The Center of Excellence for Health Professions Development (COE) is a catalyst for health education and continuing education for students and health professionals to maintain their competence and improve their practice. The COE 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 to help improve the quality of care and consequently reduce health disparities in the communities they serve.

Funding was appropriated in 2003 from Congressman Rubén Hinojosa to South Texas College to establish the Milagros Center of Excellence in Migrant Health at the Nursing/ Allied Health Center and in Georgetown University, School of Nursing and Health Studies.  The goal of the center was to reduce health disparities in migrant populations.

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 creation of the Center of Excellence were 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.

At the Center of Excellence we consider the findings, mandates, 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 mandates 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 paraprofessionals and social service professionals dedicated to improving the health status of minority populations.