Bridging Health Gaps for our Borderplex Residents

Texas Tech Health El Paso expands health care access with grant from the Underserved Communities Foundation

EL PASO, Texas — Limited access to health care forces many Borderplex residents to depend on home remedies and neighbors' advice for managing their chronic diseases. However, with the assistance of a $10,000 grant from the Underserved Communities Foundation (UCF), residents have been receiving health education from promotores: trained and trusted community health workers from Texas Tech Health El Paso.

The foundation awarded the university in May of 2024 to support bilingual education covering critical health issues such as diabetes, oral health, heart disease, and mental well-being.

During a recent board meeting of the Underserved Communities Foundation, Texas Tech Health El Paso shared the program's impact and announced plans for its revamp. The program will continue to offer culturally relevant health education to families in our community while aiming to expand beyond it.

Leading the program is Alyssa C. Benavides, Ph.D., M.P.A., managing director of the Office of Interprofessional Education.

“By expanding our reach to all areas of El Paso, we’ll provide families with critical health

education,” said Dr. Benavides. “This includes providing strategies for chronic disease

management to information on services available at the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic

and our future Fox Cancer Center. Our trained promotores will not only continue to collaborate with the community but will also support our patients’ navigation through our health care system, empowering them to lead healthier lives.”

The timing could not be better. The grant has helped Texas Tech Health El Paso expand its community outreach efforts through various programs to reshape health care delivery.

“The collaboration between promotores, medical students and faculty ensures culturally competent and accessible health education,” said Jessica A. Chacon, Ph.D., assistant professor of immunology and microbiology with the university’s Foster School of Medicine. “By addressing prevalent health myths and improving communication, we strengthened the connection between future health care providers and the communities they will serve.”

One such result under Dr. Chacon was the creation and publication of a bilingual children's

activity book, A to Z: A Journey of Health Careers for Me/ Un Viaje de Carreras de Salud Para Mí, which introduced various health care professions, enhanced health literacy, and strengthened connections between future physicians and our community.

The initiative also extends beyond health education. Promotores lead digital and financial

literacy training, equipping residents with skills to navigate online health resources and manage medical expenses. Bimonthly workshops include a campus tour called “Walk With A Future Doc,” helping attendees familiarize themselves with Texas Tech Health El Paso’s services and facilities.

Founded in 2021, the Underserved Communities Foundation supports community-driven

solutions through programming, charitable giving, volunteerism and strategic partnerships. The foundation’s commitment to economic and individual development aligns with Texas Tech Health El Paso’s mission to enhance health care access in border communities.

“There's a lot of misinformation out there now,” said Max Villaronga, founder and chairperson of the Underserved Communities Foundation and president and CEO of Raiz Federal Credit Union. “Unplanned health events are often the tipping point that leads to financial hardship. That’s why UCF was proud to support the Promotoras de Salud program, which serves as a crucial bridge to support and empower vulnerable populations.”

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YOU CAN HELP

At Texas Tech Health El Paso, we're committed to growing our own health care heroes and changing the state of health care in our Borderplex. For more information about how to help, please contact andrea.tawney@ttuhsc.edu or craig.holden@ttuhsc.edu or visit ttuhscep.edu/elpaso/ia/giving/.

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