Mega Doctor News
By Roberto Hugo Gonza2lez / Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas — DHR Health and Rio Grande Valley College celebrated the fourth graduating class of the Registered Nurse Apprenticeship Program in May 2026, recognizing three new graduates and marking what organizers said brings the total number of program graduates to 43 nurses.
The graduation ceremony, held in partnership with Rio Grande Valley College, recognized an apprenticeship program designed to address the regional nursing shortage through an “earn while you learn” model. The event included remarks from healthcare leaders, educators, local officials, and community partners, as well as a white coat-and-stole presentation for the graduates, recognition of preceptors, and a proclamation from the Governor of Texas honoring Apprenticeship Week.
“My name is Marissa Castañeda. I’m the senior executive vice president, and it is my honor to be your MC this morning,” Castañeda said as she opened the ceremony. “Today we celebrate the grit and commitment of our future nurses as they embark on this vital career journey.”
Castañeda described the milestone as “a very big deal,” noting that the latest class represents the program’s fourth graduating cohort. “With this graduating class today, I believe we have a total of 43 students who have graduated as nurses,” she said, calling it “a wonderful result of this great partnership.”
Graduating Nurses in Attendance, Abbie Diaz, Kelsie Elizondo, and Eduardo Garza were among the graduating nurses who attended the DHR Health Registered Nurse Apprenticeship graduation ceremony in partnership with Rio Grande Valley College. The three graduates participated in the white coat and stole presentation during the ceremony, recognizing the program’s newest nurses.
DHR Health Chief Nursing Officer Mariam Hammad spoke about the profession’s responsibilities, telling graduates that nursing extends beyond technical skills. “Nursing is more than a profession. It is a healing touch, a compassionate courage, and service,” Hammad said. “When you step into these roles, always remember you are giving the patient not only the skills you learn, but you are also giving them that special touch, the reassurance, the compassion.”
Julian Alvarez, executive vice president and director of community relations at Lone Star National Bank, described the apprenticeship model as uncommon in nursing education because students are employed while training. “Usually when you talk to your colleagues, your friends, they’re going to tell you that after they completed their RN degree… then they go look for a job,” Alvarez said. “Where could you find employment while you were training? So unique. It is so unique what you are three experiencing that other people around the country are looking at what DHR Health is doing.”
Pharr Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez encouraged graduates to focus on service and remember those who supported them throughout their education. “Leadership is about serving,” Hernandez said. “You can have the best title, the biggest car, the biggest house, and a big office. That’s fine, but that’s not leadership. Leadership is… to remember you took a lot to get here, and your family helped you, and they supported you.”
Dr. Joel Mario Ramos, nursing director at Rio Grande Valley College, compared the demands of nursing to themes in Stephen King’s novel It, emphasizing teamwork and resilience. “In the end, it’s not about being fearless, it’s about being brave enough to stand together and keep going anyway,” Ramos said.
Edinburg council member Dan Diaz, a nurse and veteran, advised graduates to share knowledge with colleagues throughout their careers. “Don’t be the type of nurse that learns something and keeps it to themselves to be better,” Diaz said. “If you learn something, spread the knowledge. My thing was to make the people around me strong so that we can all be strong.”
