Director's Welcome

Welcome,

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Internal Medicine Residency Program at Valley Baptist Medical Center (VBMC) welcomes qualified applicants seeking university-based training in a balanced and supportive environment. Our program is a multisite, academic, community-based program located in Harlingen, Texas—one of the vibrant cities of the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Our program was established in 2001 under the sponsorship of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and transitioned to UTRGV in 2015. While the program remains accredited for 30 total positions, recent discussions with our sponsoring institution have led to a strategic adjustment in our recruitment model. Beginning in July 2025, we will recruit five residents per postgraduate year. This change allows us to maintain a high-quality educational experience while aligning with institutional resources and priorities.

Throughout our history, we have remained committed to delivering exceptional education and clinical care to the diverse communities of the Rio Grande Valley. Ambulatory training is provided through a variety of settings, including Su Clinica—a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)—offering residents a broad and meaningful clinical experience. Our patient population is further enriched by the seasonal influx of winter visitors, adding to the diversity of clinical presentations.

Our residents work closely with UTRGV medical students, physician assistant students, and fellow trainees in psychiatry, surgery, and pharmacy. Educational resources include a state-of-the-art medical library and a fully equipped Simulation Lab in Harlingen, a medical research facility in Edinburg, and a growing network of residency programs across disciplines. These facilities support hands-on learning, procedural training, and interprofessional collaboration.

We are proud to uphold the high standards of the University of Texas System. Whether your goal is primary care, subspecialty fellowship, or academic medicine, our program will prepare you to succeed. Many of our graduates have gone on to secure competitive fellowships and hold leadership roles in regional and national organizations.

We also recognize that becoming a well-rounded physician requires more than clinical excellence—it requires personal growth, resilience, and balance. Our program supports this through one-on-one faculty mentorship, a humane and sustainable training schedule, and the rich cultural and recreational opportunities available in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Scholarly activity is a cornerstone of our training philosophy. Residents are encouraged and supported in pursuing research, quality improvement projects, and academic presentations. Our trainees have successfully presented at regional, state, and national conferences, including the South Texas Chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP), the Society of General Internal Medicine, and the Society of Hospital Medicine. In addition, our residents actively participate in professional development through service on state and national committees within the ACP, gaining valuable leadership experience and contributing to the advancement of internal medicine.

We are excited about the future of medicine and the role our residents will play in shaping it. If you are seeking a program that combines academic rigor with community engagement, mentorship, and a commitment to excellence, we invite you to explore what UTRGV Internal Medicine at VBMC has to offer.

We look forward to reviewing your application and welcoming you to our community.

Warm regards,

Laura E. Garcia, MD, FACP
UTRGV Internal Medicine Residency Program Director