Mega Doctor News
EDINBURG, Texas – DHR Health is proud to announce that its Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Center has been officially designated as a Comprehensive MS Center by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, making it the first and only center in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) to receive this prestigious designation. Before this designation, the nearest Comprehensive MS Center was in San Antonio. This milestone represents a significant step forward in expanding access to expert neurological care in one of Texas’s most medically underserved regions.
“The Rio Grande Valley has long lacked access to subspecialty care like neurology, especially for complex, chronic conditions such as MS,” said Marissa Castañeda, senior executive vice president at DHR Health. “With this designation, patients here can now receive nationally recognized MS care close to home, without having to travel long distances.”
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. It can cause a wide range of symptoms—including numbness, fatigue, weakness, vision problems, difficulty walking, and cognitive changes—all of which can significantly impact day-to-day life. Nearly one million people in the U.S. are living with MS, according to the National MS Society, and the number continues to grow.
The Comprehensive MS Center designation is awarded to healthcare institutions that meet the highest national standards in MS care. It reflects a center’s ability to offer coordinated, multidisciplinary services, timely and accurate diagnosis, individualized treatment plans, and access to cutting-edge therapies and clinical trials. DHR Health’s Comprehensive MS Center not only meets these requirements but exceeds them.
At DHR Health, the Comprehensive MS Center brings together a collaborative team of specialists, including neurologists, a neuroimmunologist, an ophthalmologist, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, and subspecialists in neuro-urology, neuro-otology, neuropsychology, neuroradiology, and behavioral health. This team-based approach ensures that every patient receives care tailored to their unique needs—addressing not only their medical condition, but also the mental, emotional, and functional aspects of living with MS. The center currently provides comprehensive care for approximately 600 individuals with MS. In addition to MS, the center also treats neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, myasthenia gravis, and other complex autoimmune neurological conditions.
“We are deeply honored to receive this designation from the National MS Society,” said Dr. Roberto Alejandro Cruz, neuroimmunologist, MS specialist, and neurology medical director at DHR Health. “This recognition reflects our team’s commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate, and culturally sensitive care in a region that has historically faced disparities in access to neurological services.”
The designation also reinforces DHR Health’s growing role as a regional leader in MS education, provider training, and research. Through the DHR Health Institute for Research & Development, the center is actively involved in clinical trials and focused on increasing representation of Hispanic populations in MS research—helping to close critical gaps in understanding how the disease affects diverse communities.
For more information about DHR Health’s Comprehensive MS Center or to schedule an appointment, call (956) 362-8530.
