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.

The Center of Excellence is housed at the Dr. Ramiro R. Casso Nursing and Allied Health Campus of 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.

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 educational programs 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, para-professionals, and community health workers or promotores working with minority populations.