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Recognized for seeing the big picture when it comes to the health of their patients, internal medicine physicians have long been considered experts in complexity. Specially trained to solve diagnostic problems, manage severe lasting illnesses, help patients with multiple chronic conditions and preventive health services, internal medicine physicians provide thorough, long-term patient care. Their extensive education and understanding of the human body in its entirety, as well as its organ systems, give them a unique perspective on how everything works in unison and allow them to recommend solutions for positive health outcomes.

Unfortunately, the number of internal medicine physicians has declined dramatically in recent years as fewer doctors choose internal medicine as a specialty. Currently, internal medicine residents account for only 24% of all active U.S. residents, per the American Association of Medical Colleges.

With the Rio Grande Valley already facing a primary care physician shortage, the lack of internal medicine doctors will further impact the future physician workforce, as well as the health and well-being of patients with multiple, complex chronic conditions in the region’s medically underserved communities.

But hope is on the horizon through South Texas Health System GME Consortium, a Graduate Medical Education (GME) program launched in 2022 to help train the next generation of physicians while providing much-needed healthcare to Rio Grande Valley residents.

This April, the STHS GME Consortium’s Internal Medicine Residency Program, received its accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), a not-for-profit organization that sets and monitors voluntary professional educational standards essential in preparing physicians to deliver high-quality medical care to all Americans.

With its accreditation by the ACGME, the STHS GME Consortium’s Internal Medicine Residency Program, in partnership with Texas A&M University and ASAS Health, will welcome its first residents to the Rio Grande Valley this summer. The physicians in training will receive specialized training across South Texas Health System’s acute care facilities and an Edinburg-based continuity clinic in partnership with ASAS Health, which will aim to provide a consistent and enriching patient experience.

“Our mission is to train physicians holistically, focusing on a humanistic approach to medicine,” said Dr. Asim Elahi, program director for the STHS GME Consortium’s Internal Medicine Residency Program. “We are excited and eager to train internal medicine residents to advocate for equitable, high-quality, affordable and high-value care and improve the health outcomes of the patients in the communities we serve.”

This July, the Internal Medicine Residency Program will launch with 20 first-year residents but will accept 20 additional first-year residents each following year. By 2026, the program will have 60 concurrent first-, second- and third-year residents.

The accreditation of the Internal Medicine Residency program follows the official authorization of the STHS GME Consortium’s Family Medicine Residency Program in January. That program will launch this summer with 10 first-year residents. By 2026, the program will have 30 concurrent first-, second- and third-year residents.

“This partnership represents a historic commitment to transforming healthcare in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Dr. Monzer Yazji, Chief Executive Officer, ASAS Health. “By combining ASAS Health’s expertise in value-based outpatient services with South Texas Health System’s acute care capabilities, we are poised to revolutionize healthcare delivery in this underserved area.”

The STHS GME Consortium is awaiting word on the accreditation of its Emergency Medicine Residency Program later this month. Following its approval, the program would launch in July with 10 first-year residents. By 2026, the program will have 30 concurrent first-, second- and third-year residents.

It’s all part of the STHS GME Consortium’s goal of launching 12 specialized residency programs by 2026 and nine fellowship programs by 2028, with the aim of providing between 200 and 300 medical residents by 2026 with the clinical training, research knowledge, professionalism and critical skills necessary to become well-rounded, compassionate physicians who will positively impact the health and well-being of Valley communities.

“By developing residency programs in different areas of specialized medicine, South Texas Health System will have the opportunity to attract talented medical residents and provide them with high-quality training and education,” said Dr. Youssef Majed, Designated Institutional Official and Chief Academic Officer, STHS GME Consortium. “Along with providing the training that will help residents improve the future of medicine for the communities we serve, the programs will provide high quality care to Valley residents and foster the development of new treatment options.”

Participating internal medicine residents will conduct rotations at South Texas Health System’s largest acute care facility, South Texas Health System McAllen, South Texas Health System Edinburg, South Texas Health System Children’s and South Texas Health System Heart for their rotations. Each facility will present residents with the opportunity to train in a safe, clinical learning environment committed to delivering high-quality and compassionate healthcare.

“We are thrilled to be part of the innovation and transformation of healthcare in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond as we train the next generation of physicians, who we hope will opt to stay and serve the people of this medically underserved region upon their graduation” said Emma Montes-Ewing, Chief Executive Officer, STHS McAllen. “Following the approval of our family medicine residency program earlier this year, this official accreditation of our internal medicine residency program is a true testament to South Texas Health System’s commitment to providing more access to healthcare while successfully recruiting physicians as we continue to serve the healthcare needs of our RGV community.”

“South Texas Health System has recruited a team of gifted local physicians – some of whom have gone through our previous STHS McAllen Family Medicine Residency Program and know first-hand the distinct healthcare needs of the Rio Grande Valley – to help train the next generation of physicians while elevating medical care in the Rio Grande Valley,” says Lance Ames, Chief Executive Officer, STHS Edinburg and STHS Children’s. “As a leadership team, we’re committed to fully supporting our physicians as they take on this exciting new chapter in the development of more close-to-home GME training residency programs and fellowships residents from around the world who want to make a difference in our medically underserved communities.”