Community Health Information
Continuing Education Programs
The MRGB-AHEC offers a series of continuing education programs for health care providers and collaborates with community partners to offer current information and facilitate continuing education opportunities for social service providers, community health care workers, educators, law enforcement professionals and other community members. Some of the annual conferences include:
- Annual Update in Medicine
- Annual Domestic Violence Conference
- Annual Binational Conference
- Annual Mental Health Awareness Symposium
- Annual Diabetes Exposition Conference
Community Health Literacy
The MRGB-AHEC enhances the lives of community members by linking educational resources to its communities. These efforts have resulted in the successful organization and hosting of annual events for families to engage and learn about the latest findings, diagnosis, research and treatments available pertaining to special groups. These events include:
- Alzheimer’s Community Forum
- Family Resource Fair
- Transitional Seminar & Resource Fair
- Mental Health Conversations
- Veterans Health & Resource Fairs
Networking
The MRGB-AHEC collaborates with numerous local and regional partners to help promote disease prevention and create awareness about health promotion projects. AHEC is a member of the following groups:
- Alzheimer’s Association
- Family Assistance and Community Empowerment Coalition
- Female Veterans Support Group
- Laredo Breast Cancer Coalition
- Laredo Health Coalition
- Laredo of Tomorrow Coalition
- League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
- Mayor’s Wellness Council on Active Living
- Operation Lone Star Coalition
- Ray of Light Anxiety and Depression Support Group
- Rotary International
- U.S./Mexico Binational Health Coalition
- Webb County Community Coalition of SCAN
- Webb County Domestic Violence Coalition
Community Needs Assessment: In 2011, the MRGB AHEC in collaboration with Laredo/Webb County Health Department and UTHSCSA Center for South Texas Programs conducted a community health and workforce needs assessment for Laredo/Webb County region. The result of this collaboration includes the creation of three task forces focused an improving the areas identified by the community as priority needs in the community – better health, better education, and improved quality of life. The AHEC staff is an integral part of these community groups. The goal is to identify projects or systems to help meet the needs identified in this comprehensive needs assessment.
Community-Based Training Programs for Health Professionals
The MRGB-AHEC promotes community based training by identifying clinical training sites for the trainees. Some of the training sites include:
- Border Region Behavioral Health Center
- City of Laredo Health Department and Dental Clinic
- Doctors Hospital of Laredo
- Gateway Community Health Center
- Laredo Medical Center
- Laredo Rehabilitation Hospital
- Laredo Specialty Hospital
- Laredo Pediatrics & Neonatology
- Mercy Ministries of Laredo
- Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center
- Gustavo Villarreal, MD
- Leo Cigarroa, MD
- Mateo Reyes, MD
- Oscar Benavides, MD
- Francisco Cervantes, MD
- Eduardo Miranda, MD
Training opportunities are available in the following fields:
- Dental Training Program
- Nursing Program
- Nutrition Program
- Occupational Therapy Program
- Physical Therapy Program
- Physician Assistant Program
