Mega Doctor News
It takes the collective efforts of countless professionals beyond physicians and nurses to provide comprehensive, quality healthcare services to patients requiring medical attention and preventative care.
Each year, there are about one billion office-based physician visits, 155 million emergency department visits and 36 million hospital stays in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The nation’s aging population and increased life expectancy – coupled with increasing rates of chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and obesity among Americans – is leading to significant employment growth in the U.S.
Overall employment in healthcare occupations is expected to grow at a much faster rate than the average for all occupations through 2034, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with an estimated 1.9 million openings annually in the healthcare industry due to job growth and the need to replace workers.
“Older adults and those living with chronic conditions require more frequent and complex care,” says Lance Ames, Chief Executive Officer, South Texas Health System Edinburg & STHS Children’s. “That demographic shift is creating higher demands on healthcare systems, which necessitates a greater number of healthcare professionals to manage the increased burden of chronic illness and age-related functional decline.”
To help ensure the Rio Grande Valley is prepared to meet the growing need for healthcare professionals across the four-county region, South Texas Health System is partnering with RGV LEAD, Inc. – a non-profit organization that develops and manages collaborative projects that bring employers and educators together to help students set and achieve college-and-career goals – to host a special conference for school counselors and career & technical education (CTE) directors to highlight the numerous career opportunities within the healthcare industry, including the hospital setting, at STHS Edinburg on Friday, September 19, 2025.
Entitled Discovering Healthcare Trends & Careers Conference, the daylong event will bring together nearly 40 education professionals from across the region who help students navigate to successful occupational paths to showcase the numerous career opportunities available in healthcare, including respiratory therapists, speech pathologists, physical therapists, health information technologists and other fast-growing jobs within the healthcare industry.
“RGV LEAD has been leading the charge in the Rio Grande Valley to provide engagement opportunities between education and industry that help students develop soft skills and increase their awareness of regional industry demands,” says Maricela De Leon, Interim Executive Director & President, RGV LEAD, Inc. “We are proud to support our teachers, administrators and superintendents in our member district network with programming that will help foster their professional growth while helping them inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals in the region.”
Participating counselors and CTE directors will have the opportunity to learn about the educational requirements for numerous healthcare jobs within STHS’ 12 facilities, hear from seasoned professionals on the education and professional skills required to succeed in those roles and get a first-hand look at healthcare heroes in action during atour of STHS Edinburg and STHS Children’s.
“Counselors with expertise in healthcare careers can present the many healthcare career opportunities to students who may be unaware of them and clarify the educational paths required for the different jobs, from vocational certifications to advanced professional degrees,” says Ames. “By providing resources, facilitating experiences and offering personalized guidance to help students navigate the complex and evolving healthcare field, they’ll be themunderstand the wide range of opportunities available and help them make informed decisions about their future.”
It’s all part of South Texas Health System and RGV LEAD’s mission to help Rio Grande Valley students kickstart an exciting journey towards a successful career in healthcare.
The conference will be held in the Texas Room at STHS Edinburg from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
| Who: | South Texas Health System & RGV LEAD, Inc. |
| What: | Discovering Healthcare Trends & Careers Conference |
| When: | Friday, September 19, from 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. |
| Where: | South Texas Health System Edinburg Texas Room1102 W. Trenton Rd. Edinburg, TX 78539 |
