Hector P. Garcia Award

The award celebrates Garcia, a distinguished School of Medicine Class of 1940 alumnus and civil right champion, and recognizes a student who demonstrates commitment to providing quality health care to all by incorporating cultural knowledge and skills in his or her service to others.

Dr. Kirk Smith  was chosen by students to be this year's keynote speaker because of the seminal role he played in the formation of Frontera de Salud and his commitment to Public Health. This is also the tenth anniversary of Frontera de Salud.

All full-time UTMB students are eligible to submit essays for the award. You can read about Dr. Garcia at the UTMB Hector P. Garcia web page at http://www.utmb.edu/drgarcia/.

DEADLINE
Submit all materials no later than Monday, September 8th, to:

University Student Services
Jamail Student Center, Room 2.118
Johnny Scott - jbscott@utmb.edu

SELECTION CRITERIA
All applications must:

• be in good academic standing.
• have demonstrated committment to personal and professional development of cultural competency skills,
• have demonstrated leadership and service in cross-cultural activites
• be enrolled as a full-time UTMB student, and
• a written essay (1,500 words or less).

APPLICATION PACKET
Students must submit the following materials to be considered for the Hector P. Garcia, M.D. Cultural Competence Award:

• A cover letter declaring the student's interest in being considered for the award and providing information on the student's leadership and service on cross-cultural activities.
• An essay expressing the student's understanding of cultural competence as it relates to his or her ability to work with, conduct research with or treat people from diverse cultures. Students may write about their own personal experiences and the ways in which their understanding, attitudes and skills relative to cross-cultural issues have evolved. Essays should be typed double-spaced with 1.5" margins and should be 1,500 words or less.
  • Email your essay in MS Word to Johnny Scott in University Student Services at jbscott@utmb.edu.
  • Applicants should not inlcude their names on their essays, only on the cover letter. Essay submissions will be evaluated in a "blind review" process.
• A letter of reference from a reference who can confirm the student's development in the area of cultural competence and committment to diversity.

SELECTION PROCESS
Essays will be judged by members of the Hector P. Garcia Committee. The judges will evaluate the writer's personal understanding of cultural competence and how he or she applies it in the delivery of quality health care.

Committee Members:

Henry Cavazos, J.D.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
School of Allied Health Sciences

Ernestine Cuellar, R.N., Ph.D., CNS, BC, WHCNP, BC
Assistant Professor
School of Nursing

Jason Glenn, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Institute for Medical Humanities

Charles Holzer III, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Gabriel Rodriguez, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Surgery

 Erica Chance, M.S.
Director, Office of Student Life

 Vince Loffredo, Ed.D.
Associate Vice President for University Student Services

 Rebecca Saavedra, Ed.D.
Chair of Selection Committee
Associate Vice President for Strategic Management

Melvin Williams
Director
Department of Diversity and International Affairs

 SPONSORS

• University Student Services
• Office of the President
• Office of Diversity and International Affairs

CONTACT
For more information about the award or diversity programs at UTMB, contact University Student Services at (409) 747-4820 or the Office of Diversity and International Affairs at (409) 747-8825.