The Hector P. Garcia Committee and the Office of the President invite all faculty, staff, students, and public to attend the Hector P. Garcia Awards Luncheon celebrating the life of Hector P. Garcia, M.D., UTMB alumni, physician, veteran, community leader, and activist, and the winners of the Hector P. Garcia Cultural Competence Essay Contest and the Hector P. Garcia Abstract Contest.
Date: Friday, October 6, 2017, 11:30am to 1:00pm
Location: Levin Hall Dining Room
Guest Speaker: Cecilia Akers, author and daughter of Hector P. Garcia, M.D.
We are concurrently hosting the Hector P. Garcia, M.D.,
Cultural Competence Poster Contest in the Levin Hall Foyer from 11:00am
to 12:00pm.
For further information go to: https://www.utmb.edu/studentservices/hector-p-garcia-award
About the Hector P. Garcia Cultural Competence Awards
The Hector P. Garcia Committee solicits applications from UTMB students for the Hector P. Garcia, M.D. Cultural Competence Essay Contest and the new Abstract Contest.
The awards celebrate Garcia, a distinguished 1940 graduate of the School of Medicine and civil rights champion. It also recognizes the student whose essay or abstract (poster) demonstrates both cultural competency and a commitment to providing quality health care to all.
All full-time UTMB students are eligible to submit essays or abstracts for the awards. You can read about Dr. Garcia at http://www.utmb.edu/drgarcia/.
ESSAY CONTEST
DEADLINE
The deadline for the 2017 award has passed. A new deadline will be announced when the contest opens next year.
AWARD PRESENTATION
The winner of the essay contest is presented with the award, as well as a $1,000 monetary award, at the annual luncheon. Invited guests usually include members of Dr. Garcia's family as well as a dynamic keynote speaker.
SELECTION CRITERIA
All entrants must:
- be in good academic standing
- have demonstrated commitment to personal and professional development of cultural competency skills
- have demonstrated leadership and service in cross-cultural activities
- be enrolled as a full-time UTMB student
- submit a written essay (1,500 words or less)
REGISTRATION
To be considered for the award, students must first register by going to http://tinyurl.com/lrtwa47.
Once registered, 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.
- Applicants should not include their names on their essays, only on the cover letter. Essay submissions will be evaluated in a "blind review" process.
ESSAY SUBMISSION
Submit your cover letter and essay to hcoeinfo@utmb.edu.
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.
ABSTRACT CONTEST
Students who are enrolled in any UTMB school are invited to submit an abstract for consideration as a poster presentation for the Hector P. Garcia Cultural Competence Ceremony. The abstract may have been submitted or presented at another local, state or national conference. The content should focus on underrepresented populations, health disparities, health equity, cultural competency, and cross-cultural issues.
Abstracts should be double-spaced and structured using the following subheadings: Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions. Abstracts are limited to a maximum of 275 words, including subheadings. Author(s) must provide 4 to 6 keywords. All abstracts will be peer-reviewed. The abstract should be in MS Word format and must be submitted as an email attachment to: hcoeinfo@utmb.edu.
Notification of abstract review status will be sent by the announced date. If a student's abstract is accepted for presentation, the presenting author MUST submit poster (file or image) for review to Dr. Norma Perez at noaperez@utmb.edu by 5:00 PM on the deadline date., MUST include signed permission of all authors to submit, and indicate who will present. Submission of an abstract implies a commitment to make a poster presentation at the Hector P. Garcia Cultural Competence Ceremony, therefore please make sure you understand what is required of you before submitting. The top ten abstracts selected for poster presentation will be showcased during the Hector P. Garcia Cultural Competency Ceremony. There will be an award of $500 for best poster. Best poster will be reviewed for content, clarity and presentation.
The Hector P. Garcia Committee
Essay Reviewers
Michael A. Ainsworth, M.D.
Senior Associate Dean for Educational Assessment
School of Medicine
David Niesel, Ph.D.
Vice President and Dean
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Lawrence E. Ethridge, Jr. Professor
Dorothy Pearrow, M.S.W., M.Ed.
Director of Admissions and Student Affairs
School of Nursing
José D. Rojas, Ph.D., R.R.T.
Associate Professor and Chairman
Department of Respiratory Care
School of Health Professions
Marlene B. Salas-Provance, PhD, MHA, CCC-SLP, FASHA
Associate Dean for Academic & Student Affairs
School of Health Professions
Rankers
Norma A. Pérez, M.D., Dr.P.H.
Director, Hispanic Center of Excellence
Office of Student Affairs and Admissions
School of Medicine | 
Rebecca Saavedra, Ed.D.
Vice President for Strategic Management
Office of the President |
Sponsored by the Office of the President
Managed by the Hispanic Center of Excellence
Click here to visit the Hispanic Center of Excellence web page
CONTACT
For more information about the Hector P. Garcia Cultural Competence Award, contact Ms. Berengaria Navarre at (409) 772-2780 or bcnavarr@utmb.edu
.
Berengaria Navarre, MS, MFA
Center Manager