Rio Grande Valley PA Society

Cassandra is the Director of Clinical Education and Clinical Assistant Professor in the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Physician Assistant Program. A proud Rio Grande Valley native and UTRGV PA alumna, she earned her Doctor of Medical Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh. With a clinical background in emergency medicine, trauma, and acute care surgery, Cassandra is passionate about preparing the next generation of physician assistants through innovative education, mentorship, and meaningful community partnerships. She has expanded clinical training opportunities throughout South Texas while promoting excellence in patient-centered care and professional development.

In addition to her role with the Rio Grande Valley PA Society, she serves as a Texas Delegate to the American Academy of Physician Associates House of Delegates and is the Student Council Chair within the Texas Academy of Physician Associates. As Society President, she is committed to strengthening the PA profession through advocacy, professional development, community engagement, and increased visibility across the Rio Grande Valley.

As a dedicated physician assistant with over two decades of clinical experience in both internal medicine and dermatology, Hervey Galvan, MPAS, PA-C, is honored to be the President-Elect of the Rio Grande Valley PA Society. Throughout his career, Mr. Galvan has observed the rapid evolution of the physician assistant profession and the increasing responsibilities assigned to PAs. He firmly believes that the Rio Grande Valley PA Society must proactively support this evolution, ensuring that PAs are not merely keeping pace, but leading the way for future physician assistants. Mr. Galvan is also passionate about mentoring the next generation of DermPAs by providing them with a solid dermatology platform during their rotation in order to increase their potential employment opportunities.

Benito Lopez is a Doctoral-level, board-certified Physician Associate specializing in Endocrinology. He holds advanced certifications in diabetes care and obesity management, including board certification in Advanced Diabetes Management from the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES), and recognition as an Advanced Obesity Management Provider by the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA). Additionally, he serves as an Advanced Fracture Liaison Service Ambassador with the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF).

Dr. Lopez is the Clinic Director at Valley Diabetes and Endocrinology Comprehensive Center in Mission, Texas, where he is dedicated to delivering state-of-the-art care to individuals living with diabetes. His professional passion lies in leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance diabetes management and improve patient outcomes.

He has held numerous leadership roles in both state and national professional organizations, contributing his expertise to various committees and initiatives aimed at advancing PAs' practice.

Becoming a Physician Assistant requires a lifelong commitment, and viewing patients holistically is of utmost importance to Amy Galvan, MPAS, PA-C. Throughout her Internal Medicine career, Ms. Galvan has discovered that attentive listening is often the most effective diagnostic tool. Her goal is to be a compassionate and proactive healthcare professional, using her training to simplify complex medical information and empower patients to take charge of their well-being. She deeply values the collaborative nature of the PA profession and is a proud, lifelong member of the RGVPAS.

Drew has been a PA for nearly 11 years, and in all of that time, he has been working in primary care in a community health center. He is proud of the work that PAs do and wants the Valley to share that pride. He has been a proud member of RGVPAS since 2018 and looks forward to serving the organization as treasurer. In addition to medicine, he is very interested in personal and corporate finance.

Sandra Tawil is a compassionate and accomplished Physician Assistant (PA) with over twenty five years of experience in family medicine. Since 2001, Sandy has served the McAllen and Edinburg communities with unwavering dedication and expertise.  Sandy’s career in medicine began after she graduated from the Physician Assistant program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) in May 2001. She furthered her education by earning a Master’s degree from the University of Nebraska

Medical Center in 2003. Her commitment to community service is further demonstrated through her past and current involvement serving on the board of organizations including: IMAS, National charity league, Hidalgo County Cotillion, Temple Emanuel, and MISD schools PTO’s. Sandy’s career and community involvement reflect her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact in both her professional and personal life.  Sandy is married to Isaac Tawil and is the proud mother of three children: Aaron, Andrew, and Allison.

Anna Munoz is a PA-C at Nuestra Clinica del Valle, serving for nine years since graduating from UTRGV's PA Program in 2015. Passionate about community medicine, she's excited to join RGVPAS as Member-at-Large. She aims to gain leadership skills, connect with fellow PAs, and help expand the society and its CME offerings. In her free time, she enjoys exploring, good food, and travel. She looks forward to working with everyone.

Ana D. Alonso Ramirez, PA-C, RD, TTS, is a bilingual Physician Assistant and Registered Dietitian with over 10 years of clinical experience in Internal Medicine, who has recently started practicing in Hematology/Oncology. She specializes in chronic disease management, autoimmune disorders, preventive medicine, and patient-centered care, combining evidence-based medicine with nutrition-informed treatment approaches. Ana is fluent in English and Spanish and is dedicated to improving patient outcomes through compassionate care, education, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Lauren H. Garate, MPAS, PA-C, has been a Physician Assistant for ten years and a proud member of the Rio Grande Valley PA Society since its inception. Throughout her time with the organization, Ms. Garate has highly valued the networking opportunities and educational benefits the Society provides. Continually impressed by the dedication, leadership, and hard work of past board members, their commitment has inspired her to become more involved and give back to her professional community.

As a personable, committed, and well-organized individual who thrives on collaboration and service, Ms. Garate looks forward to building meaningful connections with fellow Society members. She is dedicated to advocating for the continued growth and community outreach of Physician Assistants throughout the Rio Grande Valley.