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December 2025
Here's a recap of all the School of Medicine events that recently took place!
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Holiday Message From Dr. Cobos: Momentum in Medicine
As the year comes to a close, Interim Dean Dr. Everardo Cobos reflects on a year of growth, impact and momentum at the UTRGV School of Medicine.
Read Dr. Cobos' full holiday message here and learn more about the School of Medicine's "Momentum in Medicine."
Happy holidays from the UTRGV School of Medicine!
| | Dr. Cobos' holiday message | SOM and UT Health RGV holiday celebrations | |
The UTRGV School of Medicine and UT Health RGV hosted their annual holiday celebrations, bringing together faculty and staff for seasonal refreshments and camaraderie.
The events were hosted by Dr. Everardo Cobos, interim dean of the School of Medicine. Guests gathered for coffee, treats and a chance to celebrate the season with colleagues across both organizations.
Thank you to those who joined!
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Healthcare in the Rio Grande Valley is transforming: UTRGV School of Medicine celebrates a year of growth and hope
Read more here.
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UTRGV School of Medicine celebrates
top marks from its graduating students
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Reflections of gratitude
Nearly 10 years ago, the lights flickered on inside a brand-new building in Edinburg, and empty classrooms soon filled with the hum of ambition as future physicians prepared to change the story of healthcare in the Rio Grande Valley.
It was the beginning of something the region had never seen before – a medical school built by and for the Valley.
Today, nearly a decade later, that vision continues to grow.
Read more here.
| SOM research leading the fight against Alzheimer's disease | |
Alzheimer's affects thousands of families in the Rio Grande Valley.
The Newsroom at UTRGV researchers are crafting new prevention strategies and working with local clinics to advance treatment through a combination of neuroscience, genetics and community health.
And with the Texas Legislature's (#txlege's) voter-approved $3 billion DPRIT fund, there is new hope for expanding this kind of work across Texas.
Read more here.
| New Education Development Specialist | |
The Office of Faculty Affairs has welcomed Dr. Iliana Cantú as its new Education Development Specialist, adding an educator and researcher whose work is rooted in community and culture. Raised in the Rio Grande Valley, Dr. Cantú has spent her career strengthening learning spaces for students and educators across K–12 and higher education.
She earned her EdD and MBA from UTRGV and previously completed graduate studies in communication, training and consulting at UT Pan American. Her research explores professional development, teacher praxis and representation in education—areas she will continue to elevate in her new role.
| | Unveiling the clinical profiles of critically ill COVID-19 patients: insights from Ezhou during the early spread | |
Two UTRGV School of Medicine students, Tabitha Abraham and Linwei Li, co-authored a newly published research study examining the clinical characteristics and outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients in one of the earliest cities affected by the pandemic.
The students conducted their work under the mentorship of Dr. Alex Zuo, clinical professor in the Department of Medical Education and professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, who also served as the study’s corresponding author.
The retrospective study analyzed 98 severely ill patients treated between February and March 2020, during the critical early phase of the global COVID-19 outbreak. Researchers identified key symptoms, complications, and imaging features associated with high mortality.
“This study captured an unprecedented moment during the earliest phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, when physicians around the world were racing to understand a completely new disease,” said Dr. Alex Zuo, corresponding author and mentor on the project. “The findings not only helped clarify key predictors of mortality, but also reflect the exceptional dedication and scholarly maturity of our medical students" during a global crisis.”
The work contributes to a deeper understanding of the disease’s early clinical course and highlights the role of UTRGV SOM students in international research efforts.
Congratulations!
Read more here.
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Congratulations to Dr. Fatimah Bello for her appointment as the new associate dean of Graduate Medical Education and designated institutional official (DIO) for the UTRGV School of Medicine.
In this capacity, Dr. Bello will oversee all ACGME-accredited residency and fellowship programs and collaborate closely with the Graduate Medical Education Committee to ensure full compliance with accreditation standards and the highest quality of training for our residents and fellows.
She succeeds Dr. Chelsea Chang, who served with distinction in the role. Thank you, Dr. Chang, for your leadership and many contributions to advancing graduate medical education across our institution.
Congratulations!
Read more here.
| RCMI Pilot Projects Awards Ceremony | |
The UTRGV Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) program hosted its 2025 Pilot Projects Awards Ceremony at the McAllen Biomedical Research Building.
The event, facilitated by Dr. Ihsan Salloum, director of the Institute for Neuroscience, brought together awardees, investigators and leadership to highlight emerging research efforts across the institution.
Dr. Salloum opened the ceremony with welcome remarks, followed by comments from RCMI Program Directors Dr. Everardo Cobos and Dr. Subhash Chauhan.
Seven awardees then delivered brief presentations outlining their project goals, significance and expected outcomes.
The ceremony also included recognition of the awardees, a group photo with RCMI leadership, and time for networking and light refreshments. The event concluded with closing remarks, rounding out a program celebrating research innovation at UTRGV.
Congratulations to those awarded!
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UTRGV Internal Medicine residents celebrate
2025 Fellowship Match success
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The UTRGV School of Medicine celebrated its Internal Medicine residents as they learned where they will continue their training through the 2025 fellowship match. Faculty, residents and loved ones gathered to mark the milestone and recognize the accomplishments of the incoming fellows.
Residents matched into competitive programs nationwide, spanning cardiology, hematology-oncology, nephrology, gastroenterology and endocrinology.
Congratulations to all the residents on this exciting next step in their medical careers!
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SOM MS helps publish new study on
innovative muscle physiology lab
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A new peer-reviewed publication from the UTRGV School of Medicine showcases ongoing innovation in the medical education curriculum, highlighting an experiential lab that strengthens students' understanding of skeletal muscle physiology. The project, published in Discover Education, was carried forward in large part by medical student Meyer Maddox, MS3, whose contributions were instrumental to its completion.
The study describes a hands-on lab in which pre-clerkship medical students used a hand-held dynamometer to measure muscle force during two activities: the Elbow Flexion Experiment and the Fatigue Experiment. The approach aimed to deepen students' understanding of core physiological concepts while building practical skills for evaluating muscle weakness in clinical settings.
Survey results showed strong outcomes, with 98.5% of students reporting confidence in using the dynamometer and understanding the muscle length–tension relationship. The publication underscores the School of Medicine's commitment to experiential learning and evidence-based curriculum development.
Congratulations!
Read more here.
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UTRGV SOM researcher co-edits new volume
on Emerging Cancer Theranostics
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The UTRGV School of Medicine is celebrating the publication of Advancements in Cancer Theranostics: Integrating Imaging and Intervention, a new scholarly volume co-edited by Dr. Murali Mohan Yallapu, associate professor in the Division of Cancer and Immunology. Co-edited with Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the book brings together leading global researchers to examine cutting-edge nanotechnologies that combine cancer imaging and targeted treatment — an approach known as theranostics.
The volume explores emerging advances in nanomedicine, multimodal imaging, site-specific tumor targeting, and stimuli-responsive drug delivery, as well as strategies for solid tumor ablation and pathways for regulatory and clinical translation.
Designed as a comprehensive reference, the book highlights case studies, technical challenges, and future directions in surface-engineered nanoplatforms, offering valuable insight for scientists, oncologists, translational researchers and trainees in precision oncology.
Congratulations!
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Haritha Mapakshi has joined the UT Health RGV Cancer Care team as a family nurse practitioner. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania, and is board-certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
With experience in primary and pediatric care, Mapakshi brings a broad clinical perspective to oncology and is committed to patient education, symptom management, and guiding patients and families through the cancer treatment process.
Welcome!
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The UTRGV Research Annual Report offers a snapshot of the university’s research priorities, funding activity and scholarly impact.
The report highlights research expenditures, institutional initiatives and faculty achievements across disciplines, including key contributions from the UTRGV School of Medicine.
Read the 2025 report here.
| | Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) | | |
Dr. Alcides Amador has been elected a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, a prestigious honor recognizing distinguished contributions and leadership in psychiatry.
Fellowship in the APA places Dr. Amador among leading psychiatric professionals nationwide.
His election becomes effective Jan. 1, 2026, and he will be formally recognized during the Convocation of Distinguished Fellows on May 18, 2026, at the APA Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
The honor underscores the UTRGV School of Medicine's continued impact through faculty leadership and excellence in psychiatry.
Congratulations!
Read more here.
| | 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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