Texas Border Business
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – He’s a paramedic, college administrator, teacher, biker, guitarist, and singer. But, if you ask Dr. David Pearse what his favorite role is, he’ll probably tell you it’s a toss-up between being a grandfather and health care worker.
“I’ve been a paramedic for 35 years, in health education for 27 years and in administration for 10,” said Pearse. “It was time to put those two roles together and this new job does that for me.”
That new job, which starts on Sept. 1, has Pearse taking over as dean of the Texas Southmost College’s Division of Health Professions, which includes the EMS, nursing, respiratory care, radiologic technology, diagnostic medical sonography and medical laboratory technology programs.
“I want to make sure our programs not only continue to meet, but exceed, accrediting guidelines,” said Pearse. “I want to make sure we instill in our students the importance of professionalism and treating patients as humans rather than just numbers.”
Pearse is excited about taking on the new job and returning to life in a border city. He has spent a good part of his career in El Paso where he met and married his wife, Petra, and picked up the Spanish language.
“People are usually surprised to find out I’m bilingual. They are in awe that this gringo speaks Spanish,” quips Pearse. “Being bilingual has come in handy. It’s allowed me to communicate with the parents of first-generation, college-going students, and it has been my honor to help them learn to navigate within higher education.”
Pearse said he became a paramedic for altruistic reasons. He wanted to help people and knows he’ll be working with like-minded individuals at TSC. Pearse, a football fan, said he’s counting on his team of TSC professionals to help him “get the ball down the field.”
“I’m going to coach, be the quarterback, so to speak, but I am counting on my faculty. The only way to score is for everyone to work together,” said Pearse. “My job is to help my staff do their jobs and give them the resources they need. Together, we’ll work to make sure our students, all of them, succeed.”
With the current health care crisis, Pearse points out that it’s more important than ever to make sure TSC health profession graduates are well prepared for their careers.
“These are high-demand professions and our grads need to be ready to serve – to be positive contributors on day one in their jobs,” said Pearse.
Pearse said he’ll also continue the emphasis on safety training and self-protection, issues that have made headlines during the recent pandemic.
“Front-line health care workers need to know how to keep themselves safe,” said Pearse. “It’s the first thing our students learn on week one. They can keep themselves safe, their loved ones safe and still go to work, treat someone and make a difference for the community.”
