STEER | South Texas Environmental Education and Research

NOTE: We are currently under an official Travel Alert and the State Department recommends that we not travel to Mexico due to recent violence. Please be aware that while we have never encountered any difficulties while in Mexico, we are very sensitive to the political climate and always make the security and safety of our students a priority. We take every precaution where students are involved and have alternative activities as long as the Alert remains in effect. Alternative segments in Texas will be scheduled.

LAREDO  |  Sample of Activities

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

LAREDO Arrival and housing check-in.

LAREDO STEER program orientation. Introductions, course overview, course requirements. Introduction to Environmental Public Health in Laredo. Discuss calendar for month. Walk facilities; go over hours, rules, etc. Driving tour of Laredo.

LAREDO City of Laredo Health Department: tour facilities and meet with Health Director. Overview of department and presentations from Environmental, TB, HIV and Bi-National Programs. Gateway Community Health Center: Meet with CEO and tour facilities.

LAREDO Mercy Ministries of Laredo – tour and presentation of primary women’s health clinic, education center and discussion on access and barriers to health care. Social cultural orientation – an introduction to the border and culture-bound syndromes.

LAREDO USDA, Immigration; regulations on the import and export of vegetables, fruits, meat products, etc. Site visit to International Bridge 2 to meet with USDA Entomologist and plant pathologist and discuss import/export of potential disease vectors.

LAREDO, NUEVO LAREDO Herbal medicine with local ethnobotanist and site visit to the monte (natural area) to see natural plants used for medicinal purposes. Visit yerberias. Market Basket Discussion and exercise in Nuevo Laredo.

MIRANDO CITY, LAREDO Field epidemiology segment on rabies, the first line of defense by US Wildlife, Damage Control Services. Presentation by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services – import of endangered wildlife.

LAREDO, NUEVO LAREDO Overview of Mexican Health Care System. Site visit to the Nuevo Laredo Health Department or Mexican IMSS Hospital: Meet with Director for overview and with division chiefs for their perspectives on public health in Mexico.

LAREDO U.S. colonias, historical perspective. Visit to community center serving colonia residents and discussions with colonia residents about resources, health care access and use, and life in the colonias, existing conditions, and their hopes for life in U.S., among other topics.

LAREDO Outdoor air quality presentation; includes discussion of greenhouse effect and global warming. CAM station. On-site sewerage facilities, septic tanks, pit privy, and soil testing.

LAREDO Dengue fever, West Nile, & mosquito-borne diseases. Food sanitation module. Site visit for a restaurant inspection.

LAREDO Site visit to the City of Laredo sanitary landfill and recycling center. Overview of Health Policy of South Texas.

LAREDO, NUEVO LAREDO Site visit to the waste-water treatment facility in Mexico –International Boundary and Water Commission. Water treatment plant tour and presentation in Laredo, TX.

LAREDO River water monitoring & sampling at 4 sites on the Rio Grande . Coliform testing and analysis of fresh-water macro invertebrates, with goal of discovering impact of pollution on water quality and public health.

LAREDO Epidemiology of Zoonotic Diseases in Texas, including rabies epidemiology, prevention and treatment; bioterrorism and public health; and public health animal welfare and control issues – Laredo Animal Shelter.

LAREDO Rio Grande River International Study Center: nature hike to view erosion area and raw sewage outfall along the Rio Grande River. Discussion of Laredo’s green space issues and protection of area wetlands.

LAREDO Toxicology of heavy metals and pesticides; risk assessment and risk management - with focus on risk communication. Tour and discussion of field work for childhood pesticide exposure study in border colonias.

LAREDO Indoor air quality and associated health effects of indoor pollutants. Demonstration of indoor air quality equipment. Low level chemical exposures, individual susceptibility, and chemical intolerance.

LAREDO Agua Para Beber, an EPA funded colonia bi-national water and sanitation project. HUD / Environmental House Call project presentation. Or current Community based service learning research opportunity.

LAREDO Exit Interview with students. All assignments due. Check out of housing. Travel Day.

HARLINGEN  |  Sample of Activities

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

HARLINGEN Travel day. Check into housing before 5:00 pm.

HARLINGEN General orientation; review of calendar, paperwork and housing. Uniting Public Health and Medicine, Regional Dean, RAHC. Cultural Sensitivity, Assistant Academic Dean.

HARLINGEN, SAN BENITO Colonia Presentation, Office of the Secretary of State. Film: "The Forgotten Americans" Colonia visit: Green Valley Farms. Uniting Public Health and Medicine—Regional Dean, RAHC.

McALLEN, HARLINGEN Curanderismo Presentation. Visit with Curandero Milagros Center of Excellence in Migrant Health, presentation by Director U.S. Customs and Border Protection Overview

HARLINGEN, SOUTH PADRE ISLAND Mexico’s Healthcare System. Sea Turtle Rescue Center. Coastal Studies Laboratory. Reflection

HARLINGEN, BROWNSVILLE Environmental Lecture and Water Sampling, Director, Brownsville Department of Public Health. Meeting with Regional Dean, UT Brownsville School of Public Health , Presentation and Book Signing.

BROWNSVILLE, UT SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH CATCH Program Presentation and participation in CATCH activities. Diabetes Research Overview.

BROWNSVILLE, UT SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH Lecture by research faculty: Tuberculosis Program and ongoing research. Community Outreach Programs. Clinical Research Unit.

HARLINGEN, BROWNSVILLE Presentation and Demonstration Lead and Hazardous Household Products . Proyecto Juan Diego Community Center, Presentation and Tour of Colonia. Lecture: Taking an Environmental Exposure History.

HARLINGEN Patient Interviews at Valley Baptist Dialysis Unit Texas Department of State Health Services, Region 11, lectures: Retail Foods, Inspections and Regulations. Environmental Health Program. Reflection

HARLINGEN, DONNA Presentation by EPA Superfund Site Director. Visit Superfund Site, Donna Reservoir. Women’s Health Care and Disparities on the Border.

BROWNSVILLE Brownsville Community Health Center Mano a Mano Program, presentation and accompany promotoras on home visits. UT Brownsville Health/Kinesiology Lab/BodPod.

BAYVIEW, HARLINGEN Visit to U.S. Homeland Security facility, Bayview Detention Center . Presentation by Medical Director, U.S. Public Health Corps

HARLINGEN, BROWNSVILLE Texas Department of State Health Services, Region 11: Zoonosis lecture. Visit Gladys Porter Zoo. Presentation by Zoo Veterinarian.

HARLINGEN, ALAMO Autism Presentations and Interaction with Parents of Children with Autism U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Santa Ana Refuge and Border Wall.

DONNA, HARLINGEN Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Donna Landfill. Reflection. Library Time

HARLINGEN Meeting with RAHC Dean, Case Study Presentation. Border Pediatrics by Physician and Professor of Pediatrics, UTHSCSA.

HARLINGEN Growth and Exportation of Organic Vegetables. Group discussion and preparation of final PowerPoint presentation and Reflection Papers.

HARLINGEN Presentation of final reports to faculty, staff, and invited guests. Presentations will be available to other campuses via teleconference.

HARLINGEN Exit Interviews and Submission of Reflection Papers. Students depart—travel day.