A&M International Professor Part of Border Health Course Here

A Texas A&M International University faculty member is part of an educational effort designed to acquaint students with environmental health issues along the US-Mexico border.

Dr. Thomas C. Vaughan, associate professor of biology at A&M International, will lecture on water issues for the university-level elective course sponsored by the South Texas Environmental Education and Research (STEER) Center, a part of the South Texas/Border Region Health Education Initiative.

The program lasts four weeks and is open to medical residents and students and nursing and public health students. Six students began the program June 3.

The course is led by Claudia Miller, MD, assistant professor of environmental and occupational medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Laredo health professionals, industrial hygienists, sanitarians and community leaders help teach about issues that range from rabies and tuberculosis to air and water pollution. Students stay in Laredo for the course, and visit water treatment facilities, maquiladoras, colonias, and farmacias as part of their study.

Local coordinators are Joan Engelhardt and Roger Perales. They may be reached in Laredo at (210) 728-8898. South Texas/Border Region Health Education contact is Jim Barrett, (210) 567-2570

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu