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ARCHIVE NEWS - Issue
8
CSTP Says Goodbye to Richard Garcia
Oral Health Training for Promotores
2005-2006 American Red Cross Health and Safety Volunteer of the Year
South Central AHEC
Winter Garden Border AHEC
Mid Rio Grande Border AHEC
South Coastal AHEC
NEWSLETTER
ARCHIVE
Issue
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CSTP Says Goodbye to Richard Garcia
Sherry Snider, MPH
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On June 6, 2006, The Center for South Texas Programs lost its Director when Richard Garcia passed away in San Antonio, Texas. The driving force behind many of UTHSCSA’s remote programs in South Texas, Richard’s loss will be keenly felt across the Health Science Center, the region, and the state.
Growing up, Richard was an Eagle Scout and educated in Brownsville, Texas. His honorable duty to our country resulted in gaining him 4th Marine Recon Battalion and a Marksmanship Award. Richard graduated from St. Mary’s University with a Bachelor of Arts in Microbiology and held 3 Master’s Degrees from various Universities. He worked for Southwest Research and in 1967 he moved his family to Baton Rouge, LA and worked at the School of Public Health in Carville, LA. He then returned to San Antonio in 1973, working for the Bexar County Hospital District. Richard worked for 6 years at the San Antonio Children’s Center and then went to work with the U.T. Health Science Center, where he remained for 28 years. He was most recently employed as Assistant Vice-President for South Texas Programs at UTHSCSA.
Richard was a private pilot and flew with the Commemorative Air Force piloting the B-25 Yellow Rose. He was also a member of the Texas Medical Rangers. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Ricardo Alejandro Garcia and Josefina Lopez. He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Georgia Peckman Garcia of San Antonio, TX; daughter, Audria Garcia of Long Island, N.Y.; son, Steven A. Garcia and wife, Rosalinda of San Antonio, TX; grandchildren, Kaiyana J. Garcia and Nicodemius O. Garcia; and an untold number of friends.
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Oral Health Training for Promotores
Jose S. Jones Jr.
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Jose Jones at 64th USMBHA Conference |
Jose S. Jones Jr., Coordinator for the Center for South Texas Programs, developed a poster presentation for over 400 members and health care professionals that attended the 64th United States-Mexico Border Health Association (USMBHA) Annual Meeting in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico on May 1-4, 2006. The poster provided information on how to train promotores to educate colonia residents about oral hygiene, the importance of oral health as it compares to general health, and access to dental health care.
The presentation described how the School of Dentistry (SOD) at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio utilized the el to develop an oral health curriculum uniquely designed for colonia residents living on the Texas/Mexico Border. As it initiated plans to develop a Dental Regional Academic Health Center, the SOD partnered with the Center for South Texas Programs (CSTP) to identify the most effective way to provide oral health education to the community. The SOD had chosen two valid and reliable oral health curricula for consideration and CSTP suggested using the promotore model to disseminate information, emphasizing the importance of promotores’ involvement in the planning process. Promotores from three organizations in Laredo, Texas, evaluated the curricula and provided guidance on appropriate dissemination. Two bilingual facilitators were responsible for leading focus groups and capturing oral comments. The format included six open-ended questions targeting chosen methodology, content, curriculum format, and implementation of a community-based oral health program. Based upon focus group input, the general content was kept but format and methodology were completely revamped. Lessons learned from the process included A) promotores can provide a wealth of knowledge and insight to academic institutions as they develop appropriate mechanisms to transfer knowledge from academia to the community, and B) academic institutions should appreciate the role, insight, and expertise of promotores. The initial success of using the promotore model for developing an oral health curriculum will ensure that promotores will be included in designing other programs for UTHSCSA.
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2005-2006 American Red Cross Health and Safety Volunteer of the Year
Sherry Snider, MPH
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Dr. Donald Gordon meet American Red Cross gala host Jimmy Smits. |
Dr. Donald Gordon, Professor in the Department of Emergency Health Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and Medical Director, San Antonio Fire Department & Leon Valley Fire Departments was recently selected by the National Headquarters of the American Red Cross (ARC) to receive the 2005-2006 American Red Cross Health and Safety Volunteer of the Year Award. This honor was presented in Washington DC on the afternoon of May 12, 2006 by the President of the American Red Cross and the Chairman of Volunteers at the annual awards ceremony at the 2006 National Red Cross Convention. There are around 1,000,000 volunteers in the ARC and Dr. Gordon was selected to represent them.
Dr. Gordon’s work with the local chapter in San Antonio has been ongoing since 1987 and he has been on the Board of Directors for 16 years during that period; in 1997, he was Chairman of the Board and he has been volunteer Medical Director since 1992. He worked with the National Headquarters in 1999 to establish the Advisory Council on First Aid and Safety for the ARC, serving as its Chair until 2005. He has worked with the European Working Group on First Aid Education as the liaison representative of the National Headquarters since 2002 and participated in the writing and review of their Harmonization document that melds over 40 countries in Europe to one doctrine of First Aid.
Dr. Gordon had this to say about receiving the award: “I feel very honored to be recognized during a year that saw so many volunteers labor to provide education, training, and public service to so many needing assistance. I hope that you will to feel honored that we have been recognized by this award, here in San Antonio and here at the UT Health Science Center.”
Dr. Gordon has been a long-time ally and champion of CSTP endeavors and we congratulate him on this remarkable honor.
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South Central AHEC
Sherry Snider, MPH
Fredricksburg High School Health Careers Club
Meagan Keller and Kimberly Ferguson, CHES
This past summer five high school students from Fredericksburg High School in Fredericksburg, Texas had the opportunity to participate in the Community Approach to Careers in Health (CATCH) Academy, a core function of the South Central Area Health Education Center’s health careers program. Three other South Texas high schools had student representatives take part in this same one-week program held at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). These students actively participated in lectures and hands-on activities centered around various allied health careers. These high school students made a commitment to take back their experiences to their communities. Each group was to lead their peers in a project to enhance health awareness in their respective communities.
The members of Fredericksburg High School Health Careers Club have been busy this school year, concentrating their energy into efforts to make the members of their community aware of the symptoms, conditions, and effects of heart disease and heart attacks. Throughout the year they visited the elementary and junior high school students and gave healthy heart presentations, passed out business cards with the symptoms of a heart attack listed at sporting events, held a heart screening, and hosted a poster contest.
In addition to these endeavors, various members of the group took part in CPR and first aid training, blood drives, hosted parties for teachers in their school, and volunteered their support to the local nursing home as nursing home pals.
The group also made contact with a foundation called Heart Gift. Heart Gift’s mission is to make others aware of children who are born with life threatening heart conditions in developing countries. The foundation’s aim is to earn money to help these children live better and productive lives. The Fredericksburg group took passionately to this mission, and made it one of their goals to pass the message along to others within their community. To learn more about Heart Gift, visit
www.heartgift.org.
The lead members of Fredericksburg’s health club are Dana Jenschke, Elise Johnson, Megan Koennecke, Sheena Ottmers, and Bart Schaetter, led by their teacher, Nanette Tisdale, and CATCH Academy liaison, Meagan Keller.
Dana, an active member of the National Honors Society and a member of a Breast Cancer research team at Fredericksburg Memorial Hospital, plans to attend Texas Christian University to study Nutritional Science. Elise, the National Honors Society’s Vice President, plans to attend the University of Texas to pursue studies in medical information and technologies. Megan, president of HOSA this year, has participated in various athletics throughout high school. Currently she is enrolled at the Red McCombs Business School at the University of Texas in Austin, but she plans to transfer to the nursing school in the fall. Sheena is a cheerleader at Fredericksburg High School, and is looking forward to pursuing a nursing career in college this coming fall. Bart is very active within his school community, and hopes to attend Texas Tech or Texas A & M in the fall.
Vanessa Alicea, South Central AHEC Summer Intern
The South Central Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is working with the Department of Health and Kinesiology at Texas A&M University in College Station to support their Community Health internship program. The undergraduate curriculum in Health and Kinesiology is structured to present concepts which prepare students to become effective leaders in their chosen professions. In addition to the student‘s classroom experiences, the Department of Health and Kinesiology provides the student an opportunity for pre-professional experience. Those students whose career goals do not
include certification as a teacher may be placed in various agencies which best fit their professional goals. The purpose of the internship experience is to:
1. Make each student aware of situations that arise in work settings that may not have been discussed in theory courses;
2. Prepare the student to make the transition from student to employee; and
3. Provide the student with a link to the profession that may prove useful in the future (letters of recommendation, professional contacts, etc.).
In support of this program, the South Central AHEC is hosting Vanessa Alicea for the summer semester. Vanessa is a senior at Texas A&M University and will receive a Bachelor of Science in Health in August. Vanessa began her internship on May 15, 2006 and will work with the AHEC until August 8, 2006. Since her arrival, Vanessa has been involved in many different AHEC activities such as health careers and health promotion presentations, community and board meetings, as well as the CATCH Academy. Among her duties during the internship, Vanessa, will develop CATCH Academy marketing and tee shirts, coordinate activities for CATCH Academy participants and assist in completing Kerr County Community Assessment.
The South Central AHEC has benefited greatly from its partnership with Texas A&M University and looks forward to working with the program again in the future.
1st Annual Health Promotion Colloquia
 South Central AHEC and the Department of Family and Community Medicine hosted their First Annual Health Promotion Colloquia on June 13, 2006 at the Health Science Center. Computers Helping Adolescents Talk Tobacco (CHATT) is an award-winning tobacco cessation program for teens, as well as an overview of tobacco use and cessation in adolescents. The afternoon-long program was presented by Dr. Debra Klecan from Albuquerque, New Mexico, who was instrumental in the development of the concept and curriculum. The curriculum is a combination of computer based assessment and reflection blended with journaling and art therapy. Dr. Klecan reported that CHATT is a fun, interactive, individualized computer-based cessation program that teaches teens the basics of “how” to quit smoking as well as lessons learned (both positive and negative) during the five year implementation of the CHATT project in seven New Mexico high schools. The program was well received by the audience that included dental hygiene faculty, health educators, health professions students and high school enforcement personnel who are responsible for tobacco control programs in the schools.
Core Disaster Life Support Course, August 3, 2006
The South Central AHEC will be sponsoring a Core Disaster Life Support (CDLS) Course on Thursday, August 3, from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Norris Conference Center at Crossroads Mall. CDLS is an introduction to “all-hazards” preparedness for basic first responders, community officials, business owners, and other concerned citizens. The course provides a brief overview of natural and accidental man made events; traumatic and explosive events; nuclear and radiological events; biological events; and chemical events. The focus of the course is discussion and application of a unique approach to disaster management called the D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R paradigm.
Continuing education credits will be awarded for physicians, nurses, social workers, registered sanitarians, and certified health education specialists. All participants will receive a certificate of completion. The course is being offered at no cost and space is limited, so contact Cathy Cox at 210-567-7818 today to register.
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Winter Garden AHEC
Sherry Snider, MPH
 Puonlmary Lab at HSTP-Eagle Pass
ISD
The Winter Garden Border-AHEC was recently invited to witness Health Science students in action. Students in the Health Science Technology program at Eagle Pass High School who are in Medical Terminology were studying the pulmonary system including anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, medical diagnostics and treatment. To better illustrate the concepts being taught related to disease of the pulmonary system and how it affects the lung’s ability to function, instructor Sandra Mello-Lopez assisted students with a lab. In this lab, medical terminology students were able to observe while comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences identified in two sets of porcine lungs. Each set of lungs, which included a set of healthy lungs and a set affected by emphysema, were inflated and deflated to simulate the process of respiration and how it is impaired by disease. During the lab simulation of respiration, students observed and were also given the opportunity to put on gloves and feel the lung tissue. Students were also provided with a PowerPoint presentation illustrating the effects of smoking on lung tissue.
“ALOHA To Education”, the theme for elementary Career Fair
The Winter Garden Border AHEC attended a Career Fair at Ruben Chavira Elementary in Del Rio, Texas on Wednesday, May 10, 2006. At the fair, various businesses and community workers came together to offer elementary children from kindergarten to fifth grade future career choices. The Val Verde Regional Medical Center EMS department and City of Del Rio Fire Department were among those who demonstrated their skills. EMS personal allowed children to explore an ambulance and discussed their medical field. A City of Del Rio Fire Department fireman spoke to the children about his duties, made demonstrations and spoke about fire safety. According to Ruben Chavira Elementary Principal, Sally Zuniga-Barrera, “the purpose of the career fair was to expose students to a variety of diverse fields, including health careers.”
Thirty-six CNA Del Rio High School Students earned CNA certification
On May 8, 2006 36 CNA students successfully completed their CNA certification and were honored at the Del Rio High School campus that evening. Over 400 students, Winter Garden Border-AHEC, parents and honored guests were present to honor the group who reached this year’s goal of reaching 100% graduation.
52 Hispanic Health Science Technology Students earned FA and CPR/AED Certification
Fifty-four (54) 10th grade Health Science Technology students in HSTE I from Eagle Pass High School earned certification in American Red Cross First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/Automated External Defibrillator with the assistance of their HSTE instructor, Sandra Mello-Lopez RN-BSN, who is also a certified FA/CPR instructor for the American Red Cross. After hours spent covering FA and CPR/AED material, students practiced additional hours in learning and demonstrating first aid skills. These skills included providing care for sudden illness, specific injuries, respiratory/cardiac arrest, and application of an automated external defibrillator. Mrs. Mello-Lopez is proud to say that a total of 52 Hispanic Health Science Technology Education I students earned certification in FA and CPR/AED. Courses were sponsored by the Winter Garden Border-AHEC.
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Mid Rio Grande Border AHEC
Sherry Snider, MPH
Laredo Community College Career Expo 2006
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The Mid Rio Grande Border Area Health Education Center participated in the Laredo Community College Career Expo 2006. This annual event offers students an opportunity to meet with prospective employers, visit with professionals in the various fields and identify the many career options. This event was held on April 19, 2006 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Laredo Community College Kazen Center. The MRGBAHEC displayed information about health careers, the Health Career Opportunity Program events offered by the MRGBAHEC throughout the year, and counseled on a one-on-one basis with 20 college students interested in the health field. Approximately 300 students visited the MRGBAHEC booth and received information.
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South
Coastal AHEC
Sherry Snider, MPH
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A Successful ALSO Course
South Coastal AHEC had an ALSO course (Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics) May 4-5, 2006. The two-day course was at The Radisson Hotel Corpus Christi Beach, Corpus Christi, Texas. The course is directed primarily toward maternity care providers, including physicians, nurses and certified nurse midwives. We had 29 participants. There were 24 physicians and 5 labor & delivery registered nurses. All participants were certified in the care of labor complications.
The workshop allowed a hands-on training in suturing, and the different ways of delivering a baby during a complication. In the mist of all the training, the physicians found time to have fun and enjoy themselves and were amazed at what can be done with a Butterfinger, a piece of meat, suture and a condom.
South Coastal AHEC has been putting on this course for 11 years in an effort to promote better obstetrical care. The physicians and nurses that participate in this course are usually the ones that care for rural South Texas. They are the primary care givers to the smaller communities.
South Coastal AHEC & UNT Collaboration
The contract has been signed between the South Coastal AHEC and University of North Texas Health Science Center College of Osteopathic Medicine for 12 third year medical students to train in South Texas. They will be starting July 5, 2006 with orientation. The students will rotate at CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Memorial and Driscoll Children’s Hospital. They will help care for the underserved population of South Texas. The students will also have an opportunity to rotate with the rural physicians of the Coastal Bend and learn more about rural medicine. The idea is to increase interest in the medical students to stay and practice in the needed areas of South Texas. The students are excited about the opportunity to work in South Texas.
The promotion of health careers in South Texas is essential to meet the needs of the community with the shortage of physicians. We are excited and looking forward to working with the students of University of North Texas Health Science Center College of Osteopathic Medicine and collaborating with other health science centers in the near future.
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CSTP Happenings
JSherry Snider, MPH
Dr. Tina Fields Named Interim Director
 Tina T. Fields, Ph.D., MPH, has been named Interim Director of the Center for South Texas Programs. Dr. Fields has an extensive history of working with the communities of South Texas, both as the Program Director of the South Texas Area Health Education Center, as Assistant Director for CSTP, and as a former Health Department Director in Cameron County. With a background in health education, health care administration, and program planning and evaluation, Dr. Fields brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new role.
Dr. Morning Star Named Promotore Training & Certification Advisory Committee Member
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 Dr. Larry Morning Star, Director for Center for Health and Health Care Disparities, has been selected as a member for the Promotore or Community Health Worker (CHW) Training and Certification Advisory Committee. This committee oversees all state Promotore training and certification program as well as practicum sites for the Texas Department of State Health Services. The state of Texas is the only state outside of Indian Health Services which provides certification to community health workers.
New AHEC Program
Director
 Sherry
K. Snider, MPH, has been
named the new Director
for the South Texas AHEC
Program. Sherry has
worked at CSTP before as
an Informational Writer
and a Project
Coordinator and is
returning to assume the
role of AHEC Director as
Dr. Fields devotes more
of her time to Center
and Institutional
Administrative Duties.
Accounting Changes
 The
Center for South Texas
Programs is delighted to
welcome Charles
Longanecker as its new
Accountant III. Charles
comes to CSTP from
UTHSCA’s Office of
Sponsored Programs to
fill the position
vacated by Jacque Beck.
Welcome aboard, Charles!
Web News
 CSTP
will be saying goodbye
to our Web Specialist,
Christine Robbins,
effective July 7, 2006.
Christine is leaving the
Center to pursue a
teaching career with the
Northside Independent
School District.
Christine has been an
invaluable resource as
CSTP has moved in to
more web-based and
web-related programming
and we will miss not
only her web skills but
her sense of humor and
frequent bouts of
“MacAlpine Syndrome.”
We send her off with our
congratulations on her
new position and our
best wishes for her new
career.
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