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New academic affiliation established with CHRISTUS Health in San Antonio

The CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Medicine residency program in San Antonio is now an affiliate of the College of Medicine

Texas A&M and CHRISTUS Health today announced a new collaboration to help ensure that San Antonio and South Texas will have access to world-class health care for generations to come. The Texas A&M University College of Medicine will serve as the academic affiliate for the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency program and a Sports Medicine Fellowship at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital Westover Hills in San Antonio.

“We are excited to have CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency program as our newest affiliate,” said Amy L. Waer, MD, FACS, dean of the Texas A&M College of Medicine. “We have a shared mission of training caring, competent and compassionate primary care physicians to serve the people of Texas and beyond.”

“Recruiting new doctors and training the best in the country is a privilege. This announcement is important for our organization and for our community,” said Dom Dominguez, CHRISTUS South Texas Senior Vice President. “We are thrilled to have the chance to work together with one of the best academic institutions in health care to deliver what this community deserves: the best. This allows us to continue our journey to attract and develop the most highly-qualified, talented clinicians to come to South Texas and will only strengthen our wonderful medical community.”

“The best should be able to train the best,” said Mike Finley, MD, System Medical Director, Designated Institutional Official (DIO), CHRISTUS Health, who believes that all 27 family medicine residents and two sports medicine fellow in the current program and others to join in the future will benefit from the change. “These young physicians come to work every day with a passion and a belief that the patients should come first. We are excited about the future of the program and the many dynamic training opportunities to come.”

Dr. Finley added, “Partnering with Texas A&M for academic support at our CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Medicine program gives us many resources for residents and students, faculty development, medical research and program growth and enhances the affiliation we are building with Texas A&M and our other residency programs in Longview and Corpus Christi. We are excited to provide these opportunities for this program as it continues to provide education for residents and medical students in San Antonio and CHRISTUS in South Texas.

“This collaboration is yet another important step in a new beginning for the CHRISTUS program,” said John C. McDonald, DO, FACOI; Chair, Academic Institute, CHRISTUS Health. “This program trains Medical Students and Family Physicians to provide comprehensive care to patients of all ages including hospital care, outpatient services and Obstetric care. By partnering with Texas A&M, I believe we can further strengthen all of our Undergraduate Medical Education and Graduate Medical Education programs. We will be able to grow and develop even more outstanding physicians, and will continue to play an integral role in strengthening the medical community of Texas—and beyond.”

“Training future physicians is one of our highest honors,” said Stephanie Parker/CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System Chief Executive Officer. “Our affiliation with Texas A&M College of Medicine will only strengthen our legacy programs and ensure we continue to attract the most talented residents from around the country.”

“Physicians from some of the most prestigious medical schools and programs around the globe come to San Antonio to train as part of this program,” said Jennifer Reemtsma, MEd, Director – Academics, CHRISTUS Health. “This partnership allows the program to operate more effectively. Patients will still get the same high level of care. This program is already excellent, and we look forward to its future growth.”

Residency is the training physicians receive after graduating from medical school before they can practice independently. Known for having supportive faculty, staff and fellow residents, Dr. Sam Bagchi, CHRISTUS Health’s Chief Clinical Officer, says the partnership with Texas A&M Health Science Center (Texas A&M Health) will only make these programs more comprehensive and can elevate care delivery.

“The alliance of CHRISTUS Health and Texas A&M ensures that the families in San Antonio and all of South Texas will have access to a new level of expertise,” said Dr. Bagchi. “Family Medicine residencies are three years long, and require immense dedication. We are proud of our programs and what they have come to offer.”

After completion, many residents choose to practice as primary care providers or as hospitalists.

Media contact: Dee Dee Grays, grays@tamu.edu, 979.436.0611

Christina Sumners

Communications Coordinator

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