Welcome to the Summer 2024 South Texas AHEC Newsletter

Recent Successes | Future Events | Learning Opportunities | Health News

Recent Successes

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Community, Coffee, & Connections

Community, Coffee, & Conversations is a program designed to keep our community well-informed of the resources in Eagle Pass. On March 18, 2024, Bonifacio Vega II, MPA, CHW, CHW-I, Director of Southwest Border AHEC UT Health San Antonio highlighted The Southwest Border Area Health Education Center (AHEC), a non-profit organization that focuses on providing clinical and educational opportunities for health professionals and students, establishing community health education programs and promoting health careers.

PEAAKS Phase III CHW Graduation - March 28, 2024

Congratulations to the new Community Health Workers on your incredible success! We hope you all feel great about what you've accomplished, and we hope you'll continue to do great things for you and your community! Don't stop and be a person who shows up day in and day out for those things that are worthwhile and important in life. You did it!

SWTJC Lecture Series - "Long COVID: Symptoms, Management and Recovery" - April 2, 2024

Thank you to Dr. Jason Rosenfeld for his enlightening presentation on long COVID to the Eagle Pass community. The presentation helped to shed light on the challenges and experiences faced by those affected by this complex condition.

Autism Walk - Consulado de Mexico - April 2, 2024

In partnership with El Consuldo de Mexico in Eagle Pass, SWB AHEC participated in the annual Autism Walk and community resource fair on April 2, 2024. We had over 150 community members join the effort in bringing awareness to the community about this important issue. Thank you to all the participants in the 2024 World Autism Awareness Day Walk!

Pinwheels for Prevention - April 10, 2024

In partnership with the Maverick County Early Childhood Coalition and Serving Children and Adults in Need (SCAN), SWB AHEC participated in the National Child Abuse Prevention Month ceremony at San Juan Plaza in Eagle Pass to recognize the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect. No Excuse for Child Abuse!

Spring Into Health - SWTJC - April 18, 2024

In partnership with Southwest Texas Junior College, SWB AHEB provided students and community members with a variety of health screenings and education on healthy eating and lifestyle habits. We were able to reach over 50 participants through the fair. Thank you to Brenda Hoffman for inviting us to participate!

TAMUCC Campus Visit - April 26, 2024

On April 26, 2024, SWB AHEC provided AHEC Scholars and PEAAKS students with the opportunity to visit the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi campus. Students were given a tour of the TAMUCC nursing simulation lab and were able to speak with both faculty and current students about the opportunities that TAMUCC could provide them. The students also had the opportunity to meet and talk with the South Coastal AHEC staff about their experiences working to improve the health and wellness of the South Coastal community. A special thanks to Belinda Flores and the South Coastal AHEC team for making the students' experience a great one!

Dia Del Nino - Consulado de Mexico - April 30

On April 30, 2024, SWB AHEC participated in the Dia Del Nino celebration event hosted by the Consuldo de Mexico in Eagle Pass. The event provided over 100 community members an opportunity to learn about available community resources as well as to take advantage of health screenings and health education.

CHW Certification Course Graduation - SWTJC - May 28, 2024

Congratulations to the 20 newest CHWs in the Southwest Border Region! We celebrated the graduation on May 28, 2028, in Eagle Pass. Thank you for your dedication and hard work!

Masterpiece of the Minds - Broken Crayons Still Color - May 30, 2024

On May 30, 2024, SWB AHEC participates in the Master"piece" of Minds - Broken Colors Still Color event in Eagle Pass, Texas. This event is designed to provide children and young adults with the opportunity to express themselves through art as well as to provide an opportunity to learn about a variety of health coping mechanisms.

SWTJC - Phi Theta Kappa Summer Camp June 5, 2024

In June, SWB AHEC will participate in a summer camp hosted by the Southwest Texas Junior College chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. This two-week summer camp was a result of research conducted on children and their education path toward college and will utilize project-based learning techniques and foster relationships within their community. Campers will have to opportunity to participate in a variety oh health-related career exploration activities.

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Summer Intern Karen Ordonez

Welcome, Karen Ordonez! Karen is a senior at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and will be graduating with a bachelor's degree in public health, concentrating in health promotion and behavioral science. As a first-generation college student, she is paving the way for her future in the dental field. Karen has been working as a dental assistant in a general dental clinic for three years, gaining valuable hands-on experience. We are thrilled to have Karen join our team for the summer and look forward to the contributions she will make with her background and enthusiasm. Welcome aboard, Karen!

Congratulations to our newly 'graduated' CHWs!

We are thrilled to announce that we completed our final class for Community Health Workers (CHWs) on May 30th. We successfully certified six new Community Health Workers, and we couldn't be more excited about their achievement. Our newly certified CHWs have a bright future ahead of them, and we are confident they will make significant contributions to the community. We look forward to seeing the positive impact they will have as they embark on their journeys as Community Health Workers. Congratulations to all of our graduates!

San Antonio Primary Care Behavioral Health Networking Meeting, June 11, 2024

Our special guests: Dr. Yajaira Johnson-Esparza, Dr. Clarissa Aguilar, and Dr. Maria Montanez are the 2024 Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (CFHA) Conference Co-Chairs and discussed the upcoming CFHA conference, which will be held in San Antonio in October 2024. This conference is dedicated to all aspects of integrated care! In addition to their presentation, we will have time for networking, sharing job opportunities, and continuing education in the field of primary care behavioral health. Please share this invitation with any clinicians or trainees in the San Antonio area who are interested in primary care and integrated care. We look forward to seeing you there!

Follow South Coastal AHEC on Facebook @SouthCoastalAHEC.CC

ALSO Course

South Coastal AHEC hosted the annual ALSO course. Through this course, local medical professionals engaged in various education seminars and hands-on scenarios through simulation equipment. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) states, "Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO®) is an evidence-based, interprofessional, and multidisciplinary training program that equips the entire pregnancy care team with skills to effectively manage obstetric emergencies. This comprehensive course encourages a standardized team-based approach amongst physicians, residents, nurse midwives, registered nurses, and other members of the pregnancy care team to improve patient safety and positively impact maternal outcomes. The course format is a blended classroom which allows learners to work at their own pace to complete the online course portion prior to the live course skills assessment portion."

Conscious Collaborations Mental Health Conference

On May 16, 2024, South Coastal AHEC, in partnership with key mental health organizations in the Coastal Bend Area, successfully held the Conscious Collaborations Mental Health Conference in Port Aransas, Texas. This event was designed to provide information on available mental health resources in the area as well as to provide a platform for discussion about trending issues in mental health. The conference was attended by over 150 attendees.

7th Annual Hospice Symposium

South Coastal AHEC, in partnership with Del Mar College will hold the 7th Annual Hospice Symposium on June 12, 2024, in Corpus Christi, Texas. The goal of this activity is to provide both medical professionals and community members with the opportunity to learn about hospice care and the important role it plays in our health care system. The conference will feature a variety of expert presentations on topics related to hospice and end-of-life care.

End Of Year Physicals

During May, South Coastal AHEC, in collaboration with Nueces County commissioners, hosted physicals at surrounding schools twice a week. Through this collaborative effort, we provided hundreds of sports physicals to CCISD athletes/band members. These physicals prepare students for their respective sports. Without a physical, students can not participate in their sports or summer band for safety reasons. Additionally, these medical exams typically cost a fee when obtained in a doctor's office and can be hard to schedule for working parents. By Providing these physicals right after school ends, at no cost, students can access them easily. These physicals would not be possible without the help of local nursing students, EMT students, nurses, and physicians.

Knowledge is Power CHW Workshop

South Coastal AHEC hosted a CHW/Promotora workshop with the theme Knowledge is Power. South Coastal AHEC strongly believes in providing knowledge to all CHW's to empower them, sharpen their skills, and create great leaders. Attendees received 7 hours of DSHS-approved CEUs. Topics covered in this workshop included oral health, Chagas, networking, data 101, and self-care.

San Pedro Elementary Field Day

On May 29th San Pedro Elementary of Robstown held their annual field day for the children. This is a day where kids can put down the books and enjoy being kids with their peers. Children enjoyed activities such as water balloon games, obstacle course moon jumps, and relay races. This fun-filled day prepares students to say goodbye to the school year and hello to summer! South Coastal AHEC donated various fruits and healthy snacks for the children to enjoy on field day.

Texas Rural Health Association Strategic Planning Retreat

In April of 2024 the Texas Rural Health Association convened in Corpus Christi at South Coastal AHEC for two days. Members gathered around "...to brainstorm and develop a new strategic plan that will help shape the future of rural healthcare in our state!"

Motivational Interviewing Training

On May 15th the South Coastal AHEC team participated in a Motivational Interviewing training led by Dr. Luis Torres-Hostos at the Corpus Christi Health Department. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative counseling method used to promote change behavior. The interviewer focuses on using open-ended questions, and reflective listening to better understand the patient. This method allows us to understand what stage of change the participant is in and how likely they are to make a change. It also reminds us that no one knows the patient more than the patient.

Follow Lower Rio Grande Valley AHEC on Facebook at @lrgv.ahec

Future Events & Learning Opportunities

Follow South Texas AHEC on Facebook @STAHEC

Follow Southwest Border AHEC on Facebook @SWBAHEC

Follow Mid Rio Grande Border AHEC on Facebook @AreaHealthEducationCenter

Follow South Central AHEC on Facebook @SouthCentralTexasAHEC

Frio County TAB Presents- 3rd Annual Frio County Fall Family Festival

November 9, 2024 from 11:00am to 2:00pm
Polo Patino Park - 147 West Davila Street, Pearsall, Texas 78061

Frio Translational Advisory Board (TAB) is pleased to announce our upcoming 3rd annual Fall Family Fest for families across Frio County on Saturday, November 9, 2024. Like the previous year, our goal is to provide a free community-wide event emphasizing health, education, wellness, and prevention while providing fun activities for all ages. We want to invite you and others again to join us in providing free health screenings, information, education, resources, and other health-related services. This free event will be outdoors, and we hope to make it an engaging and informative experience for the community.

Aging Well Conference

Saturday, November 16, 2024 from 11:00am to 2:00pm
The Neighborhood Place
3014 Rivas St. Cafetorium, San Antonio, TX 78228

We are excited to announce our Aging Well Conference, "You Do Better When You Know Better!" This free event will feature a raffle with door prizes, complimentary food, and opportunities to connect with community organizations based in Bexar County. People from all walks of life are welcome to attend and benefit from the valuable information and resources that will be shared. Don't miss out on this chance to learn, engage, and enjoy a wonderful community event!

Follow South Coastal AHEC on Facebook @SouthCoastalAHEC.CC

Texas CME Professional Development Conference

June 26, 2024, Georgetown, Texas

The Texas CME Professional Development Conference is a biennial 3-day conference, focusing on accreditation requirements and issues, evolution of CME planning and management skills in CME, updates on the environment in which physicians practice medicine, and establishing a practical forum for CME providers to share ideas and best practices to learn from each other. The South Coastal CME team will present tips and strategies for securing TMA's highest accreditation status of "Accreditation with Commendation," which they were awarded this past accreditation cycle. For more information, contact Scott Krall at krall@uthscsa.edu

Operation Health & Wellness

July 22-27 2024, See flyer for times and locations.

Each year Nueces County hosts Operation Health & Wellness. This is usually a collaborative effort with the Department of Defense to aid community members in receiving no-cost medical screenings that they would otherwise put off due to cost. This will be the first year the Department of Defense is unable to attend. This however has not stopped the county and community organizations from banding together to ensure the event continues this year. Services provided range from medical examinations, diabetes screenings, vision checks, and vaccinations. For more information contact: Belinda Flores at 361-881-8133

Advanced Cardiac Life Support Classes

Next Class will be held August 2-3, 2024

Throughout the year, South Coastal AHEC in partnership with ACLS expert, Raul Hernandez, holds ACLS training courses. These courses are available to medical professionals in need of certification or a license renewal. This course follows the American Heart Association guidelines. "The GOAL of the ACLS Provider Course is to improve outcomes for adult patients of cardiac arrest and other cardiopulmonary emergencies through early recognition and interventions by high-performance teams" For more information contact Belinda Flores at 361-881-8133

Medical Student Orientation

July 8, 2024

South Coastal AHEC director, Belinda Flores, will participate in the medical student orientation. For a few months of the year, medical students from around the United States shadow local physicians to gain hands-on experience and knowledge. Belinda Flores manages these rotations to ensure each student's needs are met and exceeded. For more information, contact Belinda Flores, 361-881-8133

Future Physicals & Health Fairs

June 20, 2024 - Calallen High School
July 9, 2024 - Tuloso-Midway High School
August 1, 2024 - Mary Carroll High School
August 6th - Veterans Memorial High School

In collaboration with Nueces County Commissioners, South Coastal AHEC is excited to continue providing no-cost health fairs and sports physicals. Health fairs give the opportunity for anyone in the community to stop by and learn about the abundant health services available. Physicals help ensure CCISD students are prepared for the upcoming school year and can begin participating in extracurricular activities with ease. For more information contact: Melissa Flores (361)881-8133

Salud en Mis Manos Upcoming Events

Salud En Mis Manos/ Health in My Hands is a grant-funded program that focuses on educating women on the importance of breast and cervical cancer screenings. Through this program, eligible women can receive free to low-cost pap smears, mammograms, and HPV vaccines. South Coastal AHEC has a team of dedicated CHWs who promote this program. They do this by attending various events in Nueces and surrounding counties. South Coastal AHEC has developed a close partnership with South Texas Family Planning. Through this partnership, women can be scheduled to receive their services within one week. For more information contact Brittany Colunga at 361-881-8133.

Follow Lower Rio Grande Valley AHEC on Facebook at @lrgv.ahec

Attention Health Profession Students! The AHEC Scholars Program is Recruiting!

This program is an opportunity for health profession students, of all disciplines, to participate in interprofessional education (IPE) healthcare activities. The duration of the program is 1-2 years (depending on discipline), runs concurrently with a student’s academic curriculum, and concludes when the student graduates from their respective health profession program. In addition to educational and professional enrichment, the AHEC Scholars Program offers a $500 stipend, per year in the program, to help offset student costs. If you are interested in applying please click here. The AHEC Scholars Program is explained in greater detail at https://stahec.uthscsa.edu/ahec-scholars. Alternatively, please contact Roni Vela by e-mail at velav4@uthscsa.edu or phone at 361-881-8133, for more information.

Please note: We are unable to accept pre-health profession students at this time.

Partner Announcements

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