Bailey: Harlingen has been integral to UTRGV’s growth and success

Thank you, Mayor (Norma) Sepulveda and thank you to the city of Harlingen for being such tremendous partners with UTRGV. 

As you can probably tell, I’m recording my remarks in between one of our spring semester commencement ceremonies. Now, it’s fitting that I do so because when we talk about successful collaborations between UTRGV and Harlingen, they all lead to this moment, when our students receive their hard-earned diplomas in front of their families and their friends. 

These milestones are not ours alone. They’re possible thanks to our strong partnership with the City of Harlingen. 

UTRGV has made incredible progress in eight years and Harlingen has been integral to that growth and success. The city is home to several of our UTRGV health facilities including a clinical education building and our institute of neurosciences. Overall, we provide health care in Harlingen in nine specialties including neurology, cancer care, surgery and others. And soon we hope to be adding a center for the management of diabetes.

Harlingen is also home to UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine, the only podiatry program in the state of Texas. Just this fall we welcomed our second cohort to have 61 students in the program. Last September, our faculty began seeing patients, further enhancing our local health care offerings. Currently, we are working diligently to implement residency programs in podiatry, which will bring more podiatrists from around the country to train and serve in Harlingen. 

And let’s not forget about our Harlingen Collegiate High School which continues to attract and graduate some of the best and brightest students in the city and in the entire Valley. We will soon be opening two new collegiate highs in the Upper Valley. But remember, it was in Harlingen where this began. Your CISD took a leap of faith and it’s one of the best schools in the country. Thank you, Harlingen, for your unwavering support and partnership. Together we look forward to shaping a brighter future for all our communities.

Editor’s Note: The above commentary was provided by UT-Rio Grande Valley President Guy Bailey via a video link for Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda’s 2024 State of the City Address.

The post Bailey: Harlingen has been integral to UTRGV’s growth and success appeared first on Rio Grande Guardian.