ARCHIVE NEWS - Issue 1

International Academy for Workforce Preparedness

Center for South Texas Programs Partners with Workforce Development Board

8th Annual South Texas Trauma Symposium

CSTP Begins Partnership with Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas

South Texas AHEC Joins “Nurse Friendly” Team

Center for South Texas Programs Partners with GEAR UP!

Second Annual Health Fair Held at Harlingen Campus

Del Rio Health Science Technology Program Assists Katrina Victims

Combating Childhood Tuberculosis Conference Held October 19-20, 2005

South Central AHEC Honors Board Members

South Central AHEC Hosts Intern from Texas A&M University

Mid Rio Grande Border AHEC Sponsors College Academy

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
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The Center for South Texas Programs has partnered with the Department of Surgery to initiate the International Academy for Workforce Preparedness. The International Academy will be housed at the UTHSCSA remote campus in Harlingen and will offer certificate programs as well as continuing education courses for EMTs and Paramedics. The first paramedic course began on October 17. With four students from Trinidad enrolled in the course, we can truly say that this is an International Academy.

The medical director for the International Academy is Dr. David Hnatow (Department of Surgery and Chief, Emergency Medical Services at University Hospital in San Antonio) and Charles Garoni serves as the Academy’s Course Coordinator. Instructors for the courses will be from the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) so that they can use their knowledge of the area to create instruction that is geared toward the needs of the LRGV. The International Academy is unique in its teaching structure in that it is incorporating state-of-the art patient simulators within the classroom teaching sessions as opposed to other programs that use mannequins in a laboratory setting. Other unique areas of the training will include activities to assist nontraditional students to acculturate to the learning environment such as courses on study skills, computer usage, anatomy and physiology review, and medical terminology. With over 200 vacant first responder positions available in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, there is great expectation that the courses offered at the International Academy will be highly sought.

For more information, log on to the International Academy’s website http://southtexas.uthscsa.edu/program/ia

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CSTP has entered into an interagency cooperation agreement with the WorkFORCE Solutions of South Texas to assist individuals who are interested in being trained as EMTs and paramedics. Through this agreement, WorkFORCE will provide funding for individuals to attend the International Academy for Workforce Preparedness. In order to receive funding, individuals will need to meet the eligibility requirements as set forth by the Workforce Investment Act. Initially, the funding will be targeted toward Basic EMT training, as students will need that certification in order to matriculate into the Paramedic training. Yvonne “Bonnie” Gonzalez, Chief Executive Officer of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Workforce Development Board, and Richard Garcia, UTHSCSA’s Assistant Vice President of South Texas Programs, both agree that the partnership is a “win-win” situation for the Valley and for the First Responder Workforce.

For more information, log on to the International Academy’s website http://southtexas.uthscsa.edu/program/ia

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The 8th Annual South Texas Trauma Symposium was held August 16-19 on South Padre Island. Over 200 EMTs, paramedics, physicians, nurses, and fire fighters attended the conference. In addition to cosponsoring the Trauma Symposium, the Center for South Texas Programs hosted a Basic Disaster Life Support (BDLS) training, with 25 first responders and physicians attending the eight-hour session. Because of the interest generated by the training, physicians have asked that a physician track be developed next year so that local emergency room physicians can receive state-of-the-art training on emergency room procedures. CSTP has already identified local physicians as well as trauma room/emergency room physicians at UTHSCSA who are willing to plan this activity for next year.

Another high point of the Trauma Symposium was the Confined Space Training for EMT/Paramedic fire fighters. Using a retrofitted trailer that simulates 24” crawlspace, fire fighters were put through a day of extricating injured victims. Scenarios for the training included victims with suspected back/neck injuries that had to be moved at 90 degree angles, using multiple first responders to remove patients while in total darkness. The activities emphasized the need for teamwork and good communication skills. Approximately 20 people participated in the confined space training. In addition to excellent evaluations for the trainers – Vicky Smith, Ben Marberry, and Charles “Punky” Garoni, the class has generated so much interest that CSTP is already planning additional confined space courses.
 

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The culmination efforts that began over a year ago was reached when Francisco G.Cigarroa, M.D., president of the Health Science Center, signed an agreement Sept. 19 in Tamaulipas to develop a master’s degree program in infectious diseases at the Mexican state’s medical school. Dr.Cigarroa and a delegation from the Health Science Center traveled to Ciudad Victoria, capital of Tamaulipas, for the signing ceremony with Dr. Jesús Lavín Santos del Prado, rector of the Universidad Autónoma deTamaulipas (UAT).

After an initial meeting, facilitated by Luis Manuel Lopez, the Mexican consul in McAllen, both institutions agreed to submit an application for a grant to partially fund the program. The Center for South Texas Programs submitted the application and received a $280,000 grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The U.S.-Mexico Training, Internships, Exchanges and Scholarships Partnership Initiative (TIES) grant is awarded by the Association Liaison Office for University Cooperation in Development, which is part of the USAID.

“Infectious diseases know no borders,” Dr. Cigarroa said. “Both of our great nations are facing these dangers on a daily basis, and it is our duty to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all people. This is one of our top priorities, and we must have the latest state-of-the-art academic and medical support through programs such as these as we continue to serve the people of our region.”

“It is our assessment that there are many health care professionals on both sides of the Rio Grande who essentially are ‘untapped’ professional resources in the fight against infectious diseases in the South Texas Border Region,” Richard A. Garcia Jr., assistant vice president for South Texas Programs at the Health Science Center said. “This degree program will increase their capacity to research, diagnose, control and prevent tuberculosis and other infectious diseases within the bi-national communities they serve.”

Invited guests included Dr. Rodolfo Torre Cantú, secretary of health for the state of Tamaulipas, and Dr. Miguel Salazar, director of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases in the Federal District.

The master’s degree program will focus on tuberculosis and other infectious diseases that occur with regularity along the U.S.-Mexico border. UAT faculty will teach the courses at the UAT campus in Reynosa, across from McAllen, with curriculum development support and other resources from the Health Science Center.

The program will enroll 20 UAT students in a four-semester curriculum and include a clinical component that will allow seven students to study at Health Science Center campuses.

“We are proud to announce this initiative,” said Juan Jose Gonzalez Cabriales, M.E.S., dean of the School of Medicine at UAT. He is principal investigator on the grant with Richard Garcia. “A bi-national curriculum committee will develop this project, and the curriculum will be delivered on site in Tamaulipas and in the United States by video conferencing. We also envision other opportunities for continuing education in our region.”

“Our Reynosa colleagues approached us about doing this project,” said Paula Winkler, M.Ed., director of the South Central Area Health Education Center at the Health Science Center and Project Director of the grant.

“The Health Science Center’s president, Dr. Francisco Cigarroa, has always said he would like to expand our activities beyond the border. This is the beginning of more partnership between the Health Science Center and UAT, and it meets the health care and research missions of both.”

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Thirty high school students from the Lower Rio Grande Valley came to the University of Texas Pan American (UTPA) campus to attend a week-long summer camp in July 2005. The summer camp was co-sponsored by the UTHSCSA Center for South Texas Programs and the UTPA GEAR UP! Program. The students participated in a number of activities designed to introduce them to a wide variety of health careers.

Students began the week with their parents at a dinner featuring Dr. Adela Valdez, Regional Assistant Dean for Education at the Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC), and her daughter Dora, a third-year medical student. Over the next two days, students toured health departments at UTPA, did hands-on activities such as suturing with pig’s feet, and toured local hospitals, pharmacies, rehab centers, and other health facilities. Kimberly Ferguson of the South Central AHEC presented a hands-on activity using a crime scenario and forensics.

On Wednesday, students were bussed to the UTHSCSA Campus in Harlingen for a tour and a visit to the Medical Library. Students did lead testing with Pat Bortoni and Dr. Enrique Escobedo from Environmental Medicine. Faculty and medical students from the RAHC had informal lunch conversations with the high school students. Job shadowing at local health facilities including Valley Baptist Medical Center, Harlingen Medical Center, Su Clinica Familiar, and Dolly Vinsant Hospital was a highlight of the week.

Each student had a disposable camera to record his or her activities for the week. On the last day, students received a CD of their photos and usedthem to compile a slide show presentation for their group. Group presentations were shown to parents at the closing luncheon. Dr. Leonel Vela, Regional Dean of the RAHC, spoke to students about growing up inthe Valley and becoming a physician.

Many local health professionals, as well as faculty from UTPA and UTHSCSA participated in the week-long activities planned by the staff of the UTPA GEAR UP! Project and the Center for South Texas Programs.

Visit the website at: http://southtexas.uthscsa.edu/program/Outreach/HCSI/index.html

The Second Annual Health Fair at the UTHSCSA Harlingen Campus was held on Saturday, September 17. Sponsored by The Center for South Texas Programs, the event featured approximately 40 exhibitors and was attended by over 350 residents of communities in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

This year’s theme “Moving Into Our Teens” targeted teens, pre-teens, and their families. The goal was to address health by demonstrating how changes can be made in one’s lifestyle. Those attending the fair were able to have health screenings such as blood glucose and cholesterol checks, height/weight/BMI, blood pressure, vision, and scoliosis. Exhibitors at the fair also presented information on nutrition, mental health, exercise, stress, and dental health.

The Health Fair also featured a bike rodeo sponsored by the UTHSCSA Police RAHC substation in partnership with more than a dozen other local law enforcement agencies and businesses. Students were able to have their bike checked and then participate in challenges on their bikes including circles, lines, and stopping. Free helmets were also available courtesy of the Valley Baptist Trauma Services. Four bikes were also presented as prizes to students.

Members of the health fair steering committee included the UTHSCSA-RAHC departments of police, medical library, administrative services, regional dean’s office, and Nutrition Center; the Texas A&M University System Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health, the Valley Baptist Trauma Services, and the South Texas ISD.

Helping Hands HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America is working collaboratively with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio to help benefit Katrina teens living in San Antonio. All 99 club members contributed a special, “cool-looking” shirt and attached a pen and note of encouragement. The program was coordinated by Dr. Irene Chapa at UTHSCSA. Additionally club members donated $50.00 to a funeral fund to help the family of our former high school janitor.

Other HOSA Activities:

On the 22nd of October, students worked in the Child Protective Services booth during Fiesta de Amistad celebrations.

Ten HOSA Club members helped tutor seniors still waiting to pass their TAKS high school exit tests in math and science.

On October 22, our 36 HST Nurse Aide Students participated with a disaster/ triage Army Medic Team from Fort Sam Houston. Army medics have asked us every year to participate in this special joint training effort since our professionally acting Nurse Aide Students know how to perform medical skills and are certified in Health Care Provider CPR.

On October 31st, club members hosted their second annual “Just Say Boo to Drugs” activity. HOSA Club had a drug free Haunted Hospital Room activity and served pizza, popcorn, candy bags, cupcakes, apples and punch for this drug free promotion fun activity.

Other club members were big sisters and big brothers to 12 children residing in the battered women’s shelter. Shelter children joined us for our Halloween fun where they had their own Halloween treat area.

The Health Careers Program at Del Rio High School is a role model group of students. Whenever the community has a special need they call Nurse Judy and her award- winning Helping Hands HOSA Club and Nurse Aide Seniors who are always there to help out. Caring is our business. Having a successful future health career and being a compassionate healthcare worker is what we are all about.

Over 75 health professionals, from as far away as Rhode Island, gathered in Harlingen on October 19th and 20th to attend a conference entitled “Combating Childhood Tuberculosis”. Held at the Harlingen Campus of the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, the conference targeted health professionals who provide care for children with or at risk for tuberculosis. The goal of the conference was to enhance the expertise of providers in conjunction with public health to improve prevention efforts and to expertly manage childhood tuberculosis. The evaluations of those attending the conference revealed that the goal was well met.

“Childhood tuberculosis is something that is not talked about in most medical circles these days”, reported Barbara Seaworth, MD and Conference Planning Committee Chairperson. Dr. Seaworth is the Medical Director of the Heartland National TB Center. “We focus more on adults with TB, especially those with complications from HIV. However, the environment that their children live in is most dangerous for contracting TB in children and we are seeing an emerging issue that we as medical personnel and public health officials must address and that is the reason for this conference.”

A few of the topics of the conference included “Contact Investigation in Special Settings: School, Day Care”; “New Diagnostic Tests: Application in Children”; and “Strategies for Finding LTBI in Children, Risk Assessment Tools”. The closing session included an interactive discussion between faculty and audience where audience members were asked to share and discuss their complicated cases with the faculty and other attendees.

The conference was a collaborative effort of the South Central AHEC, Center for South Texas Programs, Heartland National TB Center, Northeastern National TB Center and the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. Partial funding for the conference was provided by the Crystal Moreno Lectureships of the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio.

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