174718 STEER: An innovative environmental/public health education program; making the connection outside the classroom

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 4:30 PM

Beatriz Tapia, MD, MPH , Faculty Associate, Department of Family and Community Medicine, South Tx. Env. Education & Research (STEER), University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio - Harlingen Regional Academic Health Center, Harlingen, TX
Patsy Bortoni , Project Coordinator, Department of Family and Community Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Regional Academic Health Center, Harlingen, TX
Roger B. Perales, MPH, RS , Faculty Associate, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Assistant Director, South Tx. Env. Education & Research (STEER), University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio - Laredo Campus Extension, Laredo, TX
Enrique Escobedo, MD , Faculty Associate, Department of Family and Community Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Regional Academic Health Center, Harlingen, TX
Tatjana T. Walker, RD, CDE , Health Careers Program Coordinator - MD/MPH Program School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Claudia S. Miller, MD, MS , Professor, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Vice Chair, Community Medicine, Director, STEER Program, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Residents, who live in sprawling unincorporated tracts called colonias along the Texas-Mexico border, commonly face inadequate access to potable water and wastewater services, electricity, and healthcare, placing them at increased risk of environmental exposures that adversely affect health. These border communities exhibit an increased prevalence of acute and chronic disease compared to national averages.

With a unique blend of service, learning, and research, the South Texas Environmental Education and Research (STEER) program of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio works to serve the needs of border residents while increasing awareness of border health issues among health professionals. STEER is a one-month elective course offered at Laredo and Harlingen satellite campuses that gives health professions students a variety of “hands on” experiences, with direct exposure to the many environmental medicine and public health concerns of the border region. Through STEER partnerships in the U.S. and Mexico, students participate in community-based educational programs and learn about the different state, federal and bi-national health programs that affect the South Texas border region.

STEER students have participated in several federally-funded service/research projects. For example, the HUD-funded Environmental House Calls project was conducted in homes of economically disadvantaged families of children with asthma. STEER students helped reduce asthma symptoms by identifying asthma triggers and by providing families with individually tailored low- to no-cost recommendations.

Over the past twelve years, hundreds of young public health and medical professionals have benefited from this rich, rewarding, enlightening educational experience on the Texas-Mexico Border.

Learning Objectives:
1. To learn the importance of teaching environmental and public health to health professionals 2. To explore educational models that can help reduce health disparities on the U.S.- Mexico border

Keywords: Public Health Education, Environmental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: First author
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.