project management, medical Spanish, interdisciplinary
collaboration, and health professions education.
Read more about this opportunity here.
More information about NAMS’s mission and structure is available at
www.NAMSpanish.weebly.com
The Latinos and Hispanics in Dietetics and Nutrition (LAHIDAN) is a member interest group within the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Their purpose is to support member needs while fostering the development and improvement of food, nutrition and health care for Latinos and Hispanics and their families in the United States and related territories, with outreach to Hispanic and Latino international members. Cosme Rubalcaba, a graduate student in the MS in Dietetics program, received the student FNCE scholarship from LAHIDAN for 2021. Congratulations!
Congratulations to Professor Aguirre.
Office of Innovation and Commercialization have granted a patent for invention.
Professor Aguirre was part of a cancer study at the University of Texas - Brownsville during 2005-2008. One of the aims of this study was to investigate whether diet was significantly correlated with the low incidence of breast cancer among Mexican-American women that has been evidenced in previous studies when compared to non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black women. Her role was to run hormone analyses and lab tests on this and other studies that were also being conducted simultaneously with this cancer study.
Her primary role; however, was to develop a method for the detection of three phytoestrogens (daidzein, equol, and genistein), which are plant metabolites, in the urine of these participants. There were a few published studies at the time which had used similar methods. After much research and planning, using HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) which is separation analysis and photodiode array which uses UV light as a detector, Professor Aguirre developed a method for the detection of these metabolites. The method involved a series of steps in preparation of the urine and various solvents for the separation of the analytes. All samples were analyzed using a Waters 2695 Separations HPLC module equipped with a 2996 photodiode array detector (Waters, Millford, Massachusetts, USA). Chromatographic processing was done using the Waters Empower™ 2 Software. Professor Aguirre evaluated the method for reliability (accuracy and precision) for each analyte which met the expected CV < 20% overall. A patent application was filed by the University during September 2018, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office communicated their findings on October 4, 2021, that a patent would be granted.
Congratulations to Maria Luisa Villalon de Davila (2019-2020 cohort) for being awarded the ASCP Laboratory Student Scholarship.
ASCP received hundreds of applications for this school cycle. We are pleased to announce that our UTRGV MLS student, Maria Luisa, was awarded to receive the ASCP Laboratory Student Scholarship Award.
Congratulations to B2BMED Scholar Natasha Garcia-Rodriguez for her TSAHP presentation Menopause - Effects on Metabolic Syndrome, Skin Health, and Immune System?
Emily Jordan and Hannah Obregon won second place at the TSAHP Student Poster Competition for their poster entitled “The Dual Delivery of Y15 and Metformin in a PLGA Scaffold for the Treatment of Platinum Resistant Ovarian Cancer”
2021 Texas Society for Advancement of Health Professions (TSAHP) Awards
BMED Student Juan Amieva was chosen for the 2021 Texas Society for Advancement of Health Professions (TSAHP) Student Award ($500).
The 2021 Texas Society for Advancement of Health Professions (TSAHP) awarded PI: Dr. Sue Anne Chew and Co-PI: Dr. Kristina Vatcheva a Research Grant of $1500.
Project Title: Biomedical Freshman Research Initiative (BFRI): Increasing the Retention, Academic Success and Preparation of Potential Underrepresented Allied Healthcare Profession Students by Providing Them Early Research Experience
Congratulations Paola!
On August 18, 2021, at the College of Health Professions Convocation, Paola Ibarra was awarded the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) 2021 Scholarship of Excellence.
The Texas Campaign Young Ambassador Program
We envision a future where all young Texans have access to accurate, inclusive and judgement free sexual and reproductive healthcare and we understand that the way we do that is to allow young people to lead and teach us how it should be done. The Texas Campaign Young Ambassador Program aims to connect passionate young advocates with the platforms, people and tools they need to strengthen their capacity, increase their knowledge and expand their networks so that they can continue to champion increased access to sexual and reproductive health care and sexual education for everyone for years to come. Through implementing their own project our Young Ambassadors will gain experience in research and identifying their desired impact, designing programs and preparing proposals, collaborating with community partners and getting buy-in from stakeholders. Each young ambassador will be paired with a technical advisor and mentor that will help them shape and design their project.
If you are ready to take the next step and want an opportunity to make an impact in your community, apply to become a Texas Campaign Young Ambassador and join us in fighting for sex-ed and accurate sexual and reproductive health information for every young person in Texas!
We are also accepting nominations for young leaders who are looking to take their ideas and passion to the next level!
The program is open to ten young people living in Texas between the ages of 17 and 20 who are passionate about improving access to sexual and reproductive health, and who are interested in developing their leadership and advocacy skills.
During the program, ambassadors will develop their very own advocacy project with the guidance of an assigned TXC Advisor who will help them with their ideas and how to manage project funds. They will also have the opportunity to meet with experts within the Adolescent & Youth Sexual & Reproductive Health (AYSRH) field and participate in webinars and workshops to gain more knowledge about AYSRH.
Application deadline is October 13th.
To apply click this link: https://txcampaign.org/young-ambassadors/
UTRGV White Coat Ceremony launches SOM's Class of 2025
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS - July 24, 2021 – The UTRGV School of Medicine welcomed its sixth class of medical students with a White Coat Ceremony on Saturday, July 24, at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex Auditorium.
Dr. Michael B. Hocker, the new dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine, was among the school’s leaders who greeted the 55 medical students and spoke of the important symbolism of the white coat.
“Those who take care of patients every day, you are the heroes and, maybe, the white coat is your cape – that piece of clothing you wear to help you in healthcare and education,” said Hocker. “It will serve you well as you look at innovation and discovery in medicine.”
The ceremony is an important first step in the career of a future physician, serving as a rite of passage at medical schools around the country. On Saturday morning, the new students committed to their future before friends and family with the recitation of the Hippocratic Oath and the donning of the white coat.
In this sixth class of UTRGV medical students, 24 of the 55 are from the Rio Grande Valley and 12 are UTRGV graduates, all selected from more than 7,545 highly competitive applications.
Healthy Xocolat: Local entrepreneur shares business journey
Congratulations Dr. Ghaddar!
Funding agency: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award Program
Project Title: Building Capacity in Hispanic Serving Institutions for PCOR/CER focused on Mental Health Impacts of COVID-19
Goal: To increase student stakeholder and scientist capacity for engagement in Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) and Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) at Hispanic Serving Institutions with a focus on the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and well-being among Hispanic college students.
PI s: Ashley Butler and Suad Ghaddar
Project Period: September 1, 2021-February 28, 2023
Award Amount: $200,001; UTRGV subaward: $91,322
Congrats Dr. Lopez on this great achievement!!!!
Eight UTRGV faculty members recognized with Faculty Excellence Awards
July 15, 2021 - RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – The annual UTRGV Faculty Excellence Awards this year recognize eight faculty members for their accomplishments inside and outside the classroom.
The awards highlight the work of UTRGV faculty in the areas of teaching, online teaching, research, service, student mentoring, community-engaged scholarship and sustainability education.
“I would like to congratulate our faculty members for their hard work and commitment to our UTRGV students and community during this unprecedented time in higher education,” said Dr. Janna Arney, UTRGV interim provost. “Even through the disruptive year we have had, they have demonstrated that not even a pandemic could stop them from doing what they love – teaching, doing research and helping their communities.”
Each faculty winner receives a plaque and a $5,000 monetary award.
Stay on Track
Please visit “Stay on Track” website to see FAQs and impact on financial aid eligibility. Please see some common questions and answers that have come up. Depending on specific financial aid package, credit hr. requirement may vary from 12-15 hrs/semester.
https://www.utrgv.edu/ucentral/paying-for-college/cpos/index.htm
How are courses for double majors treated? Double majors must be officially declared far in advance of the first class day to avoid adverse impacts to financial aid. The Census Date for each term is published on the academic calendar. Courses taken toward an undeclared major will not count in the ‘Stay on Track’ evaluation process.
How are courses for a minor treated? Minors must be officially declared far in advance of the first class day to avoid adverse impacts to financial aid. The Census Date for each term is published on the academic calendar. Courses taken toward an undeclared minor will not count in the ‘Stay on Track’ evaluation process.
Are prerequisite courses eligible for financial aid? When a course is required that is not in a student’s degree plan, this prerequisite course could be considered remedial for financial aid purposes, even if the prerequisite course is not defined as a remedial course by UTRGV.
Is a remedial course eligible for financial aid? Courses such as remedial math and English that prepare students for college are considered eligible for financial aid if student is enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program.
What about study abroad or independent study courses? As with any other course, the study abroad courses or independent study courses must count toward a student’s degree plan to be considered for financial aid eligibility.
What if I am enrolled in 12 hours (or more) that count toward the degree but I’m also in other hours that don’t count? As long as you remain in a minimum of twelve hours that apply toward your degree based on your official degree plan, you will be awarded financial aid for those hours – which match UTRGV’s tuition cap of 12 credit hours.
New UTRGV School of Medicine dean meets the Class of 2025
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – JULY 6, 2021 – In his first week as the new dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine, Dr. Michael B. Hocker welcomed the Class of 2025, the newest cohort of medical students on July 2. During a student townhall meeting, Hocker spent some time answering questions about himself and sharing stories of flying helicopters in the Navy, his hobbies, his family, his own journey to become a doctor, and his goals as dean.
Striving for More
Two Brownsville women graduate, set to pursue careers in medicine
Above: Natalia Davila wears her cap and gown Thursday in Brownsville. Below: Sonya Rivera Montes at the Medical Education Building on Wednesday in Edinburg.
Davila is graduating with a Bachelor’s of Biomedical Sciences and will continue her education this fall when she starts Medical School at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. She decided to pursue a career in medicine after seeing a loved one fight breast cancer.
“I saw one of my closest relatives fight breast cancer. And for me, that was very touching,” she said. “I not only got to see what a doctor can do, but also the patient side and how it can be very difficult for them.”
Read the full article PDF version here.
Read the full article on myrgv.com here.
Watermark Scholars Scholarship Opportunity
The application period is now open for the Watermark Scholars program!
Watermark is offering women in STEM scholarships for the fall 2021 academic term to provide much-needed support for college students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM)-related studies and careers.
Two students will be selected from the pool of applicants, and awardees will each receive $5,000 to help continue their education.
To participate in the Watermark Scholars program, applicants are asked to submit either a written essay, up to 500 words, or a short video on the topic of “Who has inspired you to pursue a career in science or technology, and what do you want to achieve upon graduation?” We’re looking for students who have been inspired by recent events and changes in learning and want to make a difference in their careers!
We’re asking you to help us share this opportunity with your students by posting this link on your institution’s website and sharing it with the appropriate internal resources: https://www.watermarkinsights.com/watermark-scholars/.
The deadline to submit entries is July 15, 2021, and awardees will be notified in August
UTMB Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) – PREPing for SUCCESS
The University of Texas Medical Branch Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) – PREPing for SUCCESS is currently accepting applications for our 1 year research and skills development program.
The UTMB PREP is a program for academically talented post-baccalaureate individuals who are highly motivated to pursue a PhD and desire additional academic research and career skills training prior to applying to PhD programs. UTMB PREP is designed to immerse students in a top tier research environment coupled with multi-level mentoring and academic skills activities to enhance scholars’ competitiveness for graduate school. Students who are nearing or have recently completed your bachelor’s degree within the last 3 years, desire a PhD in biomedical sciences, and are from a group underrepresented in the sciences are eligible to apply. Please refer students to: https://www.utmb.edu/gsbs/prep/prep-home or ask them to email me directly if they are interested.
PREPing for SUCCESS:
- provides a full year salary in an active research lab with full health benefits while preparing for graduate work
- provides enrichment activities to build skills and confidence to succeed at the graduate level
- allows a student to develop a research project under the guidance of an established faculty member
- Areas Include Infectious Diseases, Cancer, Drug discovery and development, Aging, Neurosciences and more!
- provides a multiple-layer mentored supportive environment for each student which includes peer mentors as an integral component
- incorporates an individual student development plan that uses novel interactive activities that engage students and helps them in realistic goal setting
- provides assistance for application to any national graduate program
- provide academic skills and research integrity training
- participate in a graduate curriculum with potential to earn a graduate certificate
- Example Projects carried out this year:
- Neurological Pathogenesis of Viral Infections
- Role of Ubiquitination in SARS-CoV-2 infection
- Role of Hydrogen Sulfide on cytokines in tumor angiogenesis
- High throughput screening of compounds to modulate sodium channel function for studies of psychiatric conditions
GSBS PREP Program information flyer 2021
The city of Edinburg has proclaimed March as National Nutrition Month!
March 2021 - National Nutrition Month is an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. During the month of March, everyone is invited to learn about making informed food choices and develop healthful eating and physical activity habits. Recently, our BSNS students along with Prof. Rachel Villarreal attended the City of Edinburg's council meeting where Mayor Richard Molina made a proclamation that March is National Nutrition Month. They encouraged the residents to personalize their plates through healthy food choices and to be more active. Happy National Nutrition Month!
UTRGV THE NEWSROOM - The day you stop learning is the day you stop living
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – Friday, December 11, 2020 - Graduating from UTRGV became a major family affair for a North Texas mother, daughter and father – they promised each other that if they started the educational journey, they would finish together and walk together. They have kept that promise. And because live ceremonies are delayed because of the pandemic, the three hope to walk together in May 2021.
UTPA alumna Norma Ochoa Urban-Palomarez, her daughter Elvia Palomarez, and Norma’s husband, Mario Palomarez, all enrolled in UTRGV accelerated online programs to earn their master’s degrees. Read the article here.
Avoiding COVID complications, health experts urge moderation this holiday season
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas (KVEO) November 29, 2020 The holidays are typically a time for a little extra indulgence. But with COVID-19 proving especially dangerous for overweight individuals, moderation is recommended this year. There’s just a lot of celebration, especially in our country with celebration comes food and drinks,” said Registered Dietician Dr. Lisa Salinas.
Dr. Salinas estimates people gain between five and 10 pounds around the holidays which can result in health complications. There’s a change in the hormones running through our body, change in cortisol, also differences in insulin sensitivity, she said. With the threat of COVID-19, Dr. Salinas says it’s especially important to not over do it this year.
Congratulations Dr. Sue Anne Chew and Dr. Saraswathy Nair on being awarded the NIH T34 “Bridges to Baccalaureate” grant in partnership with STC and TSC ($2.1 Million dollars 2020-2025)!
Funding Agency: NIH Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program (T34)
UTRGV PD/PI: Dr. Sue Anne Chew,
UTRGV Co-PD/PI: Dr. Saraswathy Nair
STC PD/PI: Dr. Shima Chaudhary
TSC PD/PI: Mr. Ruben Reyes
Project Title: Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley,
Period: 08/01/2020 – 07/31/2025
Total Costs: $2,087,976
Congratulations Dr. Roy!
Grant Number: 1R01AI147731-01A1
Project Title: A targeted anti-HIV drug delivery to the GALT
Project Period: 07/16/2020 – 06/30/2025
Award:$3.3 Million
Sponsor/Agency: NIAID, NIH
UTRGV receives federal grant to provide scholarships for students aspiring to become clinical laboratory scientists
Monday, July 13, 2020 -By Letty Fernandez
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – UTRGV has been awarded a $1.15 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) to help provide scholarships to aspiring students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
UTRGV will receive $230,000 per year for five years from the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program. The funding will help support the UTRGV Clinical Laboratory Science Program (CLS) in its efforts to actively recruit talented students interested in the CLS profession.
Read the full article about the Health Resources and Services Administration grant.
RGVision Magazine "Balanced Nutrition"
We are happy to announce that Dr. Lisa Salinas was interviewed for RGVision Magazine Health. She was asked for her expertise as a Registered Dietician Nutritionist and UTRGV Lecturer for the article.
Balanced Nutrition
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Though there is no perfect way of eating, putting in the effort to eat a balanced diet can lead to more energy and maintaining a healthy body mass index.
Registered Dietician Nutritionist and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Lecturer Dr. Lisa Salinas said the way people should eat is dependent on what outcome they are looking for. She worked in hospitals and private practice before joining UTRGV in 2018 and focuses on “big picture general health,” which generally leans in the direction of a more plant-based diet.
Journeys begin - Valley Morning Star
Travis Whitehead - June 1, 2020 - Harlingen
It’s the life they’ve dreamed of and the reality for which they’ve yearned.
And now, four graduates from the Harlingen School of Health Professions will take ownership of that reality. They’re about to begin their journeys toward medical professions as students in the new biomedical sciences program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
“I feel pretty excited because I know I’m going to be surrounded by people who can motivate me in different ways and challenge me,” said Diana Silva, 19, who would like to study women’s health.
She and her three classmates, Cesar Ruiz, 18, Adrian Garcia, 18, and Karla Galvan, 17, are the inaugural students in the new medical pipeline between high school and the UTRGV School of Medicine.
Read the full article about the journeys of the students.
UTRGV celebrates Class of 2020 with one-of-a-kind ceremony
Briana Cortez, a Brownsville resident who was chosen to serve as the first Virtual Commencement Bell Ringer, poses in her front yard with special congratulatory signage her parents surprised her with to celebrate earning her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Biology from UTRGV. She celebrated her summa cum laude honors with a morning, socially distanced watch party with her family. (Courtesy Photo)
May 30, 2020- RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – COVID-19 may have crashed the in-person graduation ceremonies for UTRGV, but that did not stop the university from celebrating Saturday morning with its more than 3,000 Spring 2020 graduates, during its first ever Virtual Commencement event.
UTRGV’s Class of 2020 will forever be a one-of-a-kind class that deserves a distinct virtual event to celebrate this major milestone – even if it meant watching from the comfort of their own homes with their family and loved ones.
Read the full article about the unique 2020 graduation ceremony.
Brownsville native fulfills childhood dream to become a medical doctor
Photo credit: David Pike
Ramiro Tovar, from Brownsville, is about to make history as a graduate of the UTRGV School of Medicine’s inaugural Class of 2020.
Friday, May 8, 2020
By Letty Fernandez
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS – As a young boy growing up in Brownsville, Ramiro Tovar knew early on that medicine was his future.
He saw his mother’s unfulfilled passion to become a doctor, and he watched a doctor step in to save his beloved aunt, who was on her deathbed.
“She got another 16 years of life.” Tovar said. “As a kid, you see this. I wanted to be like that doctor – and that is one of the things that pushed me toward medicine. That, and the drive my mom had for it.”
Now 26, Tovar is about to make history as a graduate of the UTRGV School of Medicine’s inaugural Class of 2020.
On Saturday, May 9, the School of Medicine will honor 39 graduating medical students in a special virtual ceremony that follows the rules for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. They will participate from their homes across the country, and hear their names called to receive their degrees virtually.
Read the full article of Ramiro's success here
Congratulations to Dr. Upal Roy for being awarded $25000 for the 2020-21 by the NIH funded RGV AD-RCMAR - Pilot Studies Program.
Project title: The Genetic Basis of Alzheimer Disease (AD) in Hispanic Americans affected by Type-2 Diabetes (T2D).
Hispanics (e.g., Mexicans/Mexican Americans) are the fastest-growing population in the USA. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 12% of the older adults in the Hispanic population are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) which is the highest proportion among different other ethnic groups in the USA. In addition, according to Texas State Health Services, Hispanic in Rio Grande Valley (RGV) are at a 30.7 % higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D) compared to the national average of 12.3 %. Despite the large body of epidemiological evidence linking AD with T2D, the precise underlying molecular mechanism is largely unknown. Since the Hispanic population is at significant risk of developing T2D at a younger age, it is crucial to develop a detection method of AD early on in order to provide necessary care to these patients. We propose to study microRNA (miRNA) markers of AD along with T2D in Hispanics, to develop blood biomarkers that would help in detecting AD early in T2D patients.
CONGRATULATIONS TO DR. CHEW FOR BEING AWARDED A NIH SC3 GRANT! WELL DONE!
Funding Agency: National Institute of Health (NIH) Support of Competitive Research (SCORE) Research Continuance Award (SC3)
Collaborators: Dr. Shizue Mito, Dr. Saraswathy Nair and Dr. Kristina Vatcheva from UTRGV and Dr. Bin He from Houston Methodist
Period: 03/16/2020 to 02/29/2024
Total costs: $435,900
Project title: Local dual delivery of a chemotherapy and an anti-angiogenic agent from an injectable functionalized biodegradable biomaterial system for the treatment of glioma
International Woman's Day March 8, 2020
Paola Vidal, a senior BMED student has been awarded the Outstanding female international student scholarship of $1000 in celebration of International Women’s Day
School of Medicine LMHS Research Symposium February 2020
Congratulations to Carlos Arroyo got first place (current Junior) & Alyssa Canales got second place (current sophomore).
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
UTRGV School of Medicine Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
The AHEC Scholars Program will prepare students in health-related professions to work in rural and medically underserved areas. Students who complete the program will be culturally competent, aware of the impacts of health disparities and the social determinants of health. AHEC Scholars will learn how to work effectively in inter-disciplinary collaborative teams on behalf of the community.
The AHEC Scholars program will not provide stipends to undergraduate students, although they may apply to be AHEC volunteers and gain valuable service and interprofessional experiences in rural health settings. Only graduate and undergraduate or technical programs that result in certification/licensing are eligible for the AHEC scholar stipends.
AHEC Scholars Program Application 2020
UTRGV students share science knowledge with children at museum event
January 22, 2020 - RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – While many UTRGV students volunteered Jan. 20 for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, community stewardship for many spans the entire year at a variety of events and with service-learning projects.
“UTRGV has been really good about giving so many opportunities here in the community,” said Viviana Quintero, a UTRGV senior biomedical science major from Brownsville and one of the students who presented last semester at the Microbiology Day event at the Children's Museum of Brownsville.
“It’s a way of giving back, so that’s something I truly liked,” she said.
As part of a course led by UTRGV assistant professor Dr. Upal Roy, Quintero’s group spoke to children about bacteria named pseudomonas.
“What we are focusing on is how it affects the population here in Brownsville and in the Rio Grande Valley,” she said.
Other students at the event spoke to families about avoiding germs and cleaning a wound.