Mega Doctor News
By Roberto Hugo González / Mega Doctor News
EDINBURG, Texas — Dr. Trisha Evans, an apprenticeship and training representative with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship, recognized nursing graduates’ achievements and the importance of workforce partnerships during the fifth DHR Health Registered Nurse Apprenticeship Graduation Ceremony on September 3, 2026.
The ceremony, held at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance, celebrated the partnership between DHR Health and Rio Grande Valley College, which has produced 53 registered nurses across five graduating classes.
Evans congratulated the graduates, educators, and healthcare leaders who helped develop and maintain the program.
She explained that registered apprenticeships give individuals opportunities to earn professional qualifications while receiving practical workplace training.
“When people hear the word apprenticeship, they typically think of building trades, manufacturing, welding, carpentry, but healthcare is where the apprenticeship model truly shines,” Evans said.
The program allows licensed vocational nurses to pursue registered nurse credentials while continuing their employment and completing academic and clinical requirements.
Evans emphasized that participants gained experience in actual healthcare settings rather than relying exclusively on classroom instruction.
“You learned while doing, you earned while learning,” she told the graduates.
She acknowledged the challenges participants faced while balancing demanding work schedules, nursing coursework, and responsibilities outside the workplace.
According to Evans, completing the program required determination, compassion, and the ability to respond to patients during difficult circumstances.
She also credited the graduates’ families, instructors and clinical mentors for helping them complete their education.
Evans described the U.S. Department of Labor’s role in supporting apprenticeship programs that prepare workers for professional careers while meeting national training standards.
She said the partnership between DHR Health and RGV College demonstrated how employers and educational institutions could work together to address healthcare workforce needs.
Julian Alvarez, executive vice president at Lone Star National Bank and a former Texas Workforce Commissioner representing labor, also addressed the graduates.
Alvarez recalled a 2019 meeting with healthcare and education representatives in the Rio Grande Valley to discuss workforce shortages.
He explained that the discussions identified a need for registered nurses and prompted consideration of an apprenticeship model that would allow students to maintain employment while advancing their education.
“It all started from a conversation that took place in this very building,” Alvarez said.
He credited participating healthcare professionals, educators and workforce officials with developing the initiative.
Evans said the program’s value extended beyond completing academic requirements because graduates had already developed clinical experience and professional relationships within the healthcare system.
She encouraged the new registered nurses to support future nursing professionals and continue learning throughout their careers.
The ceremony included remarks from DHR Health executives, RGV College representatives, and nursing educators, followed by a white coat and stole presentation.
Evans concluded by recognizing the graduates’ commitment to patient care and their responsibilities as registered nurses serving Rio Grande Valley communities.
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