Diversity and Inclusion | Diversity Team (UTRGV School of Medicine)

Diversity Team

Leadership

Sofia Hernandez, MPA: Chief Diversity Officer, UTRGV SOM; (956) 296-1951; Sofia.Hernandez@utrgv.edu

Sofia Hernandez, MPA

Sofia Hernandez, MPA
Chief Diversity Officer, UTRGV SOM
Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity
Email: Sofia.Hernandez@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 296-1951

Sofia Hernandez is the chief of staff for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Office of Health Affairs and School of Medicine. Ms. Hernandez also serves as the UTRGV Chief Diversity Officer for Health Affairs.

Before joining UTRGV Ms. Hernandez served as vice president for government affairs and the Graduate Medical Education program at DHR Health.

Hernandez has more than 25 years of experience working in health care and public policy having worked for such organizations including United Healthcare, Hidalgo County, and State Senators Juan Hinojosa, Eddie Lucio, Judith Zaffirini and the late Carlos Truan.

Hernandez earned her undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin. She also earned a master’s degree in public administration from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Faculty

Adela Valdez, MD, MBA: Associate Dean Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity and Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education, UTRGV SOM; (956) 296-1471; Adela.Valdez@utrgv.edu

Adela Valdez, MD, MBA

Adela Valdez, MD, MBA
Associate Dean Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity and Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education, UTRGV SOM
Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity
Email: Adela.Valdez@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 296-1471

Adela S. Valdez, M.D., M.B.A., is the associate dean of Diversity and Inclusion, the associate dean of Continuing Medical Education at the UTRGV School of Medicine, and professor in Family and Community Medicine.

She has oversight of the School of Medicine’s diversity and inclusion initiatives for students and faculty. Most recently, she was selected to serve on the UT System Kenneth Shine Academy of Health Science Education, and a recipient of the 2018 UTRGV Accessibility Outstanding Award. The National Library of Medicine honored Dr. Valdez in its “Faces of Medicine” exhibit that recognizes the achievement of women in medicine. She is an active member of the National Hispanic Medical Association and has had several national appointments at the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. A Rio Grande Valley native, she has devoted her professional career in establishing access to clinical care and educational opportunities to RGV communities.

For over 25 years, Dr. Valdez has focused on the establishment and development of undergraduate, graduate, faculty, and continuing medical educational programs in South Texas. A strong advocate of community engagement, Dr. Valdez established a community-based Family Medicine Residency Program, community service-learning opportunities for medical students, and the development of community sites for medical student clerkship rotations during her tenure at The University of Texas Health Science San Antonio School of Medicine.

Dr. Valdez is a graduate of Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, and the UTHSCSA Family Medicine Program in McAllen, Texas. She received her M.B.A. from the Ken Blanchard Center and a Health Care Policy fellowship from NYU/NHMA program.

Lubnaa Abdullah, PsyD: Assistant Professor of Psychiatry; Lubnaa.Abdullah@utrgv.edu

Lubnaa Abdullah, PsyD

Lubnaa Abdullah, PsyD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Psychiatry
Email: Lubnaa.Abdullah@utrgv.edu

Francisco P. Gomez MD, MS: Assistant Professor of Neurology; Francisco.Gomez@utrgv.edu

Francisco P. Gomez MD, MS

Francisco P. Gomez MD, MS
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Neurology
Email: Francisco.Gomez@utrgv.edu

Mikko Kuokkanen, PhD: Assistant Professor of Human Genetics; Mikko.Kuokkanen@utrgv.edu

Mikko Kuokkanen, PhD

Mikko Kuokkanen, PhD
Assistant Professor of Human Genetics
Human Genetics
Email: Mikko.Kuokkanen@utrgv.edu

Satish Kumar, PhD: Assistant Professor of Research; (956) 665-6477; Satish.Kumar@utrgv.edu

Satish Kumar, PhD

Satish Kumar, PhD
Assistant Professor of Research
South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute
Email: Satish.Kumar@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 665-6477

Candace Robledo, PhD, MPH: Associate Professor; Candace.Robledo@utrgv.edu

Candace Robledo, PhD, MPH

Candace Robledo, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor
Population Health and Biostatistics
Email: Candace.Robledo@utrgv.edu

Dr. Robledo is a doctoral-level epidemiologist with collaborative research and consultation experience in reproductive and perinatal epidemiology, advanced quantitative and computing skills. She was trained at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center. She served for three years as a tenure track Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health at The University of North Texas. Her primary research interests have focused on assessing the impact that environmental chemicals (i.e. bisphenol-A, phthalates, persistent organic pollutants and air pollution) have on maternal and child health. Dr. Robledo also has experience conducting research and working with research teams on a broad range of reproductive, pediatric and behavioral research topics. Though a new investigator, Dr. Robledo has a great deal of expertise and experience successfully conducting studies in human populations and working as part of a research team.

Melinda Wilding, PhD: Assistant Professor; Melinda.Wilding@utrgv.edu

Melinda Wilding, PhD

Melinda Wilding, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Internal Medicine
Email: Melinda.Wilding@utrgv.edu

Melinda M. Wilding, D. Bioethics, is an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine. She has developed, designed, and currently instructs two core courses and an elective course in the online MS in Bioethics.

She previously served as an instructor of graduate bioethics courses at the University of Colorado’s Department of Philosophy in Denver, and as a volunteer clinical instructor at the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz in Aurora, Colorado. Dr. Wilding was a special graduate faculty member at the University of Colorado’s Humanities Program -graduate school in Denver.

Dr. Wilding received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and a Master of Arts in Bioethics from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio where she attained a 4.0 GPA.

She received a doctorate degree in bioethics from Loyola University of Chicago Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics and Healthcare Leadership in Chicago, Illinois.

Wilding’s specialization is in applied ethical reasoning and bioethical deliberation and problem solving. According to Dr. Wilding, when clinicians pivot reasoning from the traditional clinical gaze to patient care narratives and community-based scopes, standards of care are enhanced which leads to greater overall individual and stakeholder health.

Michelle Varon, PhD, LP: Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine, Director of Pediatric Services; Michelle.Varon01@utrgv.edu

Michelle Varon, PhD, LP

Michelle Varon, PhD, LP
Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine, Director of Pediatric Services
Department of Family & Community Medicine
Email: Michelle.Varon01@utrgv.edu

Michelle Varón, PhD, LP is an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine. Dr. Varón, is also the director of The Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) and Family Medicine Educator fellowship program.

She received both a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from University of Texas-Pan American. She received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Utah State University. She completed her APA accredited predoctoral internship at Citrus Health Network in Hialeah, Florida, and completed her postdoctoral residency at Valley Psychological Services in Texas.

She serves as clinical faculty and is involved in teaching Integrated Behavioral Health to family medicine residents and medical students. She also actively provides behavioral health care services at the McAllen Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Clinic.

Diversity Resources

Betty L. Monfort, MPH: Senior Associate Dean, Admissions and Enrollment Management; Betty.Monfort@utrgv.edu

Betty L. Monfort, MPH

Betty L. Monfort, MPH
Senior Associate Dean, Admissions and Enrollment Management
Office of Student Affairs, UTRGV SOM
Email: Betty.Monfort@utrgv.edu

Florence Nocar, JD: Chief Institutional Equity and Diversity Officer, UTRGV; Florence.Nocar@utrgv.edu

Florence Nocar, JD

Florence Nocar, JD
Chief Institutional Equity and Diversity Officer, UTRGV
Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity, UTRGV
Email: Florence.Nocar@utrgv.edu

Beatriz Tapia, MD, EdD, MPH: Assistant Dean, Faculty Development; Beatriz.Tapia@utrgv.edu

Beatriz Tapia, MD, EdD, MPH

Beatriz Tapia, MD, EdD, MPH
Assistant Dean, Faculty Development
Office of Faculty Affairs
Email: Beatriz.Tapia@utrgv.edu

Beatriz Tapia, M.D., Ed.D., M.P.H, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the Assistant Dean of Faculty Development at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Harlingen, Texas. Dr. Tapia is a native of Chicago, Illinois. She attended the Autonomous University of Puebla in Mexico, where she received her M.D., and the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University (JHSPH), in Baltimore, Maryland, where she received her Master’s in Public Health. In addition to her M.P.H., Dr. Tapia trained in occupational health and environmental medicine, health disparities and health inequality at the JHSPH. Dr. Tapia is also a recent graduate of a Doctor of Education in Professional Leadership with an Emphasis in Health Science Education from the University of Houston.

Since her appointment as assistant dean in 2015, Dr. Tapia has led the planning of over 120 faculty development series and workshops for UME and GME. Dr. Tapia is also a founding member for the Texas Consortium for Faculty Success (TCFS) established in 2016. The TCFS is a professional community of faculty and administrative leaders responsible for faculty affairs and faculty development in Texas' academic health institutions.

Dr. Tapia is a strong advocate for the medically underserved; she continuously provides environmental and public health education to promotoras (lay healthcare workers), public health professionals and community centers. Her research interests are border health, environmental medicine, public health, minority health, faculty development and medical education research.

Michael Uhrbrock: Continuous Quality Improvement Manager; Michael.Uhrbrock@utrgv.edu

Michael Uhrbrock

Michael Uhrbrock
Continuous Quality Improvement Manager
Accreditation Effectiveness and Quality Enhancement
Email: Michael.Uhrbrock@utrgv.edu

Students

Grecia Dominguez-Rivera: Resident, PGY2; Grecia.DominguezRivera@utrgv.edu

Grecia Dominguez-Rivera

Grecia Dominguez-Rivera
Resident, PGY2
Email: Grecia.DominguezRivera@utrgv.edu

Sara Mojica: Resident, PGY2; Sara.Mojica@utrgv.edu

Sara Mojica

Sara Mojica
Resident, PGY2
Email: Sara.Mojica@utrgv.edu

Staff

Esmeralda Lozano: Program Manager, Diversity Programs; (956) 296-1454; Esmeralda.Lozano@utrgv.edu

Esmeralda Lozano

Esmeralda Lozano
Program Manager, Diversity Programs
Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity, UTRGV SOM
HCEBL 3.112
Email: Esmeralda.Lozano@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 296-1454

Diversity and Inclusion (UTRGV School of Medicine)

Diversity Team
Reports and Data
Diversity Categories
Diversity Programs
Diversity In Action
Faculty Development Diversity Leadership Series
Dean's Welcome

Contact

Sofia Hernandez
Chief Diversity Officer
Email: Sofia.Hernandez@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 296-1951

Resources

For Students
For Faculty
Non-Discrimination Policy Statement
Non-Discrimination and Complaint Procedure
Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities
Sexual Misconduct
Office of Institutional Equity Division of Operations

Helpful Links

Diversity & Inclusion Education Series
Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity
Student Mistreatment
UTRGV Center for Diversity and Inclusion
Faculty Development Calendar