McAllen Campus
The Texas A&M Health Science Center - McAllen Campus was established in 2000 and provides comprehensive, accessible health education programs and services to residents of the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Since 2004, the McAllen Campus has been housed in a 23,000-square-foot facility providing space for laboratories, offices, classrooms and conference areas used to deliver a wide range of health training, clinical research, medical education, community interventions and public health programs with local partners.
Degree Programs
The Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health will offer at the McAllen Campus three Master of Public Health (MPH) Programs. MPH in Social & Behavioral Health with a concentration in Border Health; an MPH in Health Policy and Management and an MPH in Occupational & Environmental Health with an emphasis on Occupational Health. These programs prepare graduates for positions that require a broad knowledge in the field of public health and the ability to critically assess and apply a variety of tools and skills to public health issues. Through their studies and first-hand experiences, students acquire a sound foundation in the core disciplines of public health. Courses are taught at the McAllen Campus using a combination of classroom and web technology strategies.
Master of Environmental and Occupational Health with emphasis in Occupational Health
The Department of Environmental and Occupational Health is concerned with the health effects of exposures to air and water pollution, pesticides, organic solvents, dusts and physical hazards, which occur in the environment, the home or the workplace. The department draws from the knowledge generated from disciplines that contribute to recognizing, assessing, and controlling these risks that include epidemiology, toxicology, microbiology, safety engineering, industrial hygiene, medicine, nursing, law and labor economics.
Master of Public Health in Social and Behavioral Health with a concentration in Border Health
This degree plan emphasizes public health in the community setting and is offered by the Department of Social and Behavioral Health. Individuals completing this degree are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to prepare, implement and evaluate health-promotion interventions and facilitate community development activities, including those for rural and underserved populations. The curriculum comprises standard public health courses with examples focused on border health. Graduates of this program will be prepared to work in outreach and other community-oriented programs, in non-profit organizations, local and state health departments and federal health agencies, and public- and private-sector organizations such as clinics, hospitals, and health maintenance organizations.
Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management
This degree is designed to meet the needs of individuals interested in how health care is organized, delivered and financed. Students in Health Policy and Management will complete a program of study that provides a mixture of management instruction with the study of health policy. The emphasis on rural and policy issues and management practices provides the student with a truly unique opportunity to prepare for careers in a wide variety of healthcare settings. Graduates of this program will have career opportunities in healthcare management, public health administration, advocacy and policy development, research, training, and community outreach.
Rio Grande Valley Biosecurity and Import Safety Initiative
The purpose of the Rio Grande Valley Biosecurity and Import Safety Initiative is to address a major “biosecurity hot spot” situated along the Texas-Mexico Border. The Rio Grande Valley is among the most medically underserved areas in Texas and is located in a geographic region with substantial transient populations. There are gaps in public health services such as disease tracking, training, and laboratory testing.Read more about this initiative here
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 School of Rural Public Health, 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 underway.
Research Initiatives
Faculty 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 the School of Rural Public Health faculty and trained promotoras conducting data collection from colonia residents.
