South Texas Partnership to Meet at A&M International June 3-4
A partnership of health educators and health professionals dedicated to increasing the level of health delivery to South Texas will meet at Texas A&M International University June 3-4.
The 80-plus members of the South Texas Partnership for Health Professions Education represent community health organizations, independent school districts, colleges and universities extending from the Alamo to the lower Rio Grande and Coastal Bend of South Texas.
The program is directed by Dr. Miguel Bedolla of the University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio.
Dr. Edwin Martinez, A&M International Dean of the College of Science and Technology, and one of two local Executive Board of Advisors members of the Partnership, said this is the second general meeting of the group that has targeted heightened health education as critical to increasing health delivery to the area.
"By recruiting, retaining and developing an educational continuum of qualified high school candidates, we hope to increase the number of health care-deliverers in our region. Paramount to this initiative is increasing the representation of minorities in the health professions, and their retention in South Texas, in particular," Dr. Martinez explained.
The two-day meeting will include a variety of sessions, a tour of the University's campus including the Phase II addition, and special keynote speakers. Dr. J. Charles Jennett, A&M International president, will welcome the group in opening ceremonies.
State Representative Henry Cuellar has been scheduled as the keynote speaker June 3, while June 4th's speaker will be Dr. Joaquin Cigarroa, Member of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and local physician.
In addition to A&M International, other partner universities in the South Texas Partnership for Health Professions Education include the University of Texas-San Antonio, UT-Brownsville, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Texas A&M University-College Station.
Members of the Board of Advisors include Jim Almazan, UTSA; John Boyers, San Antonio Northside Independent School District; Ramiro Casso, South Texas Community College; Mauro Castro, Texas A&M University- Kingsville; Marilyn Dyer, UT-Brownsville; Roberto Fernandez, Del Rio ISD; Rachel Gonzales, Uvalde County Clinic; Candy Hein, United Independent School District; Jim Kazen, UT Health Science Center; Sylvia Perez, Brownsville Hanna ISD and Susan Stappenbeck, UT Health Science Center- AHEC.
For additional information on the South Texas Partnership for Health Professions Education Conference June 3-4, please contact Dr. Martinez at 326. 2440.
University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu