STC’s Valerio appointed to state’s inaugural Healthcare Workforce Task Force

MCALLEN, Texas – Jayson Valerio, regional health care liaison for South Texas College, says he is thrilled to have been appointed to the state’s inaugural Healthcare Workforce Task Force.

The task force was set up by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board at the request of Gov. Greg Abbott to address the state’s severe health care workforce shortage.

Valerio has more than 20 years of experience as a registered nurse and as faculty, program chair and dean for STC’s nursing and allied health programs.

Under his leadership, STC’s nursing program has become the No. 1 producer of nursing graduates among community colleges in the state of Texas and No. 2 among the combined list of Texas colleges and universities.  

“I am deeply honored and feel a profound sense of duty following my appointment by Governor Greg Abbott to the Healthcare Workforce Taskforce aimed at addressing the pressing workforce shortages within Texas’ health care system,” Valerio said. 

“This appointment is not just an honor, but a clarion call to action – charging us to bolster a health care system that is robust, responsive and resilient enough to serve our rapidly growing population.”

Valerio will serve alongside some of the state’s top research, medical and hospital leaders. STC is the only community college with a seat at this prestigious table.

“We’re very proud of Dr. Valerio’s appointment,” said STC President Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D. “This speaks to STC’s commitment to producing skilled and compassionate nurses to meet the critical health care needs of our region and state.”

In addition to addressing the mounting health care workforce shortage, the task force is charged with making sure students have the skills they need to succeed in the healthcare profession.

“Health professionals across Texas work tirelessly to meet the needs of our growing state and provide high-quality care to their fellow Texans,” Abbott said. 

“In April, I directed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to address our state’s healthcare workforce shortage by maintaining sufficient clinical placement sites and retaining qualified clinical faculty so that students have the tools they need to succeed in this vital industry. 

“Today, we’re announcing the inaugural members of the Healthcare Workforce Taskforce. This highly qualified group of experts, industry leaders, and individuals from Texas’ top-tier higher education institutions will ensure Texas can expand our healthcare workforce to meet the needs of all Texans for generations to come.”

In May, Gov. Abbott announced Victoria Ford, president and CEO of Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute, as chair of the Healthcare Workforce Taskforce.

Letter to THECB

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Here is a copy of the letter Abbott sent to the THECB:

April 18, 2024

The Honorable Harrison Keller

Commissioner

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

1801 Congress Ave

Austin, Texas 78701

Dear Commissioner Keller:

Health professionals work tirelessly to meet the public health demands of our growing state and care for their fellow Texans. The training and education of health professionals is essential to adequately address healthcare workforce shortages and improve access to healthcare across our great state.

Having qualified instructors and sufficient clinical sites play a critical role to prepare future health professionals to care for the patients they will encounter in their careers. The State of Texas has invested millions in job training grants to help prepare students for high-demand careers, such as nursing, to meet the healthcare needs of our state, but we must do more.

To help address the healthcare workforce shortage, I am directing the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to immediately create a task force to provide opportunities and remove barriers that exist to expand healthcare programs at institutions and provide students with the

tools necessary to succeed in this field in Texas. Further, the task force should investigate challenges to establishing and maintaining sufficient clinical rotation sites and clinical placements and identify best practices to attract and retain qualified clinical instructors. The task force shall issue a report by October 1, 2024.

Texas is the fastest growing state in the nation, and it is vital that we continue to expand our healthcare workforce to meet the needs of our citizens as we build a bigger, better Texas.

Sincerely,

Governor Greg Abbott

Jayson Valerio, regional health care liaison for South Texas College.

About Jayson Valerio

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Dr. Jayson Valerio, DNP is the Dean for the School of Nursing and Allied Health for South Texas College. He has over 20 years of experience as a registered nurse in the field of medical-surgical nursing and nursing education. Dr. Valerio oversees 12 different nursing and allied health care programs across three campuses. He started at South Texas College in 2000 as faculty for the associate degree in nursing (ADN) program and in June 2011, became the program chair. In 2014, Dr. Valerio served as Instructional Specialist Workforce Educational Course Manual (WECM) Reviewer of nursing curriculum and as an Institutional Research Review Board Committee member for Mission Regional Medical Center. Dr. Valerio is active within the community, serving as the South Texas State Representative for Texas Team Coalition Academic Progression in Nursing (APIN), Texas Nurses’ Association, Texas Society of Allied Health Professions, Texas Deans and Directors of Professional Nursing Programs, International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation & Learning, Advisory Panel for the University of Texas Center for Excellence in Aging Services and Long Term Care, and Board Advisory of the Philippine Nurses Association of South Texas Rio Grande Valley Chapter. In addition, he is currently a member of Sigma Theta-Tau International Honor Society, Chi Alpha Chapter, International Nursing Scholar Laureate, and Golden Key International Nursing Society. Dr. Valerio completed a Doctorate of Nursing Practice in Nursing Education Leadership at American Sentinel University. He has a Master of Arts in Nursing from Angeles University Foundation and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of the Assumption.

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