"This historic funding is a major step forward in our fight against cancer

— Dr. Michael B. Hocker, dean, UTRGV School of Medicine

Read More Here.

Visiting legislators had an opportunity to tour the Harlingen Campus to see firsthand how the School of Medicine is transforming care in the Rio Grande Valley.

Dean Michael B. Hocker participated in a healthcare panel on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, for an evening hosted by the RGV Partnership to inform Texas legislators about how the UTRGV School of Medicine is creating the next pipeline of healthcare workers for the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, and beyond. 

The panel consisted of representatives from Cameron County Health Department, Valley Baptist Hospital, Driscoll Children’s Hospital, Valley Grande Institute, UTRGV School of Medicine, and the UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine. 

On Saturday, February 11, Dean Hocker and other UTRGV deans represented their respective colleges by partaking in the annual Battle of the College's halftime competition.

The purpose of Battle of the Colleges is to create friendly competition between the colleges at the university and spark school spirit among students, faculty, and staff.

Congrats to all the participants who took part in this annual tradition.

See More of Battle of the Colleges Here.

Student Regent Mutyala toured UTRGV, including visits to the South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute and the UTRGV School of Medicine.

Read More Here.

Karla Loya

Dir Decision Support Analytics

SOM Finance & Administration

Jamie Diaz

Decision Support Manager

SOM Finance & Administration

Celso Cisneros

Decision Support Analyst

SOM Finance & Administration

Congratulations to the School of Medicine's Decision Support and Analytics department!

The team was selected to present at this year's AAMC Group on Business Affairs (GBA) and Group on Institutional Planning (GIP)'s Joint Spring Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Congratulations to Lauren Herrera, MS4, for being accepted to the AAMC's leadership program!

The nomination-based program offers a free leadership seminar for fourth-year medical students at the Association of American Medical Colleges called RISE: Developing Future Leaders in Academic Medicine & Science. The meeting will occur in Washington, DC, in March and April.

Chelsea, H. Chang, M.D. 

Asst. Dean of GME & Asst. DIO

Interim Chair, Assoc. Professor of Internal Medicine

John P. Ronnau, Ph.D., L.M.S.W.

Sr. Assoc. Dean, Community Health Partnerships

Community Health Partnerships

Congratulations on this significant honor and recognition!

Dr. Chelsea Chang and Dr. John Ronnau have recently been selected to the University of Texas Kenneth I. Shine, M.D., Academy of Health Science Education (Shine Academy).

Members of the Shine Academy actively participate in its mission to serve the University of Texas System by supporting and promoting excellence in all aspects of health science education, educational scholarship, and leadership.

New members are selected annually from the faculty and professional education staff of The University of Texas System health institutions. Selection for membership in the Shine Academy is a prestigious honor and speaks to a successful and notable career in academic medicine and medical education.

Congratulations!

Meet UTRGV MS1, Dominic Chau

The UTRGV School of Medicine is a practicing academic medical institution. What aspect of Academic Medicine impacts you the most? (Educational, clinical, research, etc.)

By far, the most inspiring aspect of Academic Medicine is the dedication to education. The vivacious faculty try to create a medium for us (students) to communicate and express our perspective. The sense of care and devotion elevated my attitude toward this journey. Though the road to becoming a physician has been rigorous, UTRGV has facilitated and catalyzed my education in such a supportive way. I also have to give credit to the faculty who have our best interests in mind. It genuinely feels like we all share the same goal.

Learn More About Chau Here.

Academic Medical Minute with: Leonel Vela, M.D., M.P.H.

Senior Assoc. Dean for Education Resources; Chair, Dept. of Population Health and Biostatics; Chief Physician for Community Health Partnerships & Outreach; Prof., Dept. of Family and Preventative Medicine

When did you join the UTRGV School of Medicine? I have been with the School of Medicine since day one of its beginning.

What brought you here?

Before joining the School of Medicine, for the previous 15 years, I had served as the Founding Regional Dean of the Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC). This forerunner academic campus morphed into the newly established UTRGV School of Medicine. I transitioned to the School of Medicine as the founding senior associate dean for Education and chair of the Department of Medical Education.

What do you enjoy about working in Academic Medicine? 

I have been in academic medicine for over 25 years. What brings me the greatest joy and fulfillment is the privilege of teaching medical students and observing them progress in their knowledge and skills on their journey toward becoming humanistic and caring physicians. Witnessing the students’ attainment of that goal during Match Day and Commencement validates for the rest of the faculty members and me our purpose for choosing academic medicine as a career. I also enjoy working alongside a team of faculty, staff, and other professionals, who are selfless in their dedication to educating and training the next generation of physicians. Our daily efforts in academic medicine, whether in teaching, research, or clinical care, improve lives throughout the Rio Grande Valley and beyond. In that regard, I am particularly excited about the leadership and vision of the medical school that focuses on building a healthier future for all communities in the RGV.  

Why is academic medicine important to our community?

The establishment of the UTRGV School of Medicine, along with its academic components of education, research, clinical care, and service, represents the fulfillment of a dream for this community that goes back several decades—that dream was to one-day graduate physicians from a medical school located in the Valley.

Academic medicine is very important to the Valley community because this development has brought hope for a better tomorrow for one of the most medically underserved regions in the country. It is a region facing challenges stemming from social determinants of health, disproportionate disease rates, including diabetes, certain cancers, and emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases on the border. Some may say it has taken a long time for this dream to be realized, but I prefer the perspective of my grandfather’s wisdom when he would say, “nunca es tarde para recibir el bien de mañana” [it is never late to receive the good that tomorrow brings].  

How do you spend your free time? 

I dedicate most of my free time to my family, but I also enjoy playing my guitar, listening to music, fishing, going to Houston Astros games, and running long-distance on the weekends.