Mega Doctor News
By Roberto Hugo González
Mega Doctor News
The Texas Workforce Commission held its 9th Annual Apprenticeship Texas Conference on September 25, 2025, featuring a panel discussion on “Building a Healthier Workforce.” Dr. Carlos Cardenas, Chairman of the Board at DHR Health, joined the conversation moderated by Carlos Margo, Dean of the Center for Advanced Training and Apprenticeships at South Texas College.
Dr. Cardenas emphasized the importance of collaboration between higher education and healthcare providers. “This college stepped up to build those relationships, and it worked out well. Much of it already existed to a certain extent — we had been collaborating before — and this was simply the next logical step forward,” he said.
The apprenticeship program, the first of its kind in the Rio Grande Valley, was created to address the state’s looming nursing shortage. According to the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies, by 2036, Texas is expected to face a deficit of 56,370 registered nurses. DHR Health, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas Board of Nursing, South Texas College, and Rio Grande Valley College, has developed an earn-and-learn model that integrates employment, paid clinical rotations, and one-on-one mentorship with experienced registered nurses. The program currently maintains an 83% retention rate among its graduates.
Dr. Cardenas explained that sustainability is tied to continued funding and measurable outcomes. “This effort has primarily been supported through a grant. We will continue to seek additional grants and similar funding sources to make it possible,” he said. “Funders naturally want to see results, and as long as we demonstrate that we are good stewards of the resources entrusted to us — producing measurable outcomes and clear returns on investment — then support is justified.”
He noted that the model has potential far beyond the Rio Grande Valley. “What’s happening here can be replicated in other communities. It allows the state and other entities to address a difficult challenge in healthcare by rethinking how to tap into the talent that already exists within local communities and facilities,” he said. “In fact, some individuals discovered through this program that they wanted to pursue healthcare careers, even though they hadn’t realized it before.”
The panel discussion highlighted the broader impact of the apprenticeship model. Speakers noted that it creates new jobs, offers affordable education, and provides career access to individuals who may not have otherwise pursued nursing. It also strengthens the healthcare system in South Texas by ensuring patients gain access to skilled, well-prepared nurses who are rooted in the community.
DHR Health leaders described the program as both an innovation in workforce development and a potential national model. “At DHR Health, we take action because it’s needed and it’s the right thing to do,” Cardenas said. “We’ve always led by doing things differently. We saw the workforce shortage and partnered to build a solution. This program positions DHR Health as a leader not only in patient care, but in developing workforce solutions.”
Long-term sustainability is being strengthened through partnerships with local colleges, a culture of teaching and mentoring at DHR Health, and evidence-based medical practices supported by the latest technology. Program leaders emphasized that results are already evident, with nurses entering the workforce, building careers, and contributing to a stronger regional health system.
Expansion remains a priority. The program’s backers see opportunities to scale into additional specialties, replicate the model statewide, and share lessons nationally. “The Board’s support is essential for expansion,” Cardenas said. “Backing this program demonstrates what’s possible when passion meets vision.”
