General Surgery Residency Program

Mission and Program Aims

The mission of the DHR Health General Surgery Program is to train future leaders in not only the surgical field but also education and research. Our supportive and socioeconomically diverse atmosphere encourages academic and personal development through high-quality, patient-centered treatment delivered with compassion. We are committed to assisting our community by providing consistently superior treatment, especially for the underserved. We aim to provide residents with comprehensive education and clinical experience in an educational environment that extends beyond general surgery into areas of quality improvement, patient experience, informatics, education, leadership, and advocacy. Our residents are held to high standards that coincide with our Sponsoring Institution's (DHR Health) objective to enhance the health of the people we serve by an unwavering commitment to excellence: every patient, every encounter, every time. DHR's vision is to establish a world-class health system to progress medicine and expand access for our communities by empowering caregivers to heal with compassion, knowledge, innovation, integrated care, and excellence. Compassion, Accountability, Responsibility, and Excellence via Knowledge, Safety, and Social Conscience.

Program Aims

• To offer an innovative residency program that provides excellence in training residents, utilizing progressive responsibility under supervision leading to graduate autonomy and mentorship.
• To train residents to become leaders with the capacity to pursue their education, research, administration, and certification from the American Board of Surgery (ABS).
• To train residents to become surgeons to all populations of patients – in rural, under-represented, and other unique environments.
• To create an educational environment that fosters scholarly activities emphasizing quality improvement, research, and community health to benefit the program, community, and hospital system.
• To promote a nurturing and collaborative atmosphere that encourages resident well-being, personal growth, and camaraderie.
• To recruit and develop exemplary faculty and residents with a passion for teaching, service, and commitment to continuous improvement.
• To promote the health and well-being of our multicultural and socioeconomically diverse community, emphasizing the underserved.
• Provide access to a diverse patient population, hands-on experience in an environment of quality care, an opportunity to develop one’s talents, and sincere mentoring from dedicated faculty.

Application and Interview Process

The Graduate Medical Education residency programs at DHR Health accept 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 on the first attempt.
• Graduation from medical school within the last 5 years.

Contact Us

Larisa Garcia

General Surgery Program Coordinator

1000 E Dove, Suite 201

McAllen, TX 78504

(956) 362-3562

[email protected]

Faculty

• Jose Almeda, MD - Program Director / Transplant Surgery
• Ricardo Martinez, MD, MHA - Associate Program Director / General Surgery / Surgical Oncology / Corectal Surgery
• Roy Edwards, DO - Core Faculty / Trauma / Surgical Critical Care
• Lisa Chapa, MD - Core Faculty / Breast Oncology / General Surgery
• Carlos Garcia Cantu, MD - Core Faculty / Breast Oncology / Surgical Critical Care / General Surgery
• Ambrosio Hernandez, MD - Core Faculty / Pediatric Surgeon / Site Director for Pediatrics / General Surgery
• Jeffrey Skubic, DO - Core Faculty / Trauma Director / Surgical Critical Care
• Raul Barreda, MD - Core Faculty / General Surgery
• Edgar Cruz-Gonzalez, MD - Core Faculty / General Surgery / Surgical Critical Care / Program's Wellness Chair

Our Curriculum

Learn more regarding our General Surgery Residency Program below.

Benefits and Stipend

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.