< Regional Academic Health Center - The University of Texas Health Science Center

Question & Answer


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Background

Q   What is a Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC)?
A   The Texas Legislature used the term "Regional Academic Health Center" (RAHC) in a law that authorized The Board of Regents of The University of Texas System to establish a medical education and research program serving Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy Counties. The Legislature specified that, together with a community teaching hospital, the RAHC "may be used to provide undergraduate clinical education, graduate education, including residency training programs, or other levels of medical education." As authorized in the law, the Regents assigned management of the RAHC's programs to UT Health Science Center San Antonio, with the exception of public health program, which will be the responsibility of The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center's School of Public Health.


Q   What is the relationship between the RAHC and the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Medicine?
A   The RAHC is an outreach effort of UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, not a semi-independent or stand-alone campus. The Regional Dean reports to the Dean of the UT Health Science Center San Antonio School of Medicine in San Antonio, academic oversight of medical education programs rests with the School of Medicine, and each student clerkship and resident specialty-training program is under the educational direction of the applicable Chair of the corresponding academic departments (medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, etc.) in San Antonio. This arrangement is necessary to meet the standards of the national body that provides accreditation for medical schools.

Q   I've heard that components of the RAHC are in more than one place. Where are these components and what will take place at each location?
A   In the law, the Legislature indicated that the RAHC could consist of facilities throughout the region. In implementing that law, the Regents established the following  facilities: two in Harlingen for medical education and clinical research, one in Edinburg for medical research, and one in Brownsville for public health education. The UT Health Science Center San Antonio campuses of the RAHC are located in Harlingen (main campus) and Edinburg.  

Regional Academic Health Center
Medical Education Division
Harlingen, Texas

RAHC

 

Regional Academic Health Center
Clinical Research Division
Edinburg, Texas

ERAHC

 

Regional Academic Health Center
Academic and Clinical Research Division
Harlingen, Texas

RAHC_II

 

 

Q   Who is the Regional Dean of the RAHC in the Valley?
A   The first Regional Dean was appointed in March 2002 to head the RAHC and oversee activities at all RAHC campuses under the UT Health Science Center San Antonio. Leonel Vela, M.D., MPH, is a native of Pharr. He was the Marie Hall Chair in Rural Health and the vice president for rural and community health at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Dr. Vela also served as the medical director of the Center for TeleMedicine/TeleHealth and associate professor of family and community medicine at Texas Tech. Dr. Vela is based in Harlingen at the RAHC's Medical Education Division.

Q   If I wanted more information about the RAHC and its programs, whom should I contact?
A   Questions should be addressed to the Regional Academic Health Science Center – Harlingen Administrator, Daniel R. Ramirez.