Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi College of Nursing and Health Sciences

08/21/2026

Congratulations to Ryann Thompson, one of our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students. She was selected through a peer-reviewed process to present her DNP proposal work at the AACN Graduate Nursing Student Academy Conference in Washington, DC, this past July. Her project focuses on improving emergency department-to-intensive care unit (ED-to-ICU) nurse handoff communication, an important patient safety and care coordination initiative. Conference attendees expressed strong interest in her work and recognized the potential impact of the proposed intervention on clinical practice and patient outcomes. Ryann is expected to graduate this December, and we are proud of her outstanding representation of our DNP program on a national stage.

08/20/2026

Our HCAD practicum students delivered their final presentations on August 7th. Congratulations to these stellar scholars!

08/19/2026

Anthony Ansiso and Christian Smith-Johnson were inducted into the AUPHA honor society, Upsilon Phi Delta. These graduating students earned GPAs above 3.25 and received honor cords to wear with their commencement regalia.

08/17/2026

When cannabis use intersects with mental health, motives matter. Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health Program Coordinator, Dr. Luis Espinoza’s new study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research examines patterns of cannabis use among U.S. adults with depression, anxiety, and ADHD, finding that poorer mental health was linked to greater use for coping, stress management, and sleep, with several associations differing by ADHD status. These findings highlight the importance of understanding not only whether people use cannabis but also why they use it.
Espinoza, L. E., Espinoza, L. E. & Ortega, C. L. (2026). The mental health-cannabis nexus: Patterns of use among U.S. adults with depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Journal of Psychiatric Research. Advanced online.
https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1nbC055vZLHqU

08/16/2026

Dr. Colleen Eaves shared a smiling photo of her MS1 Group as they wrapped up their Summer clinical at Spohn Shoreline. Special thanks to Sanida Gomez and Shelly Hernandez who assisted in making this group's clinical experience amazing!

08/15/2026

First-semester Fundamentals students have officially completed their final clinical experiences of the semester at long-term care facilities!
Throughout their clinical experience, students had the opportunity to build meaningful connections with residents, provide compassionate, hands-on care, and put their developing nursing skills into practice. They also began strengthening their critical thinking and clinical judgment by working alongside their clinical instructors, assigned nurses, and facility staff.
We are so proud of the growth, confidence, and professionalism these students have demonstrated throughout their first semester of nursing school. What a great way to wrap up their first clinical experience!

08/14/2026

Two Sisters, One Milestone - Some dreams are worth the wait. After years of perseverance, sisters Audreanna and Gabriella Guerra crossed the commencement stage together, celebrating a shared milestone that reflects resilience, determination, and the power of family. Congratulations to these inspiring Islanders!
Read the full story here: https://www.tamucc.edu/news/2026/08/sisters-share-a-graduation-day-years-in-the-making.php

08/13/2026

Congratulations to Assistant Clinical Professor Katrina Heinold on receiving the August 2026 AACN Emerging Leader Award in recognition of her dedication to advancing awareness and support for neurodivergence in nursing. https://www.aacnnursing.org/emerging-leaders

08/12/2026

Associate Professor Dr. Shuhong Luo organized and led the successful Safe AI Use in Healthcare Conference on July 30, 2026.
The conference brought together students, faculty, researchers, healthcare professionals, caregivers, community partners, and community members to explore the opportunities, risks, and responsible use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
The program featured a virtual keynote by Dr. Nigam Shah of Stanford University and a clinician-focused presentation by Dr. Raghuveer Puttagunta of Driscoll Health System. Dr. Luo also shared research-informed strategies to support safer evaluation and use of AI-generated health information.
The event strengthened community engagement, inspired new interdisciplinary research ideas, and highlighted TAMU-CC’s leadership in responsible AI, healthcare education, and research innovation. It also supported the University’s priorities in research, student learning, regional impact, and community partnership.
The conference was supported by the Texas Comprehensive Research Fund (TCRF) Research/Creative Activity Seed Grant Program through the University Research Office, which helped advance the Safe AI Use in Healthcare Project and made the event possible.
Dr. Luo extends her sincere appreciation to the University Research Office for its grant support; the College of Nursing and Health Sciences leadership and Dean’s Office; department and college staff; the college’s research support team; student research assistants; University Center staff; speakers; community partners; volunteers; attendees; and everyone whose contributions helped make the conference a success.
Learn more about the Safe AI Use in Healthcare Project:
https://sites.google.com/view/safeaiuse

08/11/2026