Since 2004, the HSC-South Texas Center has been housed in a 23,000-square-foot facility providing space for laboratories, offices, classrooms and conference areas for the 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 HSC-School of Rural Public Health began offering a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree program, with an emphasis on Border Health, in fall 2008. The program is a traditional M.P.H. 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). Faculty and staff at the HSC-South Texas Center, including promotoras, advise and collaborate in ongoing clinics, screening programs and mobile health projects to provide health care 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 under way.
South Texas Cancer Registry
The South Texas Center serves as the home base for the Texas Cancer Registry (TCR) Program serving 19 counties under the auspices of DSHS Region 11. Approximately 6,022 cancer reports are received on an annual basis from 30 hospitals, a pathology lab, four cancer treatment centers, two radiation centers, two surgical centers and a military medical facility.
Click on 2008 selected cancer facts for Hidalgo County, Cameron County, Region 11 and State of Texas.
Research Initiatives
Faculty at the HSC-South Texas Center 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 HSC-School of Rural Public Health faculty and trained promotoras conducting data collection from colonia residents.
