Mega Doctor News
Pharr, Texas – Patient care is being enhanced, thanks to 14 newly minted nurses who graduated from Rio Grande Valley College’s Registered Nurse Apprenticeship program. A special ceremony was held for the graduates on September 3, 2025 at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance where each graduated and received their coveted white coat. This is the second cohort to have graduated from the college’s registered nurse apprenticeship program. Each have gone through rigorous, hands-on clinical rotations at DHR Health, while being paid.
The innovative nurse apprenticeship model, made possible by the Texas Board of Nursing and Texas Workforce Commission, was designed to directly address the nation’s critical nursing shortage while offering students real-time clinical training and mentorship from medical professionals.
The ceremony was emceed by Marissa Castaneda, DHR Health senior executive vice president, and hospital administrators including Shenna Barcena, vice president of nursing excellence and quality, who spoke to students about the hope, strength and compassion the graduates will bring to each patient they encounter.
Additional guest speakers included Julian Alvarez from Lone Star National Bank who serves as executive vice president-director of community relations, and who previously served on the Governor’s Workforce Commission and worked on creating much-needed workforce training programs such as this one.
“We would like to congratulate each of our registered nurse apprentices on a job well done,” said Nori Zapata, DHR Health senior vice president of education and career development. “Their dedication and resilience have brought them to this proud moment.”
The second graduating class of the Rio Grande Valley College Registered Nurse Apprenticeship Program, includes: Brenda Gonzalez Salinas, Ana Chapa, Jessica Chavez, Veronica Guerrero, Michelle Annette Hernandez, Jemima Paez, Jessica Santana, Jose Ivan Rivas, Sarah Rodriguez, Ricardo Toscano, Yuritzan Loera, Melissa Murad Lozano, Jamie Vento and Mireya Zepeda.
At the event, Dr. Joel M. Ramos, director of nursing at Rio Grande Valley College said, “each graduate carries more than a white coat today—they carry the promise of hope, healing, and resilience for every patient they will serve. Their journey proves that when passion meets opportunity, the future of healthcare is transformed.”
