Mega Doctor News
By Joey Gomez
McALLEN, Texas – Born and raised in Rio Grande City, Rudy Bazan Jr. knows firsthand the challenges facing rural South Texas communities when it comes to health care.
Now a student in South Texas College’s Vocational Nursing program at the Starr County campus, creating deep connections with the community he hopes to serve is driving him towards a career where he can directly address some of the region’s most pressing health concerns.
“I love this community and I don’t think I would go anywhere else,” Bazan said. “If there is any way to help, especially with diabetes, dementia or Alzheimer’s I want to be the first one in line.”
Starr County is among the most medically underserved areas and hardest-hit for chronic illnesses in the nation. The region has the fourth-highest number of Alzheimer’s disease cases in the United States and the second-highest number of deaths linked to the disease, according to the South Texas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
Medicare data also shows that Starr County has the second-highest Alzheimer’s prevalence of all U.S. counties, with 1 in 5 Medicare recipients affected – double the national average. Diabetes and diabetes-related mortality rates are also among the highest in the country.
Bazan said the startling statistics on the health issues facing the region are more than just numbers. They are the faces of loved ones in his community.
“It gives you a real perspective of what awaits you as a health care professional once you enter the workforce,” Bazan said. “I am thankful that Vocational Nursing faculty at STC ensure that we are prepared to help people, that we are ready to understand their health history and learn how we can make a difference.”
Bazan said his journey is rooted in real world experience and discovery prior to attending STC. A graduate of Rio Grande City High School, he said he didn’t immediately attend college but opted to enter the workforce, finding employment at a family member’s hardware store and later with the Rio Grande City Grulla Consolidated Independent School District’s public relations department, where he assisted with photography.
It wasn’t until a coworker encouraged him to consider higher education that Bazan began to rethink his path.
“I saw my coworker’s work ethic and how hard he pushed himself,” Bazan said. “He showed me that if you really go for it and strive to make something of yourself, it can pay off.”
Bazan said he began taking a few college courses at a time before completing prerequisites and applying to the Vocational Nursing program. He was accepted in summer 2025, which marked a turning point in his life. He plans to graduate in fall 2026.
“I wanted to push myself,” he said. “This is a hard program, and a lot of people say they can’t get through it. I wanted to prove that I could.”
Starting and then completing STC’s Patient Care Technician program, Bazan said he entered the Vocational Nursing program, but will continue with the college’s Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) and then the Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN).
As part of the program, Bazan said he has already gained hands-on experience through clinical hospital rotations, which represents an opportunity that has solidified his career choice.
His long-term goal is to contribute to emergency care at a regional trauma hospital while continuing to serve South Texas communities.
“There will be ups and downs,” Bazan said as a message to students seeking to enter the health care field. “You always have to remember why you joined the program in the first place. Trust yourself, believe in yourself and keep going. If you can get through this, you can get through anything.”
Information source: STC
