Operation Border Health Preparedness serves local community

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A group of University of Texas Rio Grande Valley medical students, faculty, and staff provided needed medical services to underserved areas of the Valley.

The medical students were part of the 25th anniversary of Operation Border Health Preparedness (OBHP), an initiative organized by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The initiative brought medical care to South Texas residents who might otherwise not have access to important preventative services such as vital screenings, immunizations, hearing tests, vision exams, medical exams and others.

Held in locations such as Brownsville, San Juan, Rio Grande City, Raymondville, and Laredo, OBHP is a volunteer collaboration between the UTRGV School of Medicine, Hidalgo County, Cameron County, and several other local partner organizations, that provide health care services at no cost to residents.

“This event provides our UTRGV medical students with an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience while serving the communities where they live and study, and someday, will work as doctors,” said Dr. Kelsey Baker, assistant dean of Pre-Clerkships and assistant professor of Neuroscience at the UTRGV School of Medicine. “This is a practical part of our School of Medicine’s commitment to academic medicine.”

Weslaco native and first-year medical student Maci Oestreich said volunteering at the event was a rewarding experience that allowed her to experience first hand the community’s critical health care needs.

"This event hits home for me," Oestreich said. "I've seen the persistent problems in colonias, such as limited access to healthcare and the economic barriers healthcare sometimes presents."

She said the opportunity to serve her community as one of their own was incredibly fulfilling and motivating.

"This experience has been amazing because it focuses on uplifting the community," she said. "It's also been great to get a glimpse of being a doctor, working directly with patients by participating in vaccinations and physicals. I've truly enjoyed it."

This year, OBHP was held from July 22 through 26. Over 2,000 Valley residents passed through the doors to receive medical services, many of whom had waited months for this opportunity.

“Seeing the number of people who haven't seen a doctor in years is astonishing," said Sean Corcoran, a first-year UTRGV medical student from Virginia. "It's been gratifying to help, even in small ways. Everyone is so appreciative, and many plan their whole year around this event. It's amazing."

"These volunteers exemplify our deep commitment to serving our communities, their volunteer efforts at events like OBHP are a testament to the culture of service we strive to cultivate at the UTRGV School of Medicine," said Dr. Michael Hocker, dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine.