Program's Welcome
Welcome Letter from the Department Chair
Welcome to the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) School of Medicine!
The UTRGV School of Medicine is historic and has enormous potential. We are all so excited to be a part of its growth and development. With its strong social mission, with its creation of new residencies and fellowships, UTRGV Internal Medicine is poised to become a top-notch program for the next generation of internists and physicians.
We have three very unique internal medicine residencies, where our residents learn firsthand excellence in patient care, advocacy for patients and families in the Valley, and scientific and scholarly early career development.
At Doctors Hospital at Renaissance (DHR) Health System in Edinburg, Texas, we are able to have residency experiences which are unsurpassed in terms of direct tertiary care faculty attending contact and working with fellowship faculty subspecialists in cardiology, gastroenterology, nephrology, endocrinology (pend.) and hospice/palliative medicine. DHR is recognized as the premier regional leader in health care, and we are simply excited to be part of it.
The Valley is beautiful; it is warm and people are genuinely friendly and very proud of our new medical school. Come learn about why our residents are happy and proud to represent UTRGV to the world going forward!
Andrew Neal Dentino, MD, FACP, AGSF, FGSA, FAPA, FAAHPM
Professor and Founding Chair
Department of Internal Medicine
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
Welcome Letter from the Program Director
Welcome to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Internal Medicine Residency Program at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance (DHR)! Thank you for expressing interest in our program! We are eager to share the excitement and energy of our residents and faculty as we make history in south Texas.
The Rio Grande Valley is located at the southernmost point of Texas. At the meeting point of Mexico and the United States, the four-county region called the Valley is one of the fastest growing areas of the United States. The Valley is proud of its rich heritage of history and tradition. Over half a million winter Texans visit the Valley from October to March. Our medical school, residency program, and residents are committed to resolving health disparities in our community.
The UTRGV School of Medicine is making history in the valley with its creation of new residencies and fellowship programs. Since the inauguration of our program in 2015, we have built a family of faculty, residents, and staff that have helped shaped an institution that is becoming a regional leader in health care. This also includes our medical community and the leaders of Doctors Hospital at Renaissance who have opened up their magnificent facility where UTRGV residents and students are learning and treating patients. Our residents understand that their medical education is not just about them, but about starting a process that will ultimately transform a region. Our residents have participated in scholarly activities at national, state, and local levels. We are proud of our strong social mission and we are committed to creating future physician leaders of tomorrow through high quality, compassionate patient-centered care for the people of South Texas and beyond.
The valley is an ideal area in which to live, combining modern infrastructure, a multicultural population, rich history and cultural heritage, and a beautiful natural environment with an excellent quality of life. The region offers a wonderful subtropical climate, with sunny weather prevailing all year long. We have excellent sport facilities, shopping and entertainment, historical and cultural sites, and dining. Our community has a wonderful respect for family and hospitality.
I have been blessed to have the opportunity to now lead the program where I trained and to witness history unfold in the Rio Grande Valley. We are all excited to be a part of its growth and development. Its times like these when culture matters most, and I have never been more proud of the UTRGV DHR Internal Medicine Residents. Our hope is that we have sparked your interest in our program and even though you may not be able to visit us this year at our home in South Texas, we wish you the best as you begin your medical career.
Brandon Cantazaro, M.D.
Program Director, UTRGV-DHR Internal Medicine Residency Program
Assistant Professor of Medicine
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
Welcome From Our Fellowship Programs
In 2019, we welcomed the initiation of three fellowship programs. Please contact the coordinators below with any questions regarding fellowships.
- Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Coordinator – Magaly Morales, magaly.morales01@utrgv.edu
- Gastroenterology Fellowship Coordinator - Paul Renaud, paul.renaud01@utrgv.edu
- Hospice and Palliative Fellowship Coordinator – Paul Renaud, paul.renaud01@utrgv.edu
- Nephrology Fellowship Coordinator - Paul Renaud, paul.renaud01@utrgv.edu