South Padre Island, Texas: DHR Health’s Office of Continuing Medical Education is delighted to host its Outdoor Medicine Conference from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on August 21, 2026, at the South Padre Island Convention Center, located at 7355 Padre Boulevard.
This CME conference is free and is looking to bring together physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, emergency services personnel, first responders, medical residents, as well as members of the community to explore the unique challenges associated with treating medical emergencies that occur in outdoor and remote environments of the Regio Grande Valley. CME credit will be awarded to eligible participants.
“With the RGV spanning diverse environments, from the brush country and rural areas to the Gulf Coast and South Padre Island, medical professionals and emergency responders can encounter a wide range of potentially life-threatening situations. Hunting, fishing, boating, swimming and other outdoor activities are popular throughout the region, but they also present unique risks that require specialized preparation and coordinated emergency response,” said Dr. Noel E. Oliveira, director of the DHR Health Wound Care Program and chairman of the DHR Health Continuing Medical Education Committee.
The conference will feature several expert presentations addressing critical areas of outdoor medicine, among them will be:
- “Addressing Gun Violence: Strategies for Clinicians,” presented by Dr. Phillip Resnick, an internationally known forensic psychiatrist.
- “What the SHELL Bit Me? Marine Animal Bites and Stings,” presented by Dr. Oliveira.
- “Live Patient Testimonial: South Padre Island Shark Bite,” with special guest Tabatha Sullivent, who received comprehensive care at DHR Health after being attacked by a shark while spending time with her family during the Fourth of July weekend in 2024. First responders stabilized her on the beach before she was rushed by ambulance to a hospital in Brownsville. However, due to the severity of the injuries, she was airlifted via helicopter to DHR Health’s Level 1 Trauma Center. She underwent multiple surgeries during her stay at the hospital. She was transferred to DHR Health Rehabilitation Hospital where underwent intensive physical therapy before being discharged to continue her long-term recovery at home in North Texas.
Sullivent will share her firsthand account of the shark attack, her experience receiving emergency medical care, and how multiple emergency responders answered her call for help. Her story will provide a unique perspective on the importance of rapid response and coordinated care during an outdoor medical emergency.
The conference is open to physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, emergency service personnel, first responders, medical residents, as well as members of the community interested in learning more about outdoor medicine.
To register or for additional information, contact the DHR Health Continuing Medical Education Department today at (956) 362-3240 or by email at [email protected]
