Mission and Program Aims
The DHR Health Family Medicine Program’s mission is to educate and develop competent, compassionate physician leaders who provide high-quality, evidenced based, culturally attuned care to all patients, every encounter. Located on the US-Mexico border, our training program provides a unique opportunity to deliver comprehensive, patient centered care while advancing healthcare disparities and improving access to care. We foster a warm and friendly, service oriented environment where our residents thrive as they become primary care clinician leaders, scholars, advocates and lifelong learners.
Program Aims
Aim 1: Develop and graduate competent, board certified Family Medicine Physicians who are well-trained, empathetic, and caring clinicians.
Aim 2. Increase and enhance the primary care workforce among medically underserved border communities in the Rio Grande Valley by providing high-quality, culturally and linguistically attuned medical care to meet the needs of diverse patient populations.
Aim 3: Recruit and develop a faculty and resident cohort who are dedicated to serving the underserved with passion and excellence and are committed to lifelong teaching and learning.
Aim 4: Foster an educational environment that promotes innovative scholarly activity that incorporates evidence-based medicine, emphasizes quality improvement, health promotion and disease prevention.
Aim 5: Train family physicians to become healthcare leaders, public servants and advocates for equitable healthcare regardless of race, gender, and socioeconomic status.
Aim 6: Provide an innovative and real-world practice environment that trains residents to effectively provide integrated interprofessional healthcare.
Application and Interview Process
The Family Medicine Residency Program at DHR Health accepts applications through the internet-based ERAS program. The same application process applies to all Residency Programs.
Documentation submitted through ERAS must include:
- Completed Application Form
- Recent Photograph
- CV and Personal Statement
- Dean's Letter
- Transcript
- Three Letters of Recommendation
- Results of USMLE/COMLEX examinations, Steps 1 and 2
Criteria for all medical school graduates:
- Passing of USMLE/COMLEX examinations.
- Graduation from medical school within the last 5 years.
Faculty
- Naomi J. D Acolatse, MD, MPH, FAAFP - Program Director
- Marissa Gomez-Martinez, MD - Core Faculty, Family Medicine
- Jose Lopez, MD - Core Faculty, Family Medicine
- Ana Almeda, MD - Core Faculty, Pediatrics
- Gabriela Valenzuela Garcia, LPC - Behavioral Health Specialist
Our Curriculum
Learn more regarding our Family Medicine Residency Program below.
Benefits and Stipend
Vacation and Sick Leave – ALL Residents receive fifteen (15) days of paid vacation and twelve (12) days of sick leave per year. Vacation and sick days do not carry over from year to year.
All residents are eligible for up to twelve (12) weeks of leave for birth or adoption of a child, personal illness, or that of a qualified family member. In accordance with the ACGME Institutional Requirements (IV.H.1.a) the first 6 weeks of the first approved leave will be paid at 100% of their salary and will ensure the continuation of health and disability insurance benefits for residents/fellows and their eligible dependents during any approved medical, parental or caregiver leave(s) of absence. Residents will be provided with a minimum of one week of paid time off reserved for use outside of the first six weeks of the first approved medical, parental, or caregiver leave(s) of absence taken.
Orientation Stipends: Incoming residents will receive $150 per day for estimated 10 days before July 1st for orientation.
Educational / Travel Allowance: In addition to basic salary, each resident is entitled to reimbursement for items that support and advance their education and training, including travel when presenting at a conference or meeting. All reimbursements must be approved by the Program Director and DIO.
PGY1 residents receive a $1,000 allowance for approved expenses.
PGY2 to PGY6 residents receive a $2,000 allowance per year for approved expenses.
Examples of Approved Items
- Medical Textbooks (paper or electronic)
- Journal Subscriptions (paper or electronic)
- Conference Registration
- Question Banks
- Medical apps (individual use only)
- Medical Society Memberships outside of House Staff Benefits
- Board Prep Materials
- Travel Expenses
Examples of NON-Approved Items
- Reimbursement of full licensure
- Step 3 exam fees
- Device or Equipment
- Operating Systems
USMLE Step 3: Each resident is eligible for reimbursement for their USLME Step 3 exam if taken and passed in their PGY-1 year or first year of residency at Company.
Texas Physician-in-Training Permit (PIT): Incoming residents will be reimbursed for their PIT License application fee.
Lab Coats and Scrubs: Residents/Fellows are issued two lab coats and two sets of scrubs during their first year of training unless otherwise specified by the training program. One additional lab coat and one set of scrubs will be given to each resident at the beginning of the second year unless otherwise specified by the training program.
Professional Membership Dues: Membership Dues for all residents in the Texas Medical Association and Hidalgo/Cameron County Medical Society are provided. Additional membership may be specified by your training program.
Certification: Residents will receive reimbursement for required certifications, such as BLS, ACS, and ATLS.
Additional Resident Benefits Include:
Medical Insurance and Prescription Drug Coverage: Company offers each resident medical insurance coverage. Residents have the option to add their spouse and/or children. Residents will be responsible for deductibles and co-pays.
Dental and Vision Insurance: Dental and vision insurance is available for both residents and their families. This is an optional coverage and each resident is responsible for the cost.
Health Care and Dependent Care FSA: Residents may enroll in the flexible spending accounts (FSAs). FSAs allow you to set money aside from your earnings before taxes are withheld to put into an account used to pay out-of-pocket health care expenses with the Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA) or qualifying dependent daycare expenses.
Basic Group Term Life (GTL): Residents are provided Basic GTL in the amount of 1x their salary at no cost and without Evidence of Insurability (EOI). Additional Voluntary GTL insurance is available with or without Basic GTL.
Disability Insurance: Residents are offered long-term disability insurance at no cost. Short-term disability can be purchased as an optional insurance.
Professional Liability Insurance: Residents are covered under the Company professional liability policy at no cost.
Voluntary Accidental Death and Dismemberment: Basic accidental death and dismemberment insurance (AD&D) is part of the Company’s benefit package at no cost. Residents may choose to enroll themselves and eligible dependents in optional Voluntary AD&D Insurance.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
DHR Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) that embraces diversity, equity and inclusion. We know that diverse and inclusive teams have a positive impact, by generating varied perspectives and in turn better ideas to solve complex problems. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills and views, by ensuring fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all residents, faculty, and staff. We strive to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of some groups, due to race, ethnicity, language, culture, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic status, physical or mental disability, and others.
We appreciate the unique abilities and perspectives of our diverse workforce and community. By creating an environment where faculty, physicians, residents, fellows, and staff can be their true selves at work without fear of judgment, we aim to foster creativity, raise productivity, and improve organizational performance. We believe that all our faculty, physicians, residents/fellows, and staff play the critical role in the overall success of the organization and the vision we have for our community. We create a sense of belonging at the workplace, where employees are appreciated for their unique contributions, recognized for their accomplishments, supported in their career goals, and have a sense of connection to how they are positively impacting their community.
Through community partnerships, we generate transformation within our institution as a means of advocating for better care for our patients, creating a more diverse physician workforce, and serving our community. We strive to promote social justice by advocating for equitable health care, without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, social status, or ability to pay. We are committed to an organizational culture that will connect our residents and fellows to the organization; encourage collaboration, flexibility and fairness; and leverage diversity throughout the organization, so that all residents and fellows will be able to participate and contribute to their full potential.
DHR Health recruits resident/fellow applicants underrepresented in medicine (UIM) for advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The DHR Health GME Diversity Committee is included in all planning phases of faculty and resident/fellow recruitment, selection, and retention and includes hospital leaders, GME representatives, and residents/fellows.
