The Center of Excellence for Health Professions Development ( Center of Excellence), former Milagros Center of Excellence in Migrant Health, was established in September 2003 as a partnership between South Texas College (STC), Nursing and Allied Health (NAH), and Georgetown University (GU), School of Nursing and Health Studies. Funding was appropriated to STC from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health Grant Number D52MP03109-01-0. The Center of Excellence was created through the vision of Congressman Rubén Hinojosa to reduce health disparities by preparing the healthcare workforce in migrant health issues.

Six staff members were involved in the development and implementation of the Center of Excellence in Washington DC and McAllen , TX . At the beginning of FY03, the Center was terminated at GU. STC created a permanent position for the Center's director who is housed at the Dr. Ramiro R. Casso Nursing and Allied Health Campus of South Texas College.

Some courses developed during the second year (2004) were pilot tested using distance videoconferencing. Courses are delivered online using WebCT, Horizon Wimba, and other state-of-the-art distant education methods.

All the courses provide continuing education (CE) credits. All courses were submitted to the Texas Nurses Association, and have been approved for Continuing Nursing Education (CNE). The Center was certified by the Texas Department of State Health Services to provide continuing education to licensed professionals.

Other activities developed by the Center include: onsite workshops, an annual conference, presentations at state and national conferences, and a web site containing a virtual library of resources ( http://www.southtexascollege.edu/milagros/ ).

The Center's programmatic activities have been funded by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Health Policy Institute of Washington DC, the Office of Public Health & Science, Washington DC , Texas A&M Health Science Center , South Texas Center , McAllen Texas , and South Texas College .

An important conceptual basis of the work of the Center of Excellence has been the findings of three reports on healthcare services for vulnerable populations, 1) the Sullivan Commission on Diversity in the Healthcare Workforce (2004); 2) the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Panel 2004 Report; and 3) the 2001 Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health Services for vulnerable populations. Furthermore, the National Standards on Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) manda tes (Standards 4, 5, 6, and 7) are current Federal requirements for all recipients of Federal funds. At the Center of Excellence we consider the findings, manda tes, and recommendations of these reports as they relate to training culturally competent professionals to practice among minority and special populations. The recommendations of these reports are de facto national manda tes to develop innovative methods of training for the health care workforce to improve the quality of service delivery. The ultimate goal is an adequate cadre of health professionals and social service professionals dedicated to improving the health status of minority populations.

To date, the Center of Excellence has built a strong platform for future sustainability through educational projects and activities. We have developed seven online courses, four interdisciplinary seminars/conferences on healthcare disparity; enrolled at least 340 participants in various educational activities; presented at 15 national and binational conferences and media activities; participated in 16 conferences/workshops and delivered two national Webinars; served as a contact point for professionals conducting research in the region; and expanded and strengthened the Center's network and partnerships with institutions of higher education and other community and government agencies.

Continuity of the Center of Excellence is an important concept and undertaking for South Texas College . The target population the Center of Excellence serves is a traditional college-student population after they graduate and become licensed. The Center of Excellence facilitates local and national professional continuing education not only to maintain professional licensure but to enlighten knowledge in health and healthcare related issues. This practice prepares a sensitive, culturally competent and knowledgeable professional who will improve the quality of care and consequently will help reduce health disparities. The list of professionals in the target population includes, but is not limited to, nursing and allied health professionals, physicians, social workers, researchers, counselors, schools and community health centers administrators, teachers, government officials, and para-professionals working with minority populations. This is probably the only college-based program in the US offering asynchronous and self-paced online distant education for the healthcare and service provider workforce.