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Academic Advising & Support Services UTRGV School of Medicine

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Academic Advising and Support Services SOM
Team Based Learning Center ETBLC 1.130
Email: SOMAdvising@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 296-1924

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Staff

Tahnee Netro, PhD

Director, Academic Advising & Support Services
Phone: (956) 296-1908
Email: Tahnee.Netro@utrgv.edu
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Tahnee Netro, PhD

Dr. Tahnee Netro joined The University of Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine in March 2023. Prior to entering UTRGV school of medicine, she worked in public school education for over 15 years and served in various positions as a Special Education Teacher, School Counselor, School Administrator, Academic Dean, and Director for Special Education Programs. During that time, she provided instructional services to students who required curriculum modifications or accommodations based on individual learning need. She supervised instructional programs, ensured compliance measures regarding state and federal laws on special programs, and implemented methods of educating students with learning difficulties. Dr. Netro obtained a master’s degree in counseling from University of Texas at San Antonio and a Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership Studies from Our Lady of the Lake University.

Prior to entering the field of education, she held a position as Tissue Procurement Coordinator with South Texas Blood and Tissue Center in San Antonio, Texas, allowing her to work with a dynamic procurement team during the tissue recovery process. Her role included ensuring safety and compliance measures with applicable standard operating procedures and regulations. In addition, this provided her an opportunity to serve as a network donor representative, bridging the wishes and respect towards donor families in collaboration with healthcare community professionals.

As the Director of Academic Advising and Support Services, Dr. Netro is responsible for overseeing the academic advising services at UTRGV School of Medicine. She also serves as an Educational Learning Specialist, providing individual consultation to medical school students to enhance efficient study and test taking strategies, and evaluates student learning to guide them in developing effective learning strategies and time management skills. She is passionate about education. Her goal is to help medical students reach their full potential and succeed in their academic goals to fulfill their dreams of becoming physicians.


Director, Academic Advising & Support Services
Academic Advising & Academic Support
Email: Tahnee.Netro@utrgv.edu

Phone: (956) 296-1908

Claudette Garza, MBA

Medical Student Academic Advisor
Phone: (956) 296-1955
Email: Claudette.Garza01@utrgv.edu
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Claudette Garza, MBA

Claudette Garza is an accomplished professional with a passion for education and healthcare management. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology with minors in Chemistry and Psychology from UTRGV, showcasing her commitment to understanding the intricate aspects of science and human behavior.

Building on her strong educational foundation, Claudette pursued further studies and attained an MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Management from the University of Texas at Tyler. This advanced degree allowed her to merge her scientific background with business acumen, equipping her with a comprehensive skill set tailored for the complex healthcare landscape.

Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to higher education and student success. Her experience in this field has enriched her understanding of the unique challenges students face and the pivotal role of mentorship in their academic journey. She has consistently demonstrated a commitment to promoting academic excellence and holistic student development.

Claudette's aspirations extend beyond her current role. Her ultimate goal is to ascend to a leadership position within the UTRGV School of Medicine, where she can contribute significantly to the institution's growth and its mission to advance healthcare education and research. With her unwavering dedication and a vision for excellence, Claudette is poised to make a lasting impact in the field of healthcare and education.


Medical Student Academic Advisor
Academic Advising & Academic Support
Email: Claudette.Garza01@utrgv.edu

Phone: (956) 296-1955

Virginia Ledesma, MA

Medical Student Academic Advisor
Phone: (956) 296-8218
Email: Virginia.Ledesma@utrgv.edu
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Virginia Ledesma, MA

Virginia Ledesma obtained her Bachelor of Arts in History and Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from legacy institution UTBTSC Brownsville in 2012. She is a proud first-generation college graduate and has over ten years of experience in higher education. She has worked as a Learning Instructional Specialist for a UTRGV federally funded TRiO program. TRiO provides support services to first-generation college students with limited resources, as well as students with a documented disability to remove obstacles to higher education and help institutions increase retention and graduation rates.

As the Learning Specialist, she hired, trained, and evaluated academic tutors to provide tutoring services to 275 participants. Virginia also served as an Academic Coach charged with coaching program participants in the areas of course selection, FAFSA renewal, study skills development, graduate programs, career development, financial literacy, and cultural engagement, among other support services to enhance their learning and help students graduate with their bachelor's degree.

Virginia joined UTRGV SOM in 2022 as a medical student academic advisor. She is responsible for facilitating individualized academic advising and academic support services to School of Medicine students. Virginia’s role also allows her to collaborate with the SOM community, staff, and faculty members to coordinate academic support services for SOM students.

¡Gracias, se habla español!


Medical Student Academic Advisor
Academic Advising & Academic Support
Email: Virginia.Ledesma@utrgv.edu

Phone: (956) 296-8218

Gregg Madsen, M.Ed.

Medical Student Academic Advisor
Phone: (956) 296-8216
Email: Gregg.Madsen01@utrgv.edu
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Gregg Madsen, M.Ed.

Gregg Madsen joined The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine in April 2024. Prior to entering UTRGV School of Medicine, he worked in higher education for over 14 years while serving five years as a humanities tutor for both South Texas College and The University of Texas-Pan American and nine years as an undergraduate academic advisor for UTPA/UTRGV. During that time, he provided professional career guidance and developmental academic advisement for current and prospective students within the Colleges of Education, Fine Arts, and Liberal Arts programs. In addition, he specialized in working with both veteran and non-traditional students.

As both a humanities tutor and an academic advisor, working in higher education has allowed Gregg the opportunity to assist students in developing in-depth comprehension and understanding of subject matter in various disciplines, majors, and programs. He has also developed, promoted, and presented workshops and training sessions to staff members that focus on best practices in learning assistance.

Mr. Madsen obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology from The University of Texas-Pan American in 2011 and a master’s degree in counseling & guidance from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2017.

Prior to entering the field of higher education, he held positions in law enforcement as a Correction’s Officer and Deputy Sheriff in the Central Texas Region, allowing him to work with people from all walks of life and various backgrounds. His role included ensuring safety and compliance measures within the jail setting and later enforcing laws within the county as part of the patrol division. In addition, this provided Gregg an opportunity working as a public servant to connect with those in need, particularly in stressful and dangerous situations. Members of law enforcement are inquisitive and caring people by nature which eventually led Gregg to a new calling in higher education.

Gregg’s aspirations extend beyond his current role. His primary goal is to ascend to a leadership position within the UTRGV School of Medicine, where he can contribute significantly to the institution's growth and its mission to advance healthcare education and research. With his unwavering dedication and a vision for excellence, Mr. Madsen is poised to make a lasting impact in the field of healthcare and education.


Medical Student Academic Advisor
Academic Advising & Academic Support
Email: Gregg.Madsen01@utrgv.edu

Phone: (956) 296-8216

Gabriela Valdez, MS

Medical Student Academic Advisor
Phone: (956) 296-8217
Email: Gabriela.l.Valdez01@utrgv.edu
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Gabriela Valdez, MS

Gabriela Valdez is currently serving as an Academic Advisor at the School of Medicine at UTRGV. She earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees from UTRGV in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Her bachelor's degree is in Exercise Science with a concentration in Physical Therapy and a minor in Health, while her master's degree was completed through the accelerated program in Kinesiology with a concentration in Physical Education.

With a lifelong passion for higher education, Gabriela has always been dedicated to helping students achieve their academic goals. She has a rich history of involvement in various student health organizations, where she has held prestigious leadership positions, including President and Vice President, with one of the most notable being HOSA.

In addition to her commitment to student success, Gabriela is an avid technology enthusiast. She continually hones her skills in the realm of technology, with a particular focus on integrating emerging technologies like AI and software into various aspects of education.

Gabriela's ultimate goal is to gain admission to a doctoral program in Education, with the aspiration of one day assuming a leadership role within the realm of higher education. Her journey thus far demonstrates her dedication to academia and her unwavering commitment to both students and educational innovation.


Medical Student Academic Advisor
Academic Advising & Academic Support
Email: Gabriela.l.Valdez01@utrgv.edu

Phone: (956) 296-8217

Izak Munoz

Program Specialist, Academic Advising & Support Services
Email: Izak.Munoz01@utrgv.edu
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Izak Munoz

Izak Munoz holds a Bachelor’s degree of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership and an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice. With a strong background in customer service, having served the City of McAllen for 5 years as an Emergency 9-11 Dispatcher and a Customer Service Specialist for the McAllen Public Utility department, he strives to provide the best customer service to students, staff, and faculty alike.  

Izak’s current goals are to pursue his Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and ultimately obtain a leadership position at UTRGV.  

Izak's hobbies outside of work include grilling and spending time outdoors with his family, whether it’s at the park, the beach, or the backyard. 


Program Specialist, Academic Advising & Support Services
Email: Izak.Munoz01@utrgv.edu

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