Hector P. Garcia Award

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 Thursday, September 2nd, to:

Office of Diversity and Equity
Administration Building, Room 2.210
Yoni Benson: ybenson@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 Yoni Benson in the Office of Diversity and Equity at ybenson@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 Health Professions

Ernestine Cuellar, R.N., Ph.D., CNS, B.C., WHCNP, B.C.
Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions
School of Nursing

Norma Perez, M.D., Dr.P.H.
Director, Hispanic Center of Excellence Mediccal Careers Diversity Programs
Office of Student Affairs and Admissions

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

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

Philesha Evans, M.B.A, P.H.R.
Diversity Officer
Office of Diversity and Equity

 SPONSORS

• Office of the President
• Office of Diversity and Equity

CONTACT
For more information about the award or diversity programs at UTMB, contact the Office of Diversity and Equity at (409) 772-8695.