New UTRGV Internal Medicine Residency Program Set to Launch in McAllen and Brownsville, Aiming to Boost Local Healthcare

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) School of Medicine, in partnership with HCA Gulf Coast Division, plans to start a new internal medicine residency program in the summer of 2024. This program aims to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in the Rio Grande Valley by training resident physicians at Rio Grande Regional in McAllen and Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville.

Last year, UTRGV School of Medicine and HCA formalized their partnership to strengthen the medical workforce in the region. The residency program will accept 39 residents over three years, starting with 13 residents on July 1, 2024. This initiative is expected to improve healthcare services and meet the critical need for physicians in underserved areas.

Dr. Chelsea Chang, associate dean of graduate medical education at UTRGV School of Medicine, stated that the program is unique in the area as it is the only one directly sponsored by a medical school. This sponsorship offers residents exceptional opportunities for teaching, research, and academic mentoring in HCA's high-quality clinical settings. The program balances clinical practice with educational activities to develop both academic and practical medical skills.

David Irizarry, CEO of HCA Healthcare affiliate Valley Regional Medical Center, mentioned that the program focuses on community well-being and training diverse physician leaders. It aims to raise healthcare standards and cultivate doctors committed to addressing local health needs. This effort is part of HCA's broader commitment to improving healthcare.

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