To combat the critical physician shortages across the medically underserved communities of the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas Health System (STHS) launched the STHS GME Consortium in 2022 to help recruit, educate and retain the four-county region’s next generation of physicians.
Earlier this month, STHS’ Graduate Medical Education (GME) program received continued accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) following an institutional review.
The STHS GME Consortium’s reauthorization affirms its ongoing compliance with ACGME institutional requirements and its commitment to excellence in graduate medical education.
“This continued accreditation reflects the strength of our institutional infrastructure, our commitment to provide the highest level of graduate medical education and an unwavering dedication to the well-being of our residents,” says Youssef Majed, MD, Designated Institutional Official, STHS GME Consortium. “It also underscores the focus of our faculty, program leadership and administrative teams on patient safety, educational quality and continuous improvement across all sponsored programs.”
Since its creation, STHS’ GME program, launched in partnership with Texas A&M University, has welcomed 83 physicians-in-training through its family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine and transitional year residency programs, following their accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Additionally, the consortium will welcome its first cohort of general surgery residents in July 2026.
Through its continued accreditation, the STHS GME Consortium will be able to maintain its current ACGME-approved programs while pursuing future growth initiatives, including the potential launch of five additional specialized residency and six fellowship programs in the coming years.
“By 2027, STHS will be providing between 150 and 300 medical residents 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 Rio Grande Valley communities,” says Dr. Majed. “None of this would be possible without the collaboration and professionalism of our stellar residents, program directors, hospital leaders and clinical partners.”
STHS’ current program year 1 (PG1) and program year 2 (PG2) physicians-in-training rotate through various specialties, gaining exposure to diverse patient populations and medical conditions at STHS’ acute care facilities –
STHS McAllen, STHS Edinburg, STHS Children’s and STHS Heart – and through clinic-based training at ASAS Health and Nuestra Clinica del Valle.
Each facility presents residents with the opportunity to train in a safe, clinical learning environment committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate healthcare.
Additionally, each resident is paired with exceptional faculty members who provide guidance and support throughout their training, with physicians-in-training taking part in community health initiatives aimed at enhancing their understanding of public health and social determinants of health, especially in the medically underserved communities of the Rio Grande Valley.
“STHS is honored to be actively training of the next generation of physicians, who we hope will elect to stay and serve the people of Rio Grande Valley after graduation from their residency programs,” says Lance Ames, Chief Executive Officer, STHS Edinburg & STHS Children’s. “In addition to providing much-needed healthcare services to residents in our medically underserved communities, these exceptional residents will be part of the innovation and transformation of healthcare across the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.”
To learn more about the STHS GME Consortium, please visit southtexashealthsystem.com/gme-consortium.
About South Texas Health System
South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system's South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan, and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first freestanding children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart, and seven freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen, Pharr and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.
