McAllen EDC works with STC to address acute shortage of health care professionals in RGV

MCALLEN, Texas – Josh Vasquez, McAllen Economic Development Corporation’s director of workforce development, will serve on a steering committee to help South Texas College best utilize a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The grant will span over the next three years, through June 30, 2027. STC will use the funding to develop and offer an Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene program and micro-credential courses targeting high-demand health care skills.

Additionally, the grant also addresses an acute shortage of health care professionals in the Rio Grande Valley by establishing a Workforce Development and Continuing Education Center for Health Care Professionals, which will be housed at a new building STC recently acquired. The building, in McAllen, is provisionally being called the STC Regional Workforce Development Health Care Center.

McAllen EDC was one of STC’s partners when it applied for the grant. In a recent e-newsletter, McAllen EDC said:

“The South Texas College, in collaboration with the McAllen Economic Development Corporation, has secured a $1 million grant from the Department of Labor. The grant – titled “Building a Future-Ready Healthcare Workforce for Rio Grande Valley by Empowering Non-Traditional Learners, Re-Skilling Incumbent Healthcare Workers and Beyond – will bolster the healthcare workforce in McAllen and the wider Rio Grande Valley.”

McAllen EDC pointed out that the healthcare industry in the Rio Grande Valley has grown exponentially in recent years, with a projected growth of 24.7% by the year 2033. 

“With a growing population and current future healthcare expansions in our region, the need for skilled healthcare professionals will increase in the coming years,” McAllen EDC stated, in its e-newsletter.

“Additionally, the rapid pace of innovations, new technologies and new landscape in health and telehealth services brought about by the pandemic also presents the need to up-skill and re-skill current healthcare workers.”

Josh Vasquez, Josh Vasquez, McAllen Economic Development Corporation’s director of workforce development. (Photo credit: McAllen EDC)

MEDC continued: “To achieve the outcomes of this community project, particularly in promoting non-traditional learners, up-skilling/re-skilling incumbent healthcare workers and enhancing employment opportunities, the role of the McAllen EDC will be to have Josh Vasquez, director of workforce development, serving on the steering committee and facilitate partnerships through its Health and Technology Innovation Committee, which will hold regular meetings with clinical industry partners.”

MEDC added: “Additionally, the MEDC will analyze regional healthcare workforce trends to help STC align its programs with industry needs promote, STC’s Healthcare Pathways and Micro-credentials, and collaborate on training programs to address skills gaps.”

Jayson Valerio, dean of nursing and allied health for STC, announced the $1 million grant from the Department of Labor in July. 

“We are thrilled about this award, which further enables us to provide essential education and training to a diverse learner base as we aim to nurture a health care workforce that is equipped to address the evolving health care needs of our community, particularly in response to recent health care crises,” Valerio said at the time. “We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Labor for this opportunity and to our key partners for making this initiative possible.”

Valerio said STC had distinguished partners on the project, including McAllen EDC, South Texas Health System, the Lower Rio Grande Valley Workforce Development Board (Workforce Solutions – Regional Healthcare Task Force), Hidalgo County – Prosperity (Health) Taskforce and the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA).

Valerio said the Department of Labor grant specifically aims to serve non-traditional learners and incumbent workers in McAllen and the broader Rio Grande Valley by engaging marginalized or underrepresented groups in educational programs and fostering inclusive programs and collaborative partnerships with community organizations.

He said the grant will also allow STC to offer training that addresses post-pandemic health care challenges, including mental health support and technological advancements, foster inclusive programs and partnerships with community organizations, work with other educational institutions, health care facilities and community stakeholders and establish training and recruitment channels that focus on quality, diversity and adaptability.

STC President Ricardo J. Solis said this initiative is building a future-ready health care workforce for the RGV.

“With this initiative, together with our partners, we commit to empower non-traditional learners and re-skill health care workers in our communities,” Solis said. “This is an investment in education and sets the groundwork for a healthier, more resilient future for the residents of McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.”

The post McAllen EDC works with STC to address acute shortage of health care professionals in RGV appeared first on Rio Grande Guardian.