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    Founded in 2013, the UTRGV School of Medicine educates students and graduate physicians, provides patient care, and performs advanced scientific research.

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  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Diversity and Inclusion
  4. Diversity Committee

Diversity Committee

Leadership

Sofia Hernandez, MPA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Michelle Varon, PhD, LP

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

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

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

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

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



Residents

Grecia Dominguez-Rivera

Grecia Dominguez-Rivera

Resident, PGY2
Grecia.DominguezRivera@utrgv.edu

Grecia Dominguez-Rivera


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


Sara Mojica

Sara Mojica

Resident, PGY2
Sara.Mojica@utrgv.edu

Sara Mojica


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



Students

Tabitha Abraham

Tabitha Abraham

MS1
Tabitha.Abraham01@utrgv.edu

Tabitha Abraham


Tabitha Abraham
MS1
Email: Tabitha.Abraham01@utrgv.edu


Shabba Armbrister

Shabba Armbrister

MS1
Shabba.Armbrister01@utrgv.edu

Shabba Armbrister


Shabba Armbrister
MS1
Email: Shabba.Armbrister01@utrgv.edu


Aaron Dadzie

Aaron Dadzie

MS2
Aaron.Dadzie01@utrgv.edu

Aaron Dadzie


Aaron Dadzie
MS2
Email: Aaron.Dadzie01@utrgv.edu


Raquel Lara

Raquel Lara

MS1
Raquel.Lara01@utrgv.edu

Raquel Lara


Raquel Lara
MS1
Email: Raquel.Lara01@utrgv.edu


Elvia Palomarez

Elvia Palomarez

MS1
Elvia.Palomarez01@utrgv.edu

Elvia Palomarez


Elvia Palomarez
MS1
Email: Elvia.Palomarez01@utrgv.edu


Irum Rahman

Irum Rahman

MS1
Irum.Rahman01@utrgv.edu

Irum Rahman


Irum Rahman
MS1
Email: Irum.Rahman01@utrgv.edu


William Reckley

William Reckley

MS1
William.Reckley01@utrgv.edu

William Reckley


William Reckley
MS1
Email: William.Reckley01@utrgv.edu



Staff

Esmeralda Lozano

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 Committee
  • Diversity Categories
  • Pathway Programs
  • Diversity In Action
  • Diversity and Inclusion Education Series
  • Dean's Welcome

Contact

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

Resources

  • For Students
  • For Faculty
  • UTRGV Notice of Non-Discrimination
  • 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

Campus Locations


Edinburg

1201 West University Drive
Edinburg, TX 78501
(956) 296-1600

Harlingen

2102 Treasure Hills Boulevard,
Harlingen, TX 78550
(956) 296-1600

Brownsville

One West University Boulevard,
Brownsville, TX 78520
(956) 296-1600

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