Graduate student receives Rural Health Student Award

Loida Tamayo

Loida Tamayo

Loida Tamayo, a graduate student at the Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) School of Rural Public Health in McAllen, received the Texas Rural Health Association (TRHA) 2012 Rural Health Student Award. She was presented with the award at an Oct. 30 awards luncheon during the TRHA Conference in San Marcos.

“The School of Rural Public Health has prepared me to become a compassionate but competitive professional,” Tamayo said. “We have the most amazing faculty and staff that care for their students. I have learned and experienced so much that has helped me reaffirm my passion for improving the health of rural communities.”

Tamayo’s research poster, “Health Networks for Rural Communities,” was the only graduate student poster presented at the conference. It placed second in the statewide research poster competition for health care professionals.

Tamayo recently completed her practicum at the Health Resources and Services Administration Office of Rural Health Policy in the Washington, D.C., area. She hopes to continue working in a rural community to increase public health through program development and policy implementation.

 

Dr. Carrillo awarded funds to study quality of life for children with asthma

Genny Carrillo Zuniga

Genny Carrillo Zuniga, M.D., M.P.H, M.S.P.H., Sc.D.

Genny Carrillo Zuniga, M.D., M.P.H., M.S.P.H., Sc.D., assistant professor at the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health, recently was awarded a two-year, $50,000 contract by the Environmental Protection Agency.

This research project will study the effects of healthy home environments and self-management education on the quality of life for children with asthma. The program will focus on primary school students, targeting disproportionately impacted populations such as minorities, children and low-income individuals who receive care at the Rio Grande Regional Hospital.

“Hidalgo County has one of the highest asthma-related hospitalization rates for children in Texas,” Dr. Carrillo said. “The proposed project will address the education of children with asthma, or their caregivers, and the training of health care professionals to identify and manage environmental triggers in the home such as tobacco smoke, chemicals, mold, dust, dust mites, pet dander and cockroaches.”

The Rio Grande Regional Hospital will work with Dr. Carrillo in the identification and follow-up of children suffering from asthma for the study.