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J. Ernest (Ernie) Aguilar, M.Div., Ph.D.

Graduated: 2008

Advisor: Anne Hudson Jones, Ph.D.

Dissertation Title:

Beyond Cultural Competency: Using Literature to Foster Socially Conscious Medicine

Current Position and Address:

TBA
TBA
New York, NY TBA
phone: TBA
fax: TBA
email: jernestaguilar@gmail.com

Ernie, as he prefers to be called, came to us from New York where he worked as the Director of Pastoral Care at a health care facility that primarily served men and women who are HIV positive. He earned his BS in Applied Learning and Development in 1994 from the University of Texas at Austin. Ernie then went on to get a Masters in Divinity in 2000 at the Washington Theological Union in Washington, DC. He served as the IMH representative to the Graduate Student Organization (GSO) and president of the UTMB student gay and lesbian association.

In February 2006, Ernie was appointed by Dr. John Stobo to sit on the Institutional Diversity Council. As one of the core values, UTMB has made a strong commitment to practicing, modeling, and teaching about how the recognition of diversity, in its many forms, is essential to medical practice, healing, and enlightenment.

The Diversity Council was established to serve the campus by directly advising Dr. Stobo on practices, polices, and perspectives that enhance diversity. The council is also responsible for organizing various events and projects for UTMB (eg, "Diversity Week," "Essay Contests," etc.) The Council is composed of members from all areas of UTMB's faculty, administration, and staff. The Council has one student seat.

In addition to the Diversity Council, Ernie served as the GSBS student representative to the Enrollment Services Advisory Committee. This committee is responsible for considering and approving policies and procedures in Enrollment Services (eg, Financial Aid, Registration Procedures, Admission Practices, etc.).

AWARDS
2005 - Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges
2007 - David C. Eiland, Jr. Scholarship Award
2007 - William Bennett Bean Scholarship Award
2007 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for Diversity