Hocker: The Valley needs a Hospital District

MCALLEN, Texas – The Rio Grande Valley needs a hospital district, says Dr. Michael B. Hocker, dean of UT-Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine.

Hocker made clear his support for a public hospital in a speech at the 2025 State of RGV Real Estate forum, hosted by Edwards Abstract & Title Company.

“One thing that doesn’t exist in the Rio Grande Valley is something that… again, I wasn’t part of this, and I don’t understand it but we don’t have a hospital district. There’s no safety net hospital here. There’s no teaching hospital,” Hocker said.

“As a dean, without a hospital, it’s hard to do what we’re doing. And so, I just ask you the next time, if that’s ever considered again, that you consider supporting that, for the people in the Rio Grande Valley.”

The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service interviewed Dean Hocker after his speech. Asked why a hospital district is important, he said:

“Well, I’m an emergency physician, and as dean, understanding that, especially here, where 30% of the population doesn’t have insurance, I believe in the human right that everyone should have access to health care, and we know that within the Rio Grande Valley, if you don’t have access, unless you have the money to pay, you’re just not going to take care of yourself, your health, nor are you going to have access to get the care you need.

“So, I think the importance of a hospital that is a true safety net hospital is vital to the region. Every other big city in the state of Texas has that. And that is something that’s missing here. It is often neglected and really affects the patients who don’t have the means to get health care that they need.”

In his speech, Hocker said South Texas has been neglected for too long.

“When I look at South Texas, again it’s a region that has long been neglected. These are some of the brutal facts. When you look at the population here, about 30% of it is in poverty. Thirty percent doesn’t have health insurance. If you don’t have health insurance, you don’t get care here, or you’re putting up your own money to care for it,” Hocker said.

“We have disease patterns that many in the country just are appalled at. When you look at cervical cancer rates, they’re the highest in the country, right here in the Rio Grande Valley. Why is that? Women don’t have access to care. They don’t understand they need to get a pap smear. By the time they get diagnosed they’re so far advanced that there’s nothing they can do. They don’t have insurance, can’t get in to get a pap smear or be seen. As an academic medical school that is our mission, to change that, and that’s something that we strive to do every day.”

Dean Hocker also spoke about UTRGV SOM’s podiatry school.

“I don’t think a lot of people understand that we started a podiatry school two years ago. We now have two classes. It’s an essential service for the Rio Grande Valley. When we look at diabetes rates and the amount of ulcers, foot infections, amputations… for people who don’t understand this, the amputation rate is about 100 times higher here in the Rio Grande Valley than other places in the country. So that (the School of Podiatry) was really important.”

Editor’s Note: The above news story is the fourth in a five-part series of healthcare stories based upon Dr. Michael B. Hocker’s presentation at the 2025 State of RGV Real Estate forum. Click here to read and watch Part One. Click here to read Part Two. Click here to read Part Three.

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