The Texas A&M Health Science Center - South Texas Center located in McAllen, and established in 2001, provides comprehensive and accessible health education programs and services to residents of the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

Since 2004, the South Texas Center has been housed in a 23,000-square-foot facility providing space for laboratories, offices, classrooms and conference areas for the A&M Health Science Center to deliver a wide range of health training, clinical research, medical education, community interventions and public health programs with local partners.

Programs

Master of Public Health

The Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health will begin offering a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program, with an emphasis on Border Health, beginning fall 2008. The program will be a traditional Master of Public Health program with examples from the border integrated throughout the curriculum and capstone practicum experience. The program will rely on a variety of teaching modalities--in person, web-based, and videoconferencing. Students may be full or part time.

Health Careers Program

The Health Careers Program (HCP) is committed to recruiting students into health-related careers and to providing educational events related to health care occupations and professions. In collaboration with area school districts, the HCP provides opportunities throughout the school year and during the summer for middle school and high school students to explore the range of health-related opportunities available.

Community Outreach Programs

Projects in research and applied public health in South Texas depend on the advice, leadership, and collaboration of Promotoras (community health workers). The Colonia First Aid Program integrates Promotoras into community participation as a basis for addressing the needs of residents of colonias and other medically underserved populations. Faculty and staff at the STC, including Promotoras, advise and collaborate in ongoing clinics, screening programs, and mobile health projects to provide healthcare to South Texas communities. Additional environmental health projects related to air quality monitoring in public school buildings and minimization of exposure to household hazardous materials are currently underway.

Research Initiatives

Faculty at the STC are working with the City of McAllen, local county governments and government officials in Mexico to address the health issues in the border population, particularly the high rate of Type 2 diabetes, lack of medical insurance, poor access to health care, and the effects of environmental factors. In addressing Type 2 diabetes, faculty have secured funding for a series of projects to enhance nutrition knowledge and physical activity levels of colonia residents. Efforts to determine the impact of pesticide exposure in South Texas populations are spearheaded by SRPH faculty and trained Promotoras conducting data collection from colonia residents.