I want to start off by thanking the university and RGV community for the warm welcome as we begin the new academic year at the UTRGV School of Medicine.
Since joining the UTRGV family earlier this summer, I have been thoroughly impressed and moved by the work being done at our School of Medicine. I am honored to have been selected as dean and am excited to join an outstanding group of students, faculty, and staff.
I would also like to wish our medical students, residents and fellows a great year. They have overcome many obstacles in the last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic and we want to encourage them to stay safe and remain focused on their journey as physicians.
This summer we officially welcomed the 2025 UTRGV School of Medicine class with an in-person white coat ceremony. The ceremony is an important first step in the career of a future physician, serving as a rite of passage at medical schools around the country.
I want to thank our dedicated faculty and staff who have made great strides in not only preparing for this semester, but also by the great developments they have been working on that have made their way to the forefront.
UT Health RGV, the clinical arm of our School of Medicine, is expanding its healthcare offerings in South Texas with a new Cancer and Surgery Center, with oncology advisory services provided by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center — a world leader in cancer care and research.
In addition, our South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute has been awarded a $2 million, four-year federal grant to further their diabetes work to identify rare gene mutations in large families in South Texas, including in the Rio Grande Valley.
As we continue to make progress on our goals of transforming the health of the RGV and through improved access to healthcare and educational opportunities and life changing research in our region, I invite you to learn more about what our School of Medicine has been working on by reading our stories within this newsletter.
Sincerely,
Michael B. Hocker, MD, MHS
Dean, School of Medicine
|
|
UT Health RGV to build
Cancer and Surgery Center
|
|
UT Health RGV is expanding its healthcare offerings in South Texas with a new Cancer and Surgery Center, with oncology advisory services provided by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center — a world leader in cancer care and research.
The center is part of the phase 1 development of UTRGV’s McAllen Academic Medical Campus on the newly acquired 38 acres, located on the south side of Pecan Boulevard between Jackson and McColl roads within the 495 Commerce Center development.
UTRGV President Guy Bailey said the Cancer and Surgery Center helps to address an underserved healthcare need in the region.
“This is a pivotal moment in our commitment to expand healthcare services in the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas and beyond,” Bailey said. “We look forward to engaging with MD Anderson’s advisory services to develop and launch our cancer program."
|
|
CPRIT awards $2.5 million to UTRGV to help support cancer research
|
“To have been its recipient solidifies UTRGV’s commitment to providing better healthcare options across the Rio Grande Valley,” he said.
|
|
|
|
 |
UTRGV’s diabetes institute
awarded $2M
to study risk in
Hispanic
families
|
Dr. Joanne Curran, a professor at the UTRGV School of Medicine’s South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute (STDOI), has been awarded a $2 million, four-year federal grant to identify rare gene mutations in large families in South Texas, including in the Rio Grande Valley.
Curran, principal investigator on the study, said their focus is to identify individuals at greater risk for developing Type 2 diabetes and contribute to treatment options for this disease, which is highly prevalent among the Hispanic population.
|
|
|
|
UTRGV names School of Nursing Skills Laboratory in recognition of gift from South Texas Health System |
UTRGV has received a gift from South Texas Health System to name the School of Nursing Skills Laboratory. In addition to naming rights, the gift of $150,000 will purchase patient care mannequins and hospital beds and will help restore training equipment.
“South Texas Health System is honored to be able to continue to support UTRGV and its great School of Nursing,” said Lance Ames, chief executive officer of South Texas Health System Edinburg and South Texas Health System Children’s.
|
|
|
|
Stephanie Atkins Sharpe named School of Medicine Library Associate Dean |
As of August 1, Stephanie Atkins Sharpe transitioned from her current role as Interim Director of the School of Medicine Library to Associate Dean.
Prior to this role, she was the Access Services Librarian since August 2016. Sharpe will oversee the library services and operations at the Myles and Sylvia Aaronson Library (Edinburg) and the Mario Ramirez, M.D. Library (Harlingen).
Sharpe is a member of the Medical Library Association and the South Central Chapter of the Medical Library Association. She is currently the chair of the SCC/MLA Membership Committee and has served as a member and chair of the SCC/MLA Awards and Scholarships Committee.
Sharpe has over 20 years of experience working in academic libraries. She has worked at Ball State University (Indiana), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Washington University in St. Louis prior to joining UTRGV.
Stephanie earned her undergraduate degree at Southwestern University (Texas) and her Master of Science in Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
|
|
|
|
Dr. Beatriz Tapia
to serve on AAMC's Program Planning Committee
|
Dr. Beatriz Tapia will serve as a member of the AAMC's Program Planning Committee.
The committee is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating the annual GFA Professional Development Conference and includes members from other School of Medicine institutions from across the state.
Congratulations to Dr. Tapia on her new role with the AAMC.
|
|
|
UTRGV’s Maestre selected to participate in peer review Study Section of the Center for Scientific Review |
|
Maestre, professor of neurosciences and human genetics, has worked with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders for more than 20 years.
She said she is excited to contribute to NAME in her specialty area, especially in topics of geographic- and age-related patterns of neurological disorders in minority populations.
“My expertise in age-related disorders in minority populations and in national or international low-resource settings, could be useful as many researchers are trying to develop programs to benefit those underserved and economically challenged.
|
|
Second year medical student, Myung-Jin Cha excited to begin medical career |
Meet second year medical student and Student Government Association President, Myung-Jin Cha.
Myung-Jin Cha, originally from Seoul Korea, attended The University of Texas at Austin and majored in Biochemistry before joining the UTRGV School of Medicine.
Cha, who is slated to graduate in 2024, tells us what personally inspired her to pursue a career in medicine.
"I was drawn to medicine by the fact that physicians get to meet people with all kinds of stories and backgrounds. I enjoy meeting new people and expanding my horizon through such encounters, so that was my initial fascination with medicine," she said.
"I also spent a lot of time in undergraduate volunteering at a weekend clinic that served those experiencing homelessness in downtown Austin. That experience really showed me how big of a role health care plays in social determinants; I found my passion in helping those who need fundamental care to get back into work, maintain housing, and establish a human connection through medicine."
|
|
|
|
Your gift to the School of Medicine supports our mission to educate a diverse group of medical students and future scientists to benefit the Rio Grande Valley and the world.
|
|
The University of Texas
Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
Phone: (956) 296-1900
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
