cameron county/matamoros - blue - The University of Texas at ...

UTB-CBIRD Report: “At The Crossroads” Economic Development 130
The University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB)/Texas Southmost College (TSC)
offers certification programs and two- and four-year degrees in a variety of
health-related disciplines through the School of Health Sciences. UTB/TSC
prepares technicians of emergency medicine and medical laboratory,
professional radiological and respiratory therapy technicians as well as
undergraduate nursing programs. Graduate studies in the sciences and healthrelated
fields are more limited. The College of Science, Mathematics, &
Technology at UTB offers Master of Science on an Interdisciplinary Studies
Master’s degree with a concentration in biology. The continuing education
program at UTB prepares medical assistants and offers course in medical
transcription. Distance education facilities provide opportunities to acquire a
bachelor degree in nursing and to prepare technicians in respiratory therapy.
Texas State Technical College (TSTC) in Harlingen offers certificates and
associate of applied science degrees in health related technological fields such
as biomedical engineering technology, chemical technology, dental laboratory
technology, emerging medical technology, health information technology, and
surgical technology. Through the “College Connections” program TSTC
cooperates with local high schools and offers juniors and seniors courses in
health science technology, health science occupation, and family health needs.
Local medical clinics also have training programs. For example Valley Regional
Medical Center has teaching programs for nurses and physicians. Valley Baptist
Medical Center trains its employees and offers three-year residency program for
family practitioners in cooperation with Su Clinica Familiar.
In short, traditionally, regional health-related educational facilities have trained
supportive medical personnel such as technicians, nurses, medial assistants and
not medical professionals such as general practitioners or specialists. However,
with the recent formation of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Regional Academic
Medical Center (RAHC), it is now possible to locally acquire comprehensive skills
in internal medicine and obstetrics/gynecology and a program in pediatrics will
be launched in 2004.
Lower Rio Grande Valley Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) 1
The Lower Rio Grande Valley Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) was
created to provide state-of-the-art undergraduate and graduate medical
education and research opportunities to meet the region’s growing need for
physicians and other healthcare providers. The RAHC includes three major
divisions: A Medical Education Division in Harlingen and McAllen, Medical
Research in Edinburg, and Public Health in Brownsville. The UT Board of Regents
designated The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
(UTHSCSA) to oversee and operate the Medical Education and Medical Research
Divisions while the Public Health Division was designated as a branch of The
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston’s School of Public Health.
RAHC’s undergraduate and graduate medical education facility, located in
Harlingen, currently supports 24 third-year and 24 fourth-year medical students
as well as residency programs under the sponsorship of Valley Baptist Medical
Center (VBMC) which will afford medical graduates the ability to remain in the
1 The 75 th Texas Legislature enacted S.B. 606, authorized The University of Texas System to establish
and operate a Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) to serve the four counties of the Lower Rio
Grande Valley (Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy). The Legislature appropriated $30 million of
Tuition Revenue Bond Proceeds for construction of the RAHC.
2 Laura B. Martinez, Valley Morning Star, Valley healthcare to benefit: Physician hopes new facility
will inspire more area youths to become doctors, June 23, 2002.
Una Region -- Un Futuro
“The winners here will
be the children and the
people who are
depending on quality
healthcare.”
State Senator Eddie Lucio Jr.
“I was in the ninth
grade and I told my
father I wanted to be a
doctor. When I told him
we were out in the
fields picking
cantaloupe... his
response was, ‘Si mijo.”
Dr. Leonel Vela, Dean
RAHC
native of Pharr and
son of a Valley farm worker