Mr. Alex Castaneda

I am a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner with a passion for teaching.  Health Science Theory is the last class before their capstone class (clinical).  Students are prepared for Clinical or the Medical Professions Academy (Pharmacy Tech/Dental Assistant/EMT/Medical Assistant/CNA). Students continue to expand their knowledge of systems but in greater detail.  Students learn about how systems work (for example chemoreceptors, neural reflexes, and mechanisms involved in breathing).  At this level, students are introduced to disease and learn how disease affects body systems.  Students also learn essential skills (transfers, first aid, stop the bleed) and advanced skills, (incise & drain an abscess and suturing).  Health Science Theory builds upon the foundations laid in Principles of Health Science.  Here is where chemistry, physics, and biology all come together and we see how they apply to the human body. 

Volcker Biomedical Research Academy (Castaneda)

VBRA is a San Antonio-wide search for mature, motivated 9th graders who are passionate about science and research, and who are interested in entering the medical profession.  It is sponsored by the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and provides 9th graders who are selected, a 3-year opportunity to work alongside physicians and researchers working at the Health Science Center.  Students are taught the fundamentals of research, assist researchers, and perform and present their own research.  Students are also given a stipend during their 3-year commitment to the VBRA.  It is very exclusive and very competitive.  It involves a grueling interview process in which candidates are interviewed four times (twice by RR teachers) and twice by the physician & researchers at the UTHSCSA). Selection involves grades, letters of recommendation, a personal essay, and interviews. This is a fantastic opportunity.  Last year the RR VBRA committee nominated 3 students and 2 were selected and have already started this summer.

I'm originally from New York and have been living here in San Antonio for the past 24 years.  I have a beautiful wife Gina, who teaches Health Science at LEE HS, and an amazing son Christian (12 yrs old) who is in the STEM program at Nimitz Middle School.  We also have two dogs, Carson and Coco.  We love all things robotics, physics, and science!

I firmly believe treating and helping people is both an honor and a privilege.  My goals as your teacher are to stimulate your imagination, ignite a passion for learning, and inspire and motivate you to attain your goals in health care.