School of Medicine - Mario E. Ramirez, M.D. Library Archives

The Mario E. Ramirez, M.D. Library is located at the UTRGV campus in Harlingen. Dr. Mario E. Ramirez was a family physician who practiced medicine in Starr County, Texas, for 43 years. He established the first hospital in the county at Roma in 1958, and later, as Starr County judge, helped lead the effort to build Starr County Memorial Hospital, which opened in Rio Grande City in 1975. Dr. Ramirez served as Starr County judge from 1969 until 1978. He was also appointed by Gov. Bill Clements to a term on The University of Texas System Board of Regents from 1989 until 1995. Dr. Ramirez has been honored by U.S. presidents including Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush. Dr. Ramirez also served as Vice President for South Texas Programs at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio, where he established the Med/Ed Program, which has encouraged over 2,000 students in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and Laredo to pursue health science careers.