Latinx Voces hosted its second annual Voces Health Summit at the Brownsville Events Center. The three-day event brought together healthcare providers, researchers, faculty, advocates and community leaders from South Texas and other states, including New Mexico and Minnesota. The Harlingen-based nonprofit was founded in 2020 by Dr. Paulina Sosa-Quintanilla, its executive director.
The summit addressed chronic disease prevention, mental health, emergency preparedness and rural health equity. Dr. Luis R. Torres-Hostos, founding dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, said about a third of the Rio Grande Valley population is uninsured and another significant share is underinsured. He also said travel barriers and provider shortages make local health solutions necessary.
Organizers said the event moved to a larger venue and added new formats after feedback from the 2025 inaugural conference. The changes include short 12-to-15-minute "flash talks," more indoor exhibitor space and academic poster sessions.