Staff
Armando Lopez, M.P.H.
LRGV AHEC Director
E-mail: armando.lopez@lrgvahec.com | Phone: 956-230-5144 | Fax: 956-230-5052
Address: 1212 E. Harrison, Suite 165, Harlingen, Texas 78550
Mr. Armando Lopez has dedicated his 30-year career to directing successful grant-funded programs that empower underserved communities. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas-Pan American (now the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) and a Master’s of Public Health from the University of Texas Health-Houston. His journey began with the Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, where he led NIH grants for three asthma prevention programs. This experience ignited his passion for understanding community needs, as evidenced by his master’s thesis titled “Hispanic Mothers Describing Asthma.” His research directly informed the development of a school-based asthma intervention program, a testament to his commitment to evidence-based solutions. In 2003, Armando joined the UT Health-Houston Centers of Excellence in Brownsville to implement a physical activity and nutrition program for elementary school children in 30 school districts across the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Recognizing the need for a sustainable support approach, Mr. Lopez established the Rio Grande Valley Area Health Education Center, a non-profit to support the education of healthcare professionals and students. The organization has supported the university’s community outreach needs that range from remote housing, public health career internships, interprofessional training programs, community health workers certification institutes, and continued education.
Juana Escareno, B.A.S., C.H.W.I., C.H.W., M.H.F.A.I.
Academic Programs Coordinator
E-mail: escareno@uthscsa.edu | Phone: 956-230-5144 | Fax: 956-230-5052
Address: 1212 E. Harrison, Suite 165, Harlingen, Texas 78550
Juana Escareño is a certified Community Health Worker (CHW) Instructor (Instructor de Promotor(a) de Salud) and Academic Programs Coordinator for the South Texas AHEC program at the LRGV AHEC in Harlingen Texas. She has over 25 years of experience within the University of Texas system. For the past 14 years, she has been instrumental in planning, implementing, and monitoring student and health professional education programs. She served as a mentor and supervisor of students, volunteers, consultants, and contractors of various educational programs. In addition, Ms. Escareño managed student housing for healthcare professional students during their rotations in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. In 2014, she contributed much to the development of the South Texas AHEC’s Promotores of South Texas Training Course, a CHW certification program where she now serves as a bilingual faculty. Ms. Escareño teaches and translates materials between English and Spanish. She coordinates various health education resources and workforce development programs for the Kleberg Foundation, the University of Texas Austin, and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). Specific programs include Health Literacy, HPV Vaccination, Suicide Prevention, Essential Nutrition, and the CHW training materials for cultural sensitivity and appropriateness. The various University of Texas Health-San Antonio organizations receiving Ms. Escareño’s CHW training and support include the Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics, Train-the-Trainer workshops (offered to CHWs in South Texas by the UTRGV), South Texas Environmental Education and Research (STEER) Scholars Program plus the Office of Student Affairs, Student Support & Wellness Services and the Department of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine. As an advocate for a healthier South Texas, she continues to develop and deliver courses for CHW certifications and continuing education units.
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