Welcome, 2024!

As we enter the new year, our hearts are filled with optimism and anticipation for the endless possibilities ahead. Reflecting on the past year, we are immensely proud and thankful for our SOM family's unwavering dedication, hard work, and achievements.

Here's to embarking on another year of growth, health, and success. Happy New Year to our outstanding School of Medicine community! May this year bring new milestones and continued prosperity.

Documentary recognizes contributions in eliminating cervical cancer.

Saul D. Rivas, MD, MSPH, FACOG, associate professor and the Founding Medical Student Clerkship director in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, was recently featured in a documentary chronicling the advancements made in the Rio Grande Valley region in cervical cancer prevention.

Cervical cancer affects more than 300,000 women worldwide every year. Women with advanced cervical cancer in low-resourced communities are especially vulnerable, as they often lack follow-up care after abnormal Pap or HPV test results.

The Rio Grande Valley faces high rates of cervical cancer, reflecting a critical health concern in the population. Dr. Rivas speaks about the unique challenges faced in providing care to residents in the region.

These efforts were featured in a documentary by “The Conquering Cancer Campaign,” a global communications initiative focused on sharing significant contributions in eliminating cervical cancer worldwide. Click here to view a trailer for the documentary and screening information.

The UTRGV School of Medicine has been awarded $2,275,863 to establish the first of its kind "Maternal Health Research Center" in the Rio Grande Valley.

The "Maternal Health Research Network (MH-RN) for Minority Serving Institutes (MSIs) – Research Awards" grant – awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration – will establish the UTRGV Maternal Health Research Center. It will be one of 16 minority-serving institutes across the country forming a research network to conduct maternal health research.

Read More Here.

‘Topping-Out’ ceremony marks halfway point to 2025 launch

With the lifting of a symbolic tree atop two final metal beams, members of Vaughn Construction and HKS Architects & Designers, construction team on the UT Health RGV Cancer and Surgery Center, celebrated a milestone Nov. 7 in the project. 

The construction team held a “Topping-Out” ceremony, a tradition of Scandinavian origin dating back to 700 A.D. It marks when the frame of a building reaches its highest point, and celebrates the team working on the project, the onsite crew and others who contributed their time and labor to getting to that point. 

Read More Here.

Brandon Cantazaro, M.D.

Program Director, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine

When did you join the UTRGV School of Medicine?

I joined the UTRGV School of Medicine in 2015 when I began residency training with the inaugural Internal Medicine Residency Program. After completing my residency training in 2018, I immediately joined the faculty to continue my career in academic medicine. I recently began my sixth year as a faculty member in the Department of Internal Medicine at the UTRGV School of Medicine.

What brought you here?

I have always had a strong passion for providing care to an underserved community and patient population. After my interview for residency with UTRGV, I knew this community was a place I could call home for my internal medicine training and the foreseeable future. There is such a unique opportunity in South Texas to serve and contribute to the vital social mission that will ultimately transform our region. The patient population here is incredibly grateful for the care they receive, our community has tremendous respect for family and hospitality, and the patient cases for internal medicine are varied with incredible pathology. Our medical school, residency program, and learners are committed to resolving health disparities in our community. I was blessed to be allowed to lead the program where I trained and to witness history unfold in the Rio Grande Valley.

What do you enjoy about working in Academic Medicine? 

My instructors inspired me during my residency training. My faculty mentors were committed to creating future physician leaders of tomorrow through high-quality, compassionate, patient-centered care for the people of South Texas and beyond. Upon finishing residency training, I chose a position in academic medicine as I wanted to inspire other learners, as my mentors had inspired me. I have the unique and incredible opportunity to work with first-, second-, and third-year residents, including medical students at all levels. It is an honor to have the chance to play a small role in shaping these doctors and helping them get to where they need and want to be. Our future physicians will touch the lives of thousands of patients during their careers, and if I can play even a small role in teaching and supporting them during that training, I have done my job. Each day is a different opportunity to touch the life of a resident or a medical student.

Why is academic medicine important to our community?

Our program is unique because we are located on the US-Mexico border with a patient population that historically has had minimal access to care. In addition, over half a million Winter Texans visit South Texas from October to March. We live in one of the poorest yet fastest-growing counties in the United States. Academic medicine will significantly advance twenty-first-century education, research, and clinical practice. Academic medicine will allow us to meet the ever-changing needs of our community, and we are currently having a profound impact on our local community. An academic center such as UTRGV will also open the doors to attract prestigious faculty, high-caliber physicians, and professionals at the top of their fields. As we continue to build an academic medical center, we will also continue growth in research. Most importantly, high-quality patient-centered care is the overriding principle of a health professional, and academic medicine will allow us to provide the very best patient care. UTRGV is making history in South Texas by transforming the region through academic medicine.

How do you spend your free time?

In my spare time, I enjoy traveling and spending time with the most recent addition to our family, our beautiful baby boy.