Dean Hocker met with UT System deans at UT Southwestern

UT System Medical Dean’s Meeting took place at the UT Southwestern campus. Dean Hocker shared updates with other UT System deans about the latest happenings at the UTRGV School of Medicine.

UTRGV School of Medicine’s Research Program

The new year brings significant and exciting changes to the SOM’s Research Program. As a result, the following leadership appointments below are effective January 1. 



Dr. Angela Cook will assume the role of interim senior associate dean for research as Dr. Andy Tsin steps down from this leadership role to focus on his important research in diabetic retinopathy. 

Dr. Sarah Williams Blangero has agreed to serve as interim chair of immunology and microbiology. This change allows for Dr. Subhash Chauhan to focus on leading and growing the research portfolio of the South Texas Center for Excellence in Cancer Research as we prepare to open the new Cancer and Surgery Center next spring. 

The UTRGV School of Medicine signed a memorandum of understanding with Valley Grande Institute for Academic Studies to strengthen its pipeline program

The UTRGV School of Medicine signed a memorandum of understanding today, Dec. 12, with Valley Grande Institute for Academic Studies, at the VGI Campus in Weslaco, to strengthen the pipeline between the two institutions in training allied health professionals. 

Read More Here.

Graduates with honors, now enters UTRGV School of Medicine

Some students sacrifice hobbies to focus on their college classes, but 18-year-old Jake Lanoue says it’s important to balance academics with fun. That’s how he avoids burnout.

Read More Here.

UTRGV pipeline programs paving paths for the underrepresented in health professions

The UTRGV School of Medicine's pipeline programs, Vaquero's MD and the Joint Admissions Medical Program (JAMP) welcomed an estimated 30 students for their summer program 

Through two pipeline programs – the Vaqueros MD Early Assurance Program formed by UTRGV and the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) created by the Texas Legislature – the UTRGV School of Medicine is increasingly recruiting talented and diverse students to learn more about medical careers and grant them the opportunity to attend medical school.

Read More Here.

Congratulations to the UTRGV School of Medicine Internal Medicine residents on their matches

The School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine invites you to join us in congratulating the Internal Medicine residents on an excellent fellowship match! Internal Medicine specialists can apply for further subspecialty training in a competitive national interview process to continue their training after three years for 1-3 more years, depending on the subspecialty.

Thank you to those who joined in celebrating the UTRGV School of Medicine's Center for Parenting Kickoff!

During the celebration, five exceptional speakers -- Brenda Salazar, Dr. Cristel Escalona, Dr. Karina Madrigal, Merida Escobar, and Heidi Walker -- addressed the role they will be playing and how this program will impact the community.

UTRGV School of Medicine leadership took part in the annual Learn, Serve, Lead meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges meeting



UTRGV SOM faculty and staff were able to connect with like-minded peers and reignite the spark of collective learning in Nashville, TN, during the Association of American Medical Colleges meeting.

Some meeting topics included what lies ahead in medical education, biomedical research, health justice, mental health, climate change, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The UTRGV School of Medicine conducted a workshop at the University of Kerala, India

Dr. Murali M. Yallapu, associate professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, conducted a workshop on "The Role of Nano-Nutraceuticals in Tissue Regeneration" at the University of Kerala, India.

The workshop was conducted with the help of the Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) and included students, scholars, and faculty from all over India. This intensive workshop included didactic lectures, hands-on training, problem-solving testing methods, and course evaluation.

The UTRGV School of Medicine was represented at the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians – 66^th Annual Meeting

Dr. Sason Tavakoli-Sabour and Dr. Alcides Amador, assistant professors and child and adolescent psychiatrists at the UTRGV School of Medicine, represented the Psychiatry Department at the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians – 66^th Annual Meeting.

The meeting's theme was Problem or Panacea: Challenges, Risks, and Benefits of Common Drugs of Abuse. Dr. Tavakoli-Sabour and Dr. Amador shared their expertise and knowledge on the subject and highlighted the UTRGV School of Medicine at the Houston conference.

Transforming Healthcare: Voice

The UTRGV School of Medicine and UTHealth RGV have a new commercial series

Please watch the new UT Health RGV commercial highlighting our patient-centered care and leading-edge technology. UT Health RGV and the UTRGV School of Medicine are transforming healthcare in the RGV and beyond. 

Meet UTRGV MS2, Alexandra Victoria Elizondo    

What inspired you to become a doctor? When did you know you wanted to be a doctor?

I knew I wanted to be part of medicine at a young age, from the first time I volunteered in a medical setting at 7 years old. I used to go with my grandmother to the nursing home where she worked and spent nearly every year of my childhood volunteering there. It was specifically a nursing home for Catholic nuns and clergy, and I think growing up in that kind of environment helped me realize my call to serve wherever I can in the medical field. I grew up in a family of nurses and healthcare workers. Still, no doctors – inspired by my family and their commitments to my hometown, I knew I wanted to push myself as far as I could go and hopefully become our family’s first doctor and uphold the family legacy of serving.

Learn More About Elizondo Here.

Here's a look at what our UTRGV School of Medicine faculty have been working on relating to life-changing research and discoveries.