Texas A&M HSC Cuts Ties With DHR Health

Texas A&M University Health Science Center says it will end planning and development of academic and clinical research affiliations with DHR Health

EDINBURG, Texas – It was only a couple of months ago that, with great success, the Texas A&M University Health Science Center and DHR Health announced a growing collaboration in clinical research and graduate training.

The two institutions held a signing ceremony at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance on March 29, and leaders from both institutions said the collaboration will provide more integrated services for Rio Grande Valley residents .

These leaders included Texas A&M University Chancellor John Sharp (pictured above), Jon Mogford, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Texas A&M Health, Dr. Carlos Cardenas, President and Co-Founder of DHR Health , and Dr. Manish Singh, CEO of DHR. Health.

Jon Mogford

Now, that collaboration has come to an abrupt end. In a news release, the Texas A&M University Health Science Center said it will “end planning and development of academic and clinical research affiliations” with DHR Health. “After further evaluation of our respective missions, we believe this separation is in the best interest of both organizations, the communities we serve and the state,” the press release states.

The news release notes that no current residents sponsored by Texas A&M will be affected by this decision. This is because all current residents at DHR Health are sponsored by previous academic affiliates and the health system.

“We continue to develop the best options for educating our students and remain committed to bringing value and collaborative care to our South Texas communities,” said A&M’s Mogford.

The news release says Texas A&M Health has long been “committed” to the Valley through research, education and resources.

“From existing partners at the Global Institute for Hispanic Health and Healthy South Texas to water security projects in the colonies and the expansion of our nursing programs at the Texas A&M Higher Education Center, we will continue to strengthen current partnerships and recruit new col collaborators who improve the health and well-being of the communities of the Rio Grande Valley,” states the press release.

DHR Health has not yet commented on the split with Texas A&M. The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service will carry DHR’s reaction as soon as it comes in.

The Guardian understands that DHR had hoped to secure, with the help of Texas A&M, $25 million from the state legislature during the recently concluded 88th session for an education and research building. The building would likely have been erected on DHR’s main campus in Edinburg. The Texas A&M University Health Science Center was to participate in this research.

However, The Guardian understands that when a conference committee reconciled the differences between the House and Senate versions of House Bill 1, the budget bill, at the end of the session, the 25 million of dollars for the education and research building went solely to Texas A&M. . Texas A&M is expected to build the education and research center on its McAllen campus.

The Guardian sought confirmation that funds earmarked for DHR were moved to Texas A&M from state Rep. Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, but a call and email to your office

At the beginning of this year, Dr. Singh, DHR’s CEO, called on state lawmakers to help his institution become a national leader in Hispanic medical research. Singh made his pitch for state funding during the RGV Partnership’s 2023 Valley Legislative Tour in late January. The visit included a tour of DHR’s new hospital in Brownsville.

“We have an opportunity to make a transformative change in the state of health care in Texas, to become a national leader in cutting-edge clinical trials with Hispanics,” Singh told the Guardian, just before its presentation to state legislators.

Singh said lawmakers need to pay attention to Texas’ changing demographics. The Hispanic population is growing rapidly and a high percentage of the state’s workforce will be Hispanic in the not too distant future.

“Our legislators must pay attention. If we want to keep the economic engine here in Texas, they have to pay attention to this population,” Singh said.

Editor’s note: Rio Grande Guardian health reporter Julia Rodriguez contributed to this story from Edinburg.

Editor’s note: The Guardian will add DHR Health’s perspective to this story as soon as it goes in.

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