WGU to Support Nonprofits at RGV Health Conference
Western Governors University’s (WGU) Michael O. Leavitt School of Health (LSH) and the AltaCair Foundation will host a health equity conference, Accelerator2024, on Oct. 17 in McAllen, TX. Along with Senator Morgan LaMantia as the special guest, the event will also have two keynote speakers — Ellie Torres, precinct four commissioner for Hidalgo County, and Ankit Sanghavi, executive director at Texas Health Institute. This Rio Grande Valley-focused conference will be themed on the role of community-based organizations (CBO) in the advancement of public health.
“Accelerator2024 is essentially a cohort of diverse stakeholders joining hands to celebrate and enhance inclusivity amidst diversity. Having deep-rooted ties to RGV at a personal level, I am moved by the collaborative spirit committed to advancing health equity in our unique corner of Texas,” said Manny Gonzalez, WGU director of regional operations (south). “I recognize the strength in our families, the resilience in our neighbors, and the untapped potential in our youth, but unless we open pathways to opportunity and work together to establish equity, we cannot envision a sustainable future. With this research-backed conference, we're not just championing health equity to improve individual lives, we're nurturing the very heart of our region, ensuring that Rio Grande Valley flourishes for generations to come.”
Accelerator2024 will include interactive sessions and developmental workshops to support the nonprofits and CBOs in their efforts to positively transform RGV; the four workshops are:
- Strategic Planning for Direct Teams by Patricia Rosenlund, executive director at Easterseals Rio Grande Valley
- Board Development by Sabrina Walker Hernandez, founder and CEO at Supporting World Hope
- Workforce Development by Stephanie LaPuma, academic program director and associate dean at LSH; Lara Carver, administrative director at LSH; and Ivette Morales, strategic partnerships manager (south) at WGU
- Grant Writing by Heather A. Marsh, director of advancement (south) at WGU
The conference will also comprise information display booths where attendees can learn more about the local nonprofits, network with other community members, and kindle mutually beneficial partnerships.
“Rio Grande Valley is a diverse and culturally rich region, but it lacks access to quality healthcare. Sometimes residents must travel at least 50 miles to arrive at the nearest healthcare facility due to absence or shortage of public transportation and local services,” said Edwin Estevez, CEO/chair of the board at AltaCair Foundation. “Despite challenges, the RGV community has warm-hearted people who want to serve humankind. They just need a platform where they can connect with like-minded people, acquire or improve organizational skills, and brainstorm mutually beneficial ideas that impact the healthcare landscape of the region, and Accelerator2024 conference is that platform. With developmental workshops and networking sessions, this one-of-a-kind conference brings together various stakeholders — community members, healthcare and higher education experts, and people leaders — and encourages collaboration to yield a wave of positive transformation for the region.”
Located at the southernmost point of Texas, RGV is inherently diverse because of its proximity to the Mexican border. The region is home to nearly 1.4 million people (almost twice the population of El Paso), mostly Hispanic, and has some of the poorest counties in the United States: Starr, Hidalgo, Willacy, and Cameron. Issues like poverty and lack of access to healthcare burden the Valley. RGV has 24.7% of families living below poverty level, nearly triple the percentage for the nation. The population struggles with diabetes, obesity, and cervical cancer, among other health issues. The Rio Grande Regional Hospital states that an estimated 76,000 people in the region have diabetes.
The region’s systemic inequities were highlighted 15 years ago when Dr. Atul Gawande’s article was published in The New Yorker. His careful assessment of the border city McAllen, TX, found that it had the most expensive healthcare system in the country. The article influenced policy discussions and encouraged providers to reassess their practices. It also became a mandatory reading during the debate surrounding President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act in 2010. Presently, the region’s stakeholders are tirelessly working at various levels to influence advancements in healthcare and inclusivity.
WGU’s strategic partnership with the AltaCair Foundation aims to address RGV’s healthcare disparities and yield scalable solutions that can be replicated for the nationwide optimization of value-based care, healthcare workforce, and health equity. The transformative initiative is already underway, with an invitation for like-minded individuals and organizations to collaborate for the region’s advancement.
This blog is part of a series:
Impacting Healthcare in Rio Grande Valley (wgu.edu)
