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August 2025
Here's a recap of all the School of Medicine events that recently took place!
| | UT Health RGV Cancer and Surgery Center is officially open! | | |
A new chapter in Valley healthcare has begun with the UT Health RGV Cancer and Surgery Center, which is now officially open!
Located in McAllen, this first-of-its-kind outpatient facility delivers compassionate, world-class care, all under one roof.
Now Open:
- Comprehensive Cancer Care
- Orthopedic & Sports Medicine
- Outpatient Rehabilitation
Coming Soon:
- Outpatient Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging
Together, we're building the future of health care in South Texas.
Learn more here.
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UTRGV Institute of Neuroscience and RGV Cancer Center
hosts community health event
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The UTRGV Institute of Neuroscience, in partnership with the RGV Cancer Health Disparities Research Center, recently hosted a successful community health event with over 250 attendees and more than 35 participating organizations.
The event featured free resources, educational booths, and talks on HPV and cancer prevention by Dr. Subhash Chauhan, Dr. Terrance Herman, and Community Health Worker Magda Rodriguez.
The gathering showcased strong cross-campus and community collaboration, culturally relevant outreach, and support from a diverse range of UTRGV departments and regional partners.
The Consulate of Mexico–Brownsville also participated, emphasizing binational cooperation. Attendees came from across the Rio Grande Valley and Mexico, reinforcing the event's regional impact.
Read more here.
| | Internship brings new approaches to Alzheimer's research | | |
An innovative internship program at the UTRGV School of Medicine is giving UTRGV students hands-on experience in Alzheimer's research. Led by Dr. Gladys Maestre, director of the Alzheimer's Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research and professor of Neuroscience, the initiative combines neuroscience, molecular biology, and public health approaches to explore new ways of understanding and combating Alzheimer's disease. Students are not only learning how to conduct research but also engaging in community outreach to raise awareness. This program represents a promising step toward building local research capacity while addressing a growing public health concern.
Read more here.
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Alex Alejandro, PT, DPT, CSOMT, is a licensed physical therapist at UT Health RGV who specializes in orthopedic and sports rehabilitation.
He graduated from Weslaco High School and started as a physical therapy assistant at South Texas College (STC) and later earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). He also holds certifications in both dry needling and sports & orthopedic manual therapy and is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
Welcome!
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Alyssa Castillo Herrera, OTR, OTD, CLT, is a dedicated occupational therapist and certified lymphedema therapist at the UT Health RGV Cancer and Surgery Center in McAllen, TX.
She graduated from Donna High School and earned her bachelor's degree in communication studies from The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) in 2008. In 2011, she earned her master's degree in professional development from Dallas Baptist University, and in 2013, completed an additional master's degree in occupational therapy from Texas Woman's University.
She continued her training and earned her post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) from Texas Tech University in 2025.
Welcome!
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Dr. Juliana F. Yang serves as the division chief and a professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine.
Board certified in both Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine and fellowship trained in Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy, Dr. Yang is nationally and internationally recognized for her clinical expertise, academic leadership, and cutting-edge research.
Dr. Yang earned her Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology with honors as a Presidential Scholar at The University of Texas at Austin.
She completed her Doctor of Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, where she also fulfilled her internal medicine residency. She subsequently trained in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and completed an advanced endoscopy fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore, honing her skills in cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
Welcome!
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Dr. Subhash Chauhan elected chair of
CPRIT University Advisory Committee
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Dr. Subhash Chauhan, director of the UTRGV School of Medicine’s South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research, has been elected chair of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) University Advisory Committee.
CPRIT is a $6 billion initiative, the largest state cancer research investment in U.S. history, and dedicated to funding innovative research, prevention programs, and medical advancements across Texas. The University Advisory Committee plays a key role by advising CPRIT’s Oversight Committee on how higher education institutions contribute to cancer research and innovation.
Dr. Chauhan, who previously served as vice chair of the committee, will now lead the group in representing the interests of universities statewide and proudly giving South Texas cancer research a strong voice at the table.
Congratulations, Dr. Chauhan!
| | New Staff Senate voice for Division of Health Affairs | | |
Ruby Sens, MBA, academic records analyst at the UTRGV School of Medicine, has been elected as a new staff senator for the Division of Health Affairs.
In this role, she will represent staff across the division by relaying information, sharing feedback, and offering recommendations to the university president and administration on issues that matter to UTRGV employees.
Congratulations!
| | A celebration and fond farewell to Dr. Leonel Vela | | |
The UTRGV School of Medicine recently celebrated the retirement of Dr. Leonel Vela, honoring his decades of leadership, service, and dedication to advancing medical education in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond. Colleagues, friends, and leadership gathered to recognize Dr. Vela's many achievements including serving as the founding senior associate dean for Education and Academic Affairs, founding chair of the Department of Medical Education, and serving 18 years as the founding regional dean of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) in Harlingen.
A Pharr native who grew up as a migrant worker, Dr. Vela's path to medicine took him from the fields of South Texas to Stanford University, Baylor College of Medicine, and Harvard University. Always guided by perseverance and fueled by the generosity of mentors, he built a career committed to expanding access to medical education and preparing future physicians to make a difference in their communities.
Throughout his career, Dr. Vela championed students, expanded access to medical education, and inspired the next generation of physicians.
Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Vela often shares a saying passed down from his father and grandfather: "Nunca es tarde para recibir el bien de mañana" — It's never too late to receive the good tomorrow will bring.
Those words, he says, guided him through his own path in medicine and continue to inspire the students he mentors.
During the celebration, Dr. Everardo Cobos, interim dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine, presented Dr. Vela with a special recognition for his remarkable career and lasting impact.
Congratulations, Dr. Vela, and thank you for a lifetime of service, vision, and inspiration!
| | Women & Children's Clinic is ready for UTRGV football season | |
Dr. Anupam Dhasmana appointed as
academic editor of Scientifica
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Dr. Anupam Dhasmana, associate research scientist for the Medicine and Oncology ISU, has been selected as an academic Editor (Oncology segment) for Scientifica, a journal published by Wiley, the world's leading society publisher.
Scientifica is a well-regarded, peer-reviewed, open-access journal that publishes high-quality research and review articles across the life sciences, environmental sciences, health sciences, and medicine. With an impact factor of 3.1, the journal enjoys global recognition and is indexed in leading scientific databases including PubMed (NLM), SCOPUS (Elsevier), and Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics).
Congratulations to Dr. Dhasmana on this prestigious achievement, which highlights both his professional excellence and the growing recognition of UTRGV's research community at the international level.
Congrats!
| | Click below to see School of Medicine and University-wide events. | | |
The University of Texas
Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
Phone: (956) 296-1900
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