Health Science Center President Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., and School of Medicine Dean William L. Henrich, M.D., M.A.C.P., last week hosted a farewell ceremony for Jose Coronado, F.A.C.H.E., honoring his distinguished service as director of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System.
“This well-respected director has been recognized for his service to our veterans by three U.S. presidents,” Dr. Cigarroa said. “That is only one of his endless lists of prestigious honors. One of Jose’s most admirable qualities is that he realizes the importance of two very essential things: education for the next generation of health care professionals and improving the quality of health care for our veterans— the women and men who have sacrificed so much so that we can be free.”
Coronado, a native of South Texas, spent 46 years with the VA, 33 years with the South Texas Veterans Health Care System and 31 years as its director. He worked very closely with the Health Science Center on many fronts.
As a token of appreciation, Drs. Cigarroa and Henrich presented Coronado with a university chair.
“As you know, the traditional university chair is given to longtime academicians as a symbol of respect for the highest of standards of academia,” Dr. Cigarroa said. “We would like to present this to thank you for your commitment to education and this Health Science Center.”
Health Science Center partnerships with the VA include the National Institutes of Health-funded General Clinical Research Center, the new Harlingen Veterans Healthcare Center, residencies and medical student rotations, and an active ambulatory care program with outpatient clinics in Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen, San Antonio and Victoria.
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| (L-R) Dr. Cigarroa and his wife, Graciela, pose with Jose Coronado and Dr. Henrich at Coronado’s retirement reception. | |
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“Every discovery that has come from our Research Imaging Center has had the fingerprints of the VA on it as well, due to Jose’s determination in securing the multi-million dollar cyclotron for PET studies,” Dr. Cigarroa said.
As director, Coronado oversaw a $404.4 million budget, nearly 3,000 full-time employees and 251 operating hospital beds. Through his direction, the VA has a 90-bed Extended Care Therapy Center, and consists of three divisions: the Audie L. Murphy Division, the Kerrville Division and the Satellite Clinic Division. The VA also serves as a parent facility for Veterans Outreach Centers in Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen and San Antonio, the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, and the Alamo Federal Executive Board. Coronado also served as interim network director for the VA Heart of Texas Health Care Network, which spanned 134 counties in the states of Texas and Oklahoma, and included three health care systems, numerous medical centers, and outpatient clinics.
