EDINBURG, Texas (KVEO) UTRGVSSchool of Medicineis growing againbyaddingapodiatry program the only one inTexas.

Historically, anyone inTexaswho wanted to be a podiatrist had to leave the state to get a degree to come back,Dr. Lawrence Harkless,UTRGV School of Podiatry interim dean said.

Dr.Harkless came out of retirementto serve as the new schools deanand prepare the academic plan.

We will be taking the classes the medical school takes in the first two years,and then we will start teaching more podiatry-specific courses earlier,he said.

Dr. Harkless previously helped establish aCollege ofPodiatricMedicine inPomona,California, and saysstudent mentorship will be at the forefront of this new program.

The foundation for that would be learn, serve, lead,he said.

According to theAmericanDiabetesAssociation, theRGV has a diabetes rate three times higher than the national average, whichDr.Harkless says makes the area an ideal spot fortheschool.

(People) Can really stay inthecommunity where they grewup andserve,he said.

The inaugural class will be welcomed in the fall of 2022,andUTRGVisalready looking to hire 20 faculty with a passion for both teaching as well as research.

Tohaveexcellence in a student, every faculty member has to be excellentbecause they have to be able to teach thatwhetherin basic science, two years theory andfactorwhetherin clinical years, he said.

Along with theSouthTexasDiabetes andObesityInstitute ofBrownsville,Dr.Harkless says theRGV could become medical leaders over genetics and genomics of the feet.

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UTRGV to offer 10th school of podiatric medicine in entire nation - KGBT-TV