At a time when the nation faces an ongoing nursing shortage, Rio Grande Valley College (RGV College) in Pharr, Texas, celebrated a milestone that stands as a testament to resilience, leadership, and community impact — the launch of its 100th Vocational Nursing Cohort.

In honor of the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, the DHR Health Office of Corporate Communications sat down with Dr. Eric B. Wilkinson, an orthopedic surgeon and proud U.S. Navy veteran, to learn more about his service, his medical journey, and his passion for helping his patients stay active and healthy.

The appointment of Roxanne Ramirez as Chair of the Hidalgo County Mental Health Coalition marks a defining chapter in her lifelong commitment to advocacy and service. “The appointment on behalf of Judge Richard Cortez to serve as the Chair for the Hidalgo County Mental Health Coalition is both humbling and deeply meaningful to me,” she said. “I have served in this position for one year, and I am honored to work alongside the coalition members as we continue to build on the strong foundation that my predecessor set.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diabetes affects nearly 1 in 10 people nationwide. In Texas, the rate is even higher at 1 in 8 people.