Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso is proud to introduce the first group of Family Medicine residents who will train at The Hospitals of Providence Transmountain Campus.
The six residents were formally introduced Tuesday, Aug. 9, during a welcoming ceremony at The Hospitals of Providence Transmountain Campus. Family Medicine is the third department – joining Internal Medicine and Psychiatry – to begin postgraduate training at the Transmountain Campus, located in Northwest El Paso.
TTUHSC El Paso’s partnership with The Hospitals of Providence Transmountain Campus has led to an impressive clinic and hospital collaboration in the Sun City. Looking to the future, The Hospitals of Providence’s 106-bed Transmountain hospital and Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso (TTP El Paso) at Transmountain clinics will train hundreds of residents in the coming years. TTP El Paso is the clinical practice of TTUHSC El Paso’s Foster School of Medicine.
TTUHSC El Paso President and Foster School of Medicine Dean Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A., said he was grateful to also welcome the program’s newest cohort of Internal Medicine and Psychiatry residents, and acknowledged those who embarked on their residency training one year ago and are already making an impact locally.
“Today we celebrate all of our residents training at our Transmountain Campus and welcome the inaugural cohort of six Family Medicine residents who have just joined our community,” said TTUHSC El Paso President and Foster School of Medicine Dean Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A. “These highly qualified individuals bring with them diverse backgrounds and experiences, and will join their colleagues, who continue to pave the way in our community. Together, they will learn what it means to deliver primary care in our Borderplex region – a medically underserved community – and provide access to world-class patient care right here at home.”
The residents are a welcomed addition said Peter Catinella, M.D., M.P.H., an associate professor at TTUHSC El Paso, medical director and chair of the Department of Family Medicine at TTP El Paso Transmountain and interim chair of Family and Community Medicine at TTP El Paso Kenworthy. He added that this inaugural group has been five years in the making as faculty and staff established patients and built a curriculum for them.
“It’s a pivotal step in us becoming a full-fledge academic hospital,” Dr. Catinella said. “The residents will play a significant role in providing our patients with team-approach methods of health care. We are really on the verge of making quality changes that will benefit everyone who comes to the hospital and clinic for treatment, and these residents will help influence that evolution.”
Nicholas Tejeda, Group CEO for The Hospitals of Providence and CEO for The Hospitals of Providence Transmountain Campus, said he can’t wait to see the difference the new residents will make at the Transmountain Campus. He added that the partnership with TTUHSC El Paso and the expansion of residency programs are vital to expanding access and strengthening patient care for Borderplex residents.
”We could not be more excited to introduce this Family Medicine residency and welcome our new cohort of residents,” said Tejeda. “The Transmountain Campus in collaboration with TTUHSC El Paso is proud to be serving as a catalyst to generate the next generation of health care providers for our region. Our goal is to provide these medical residents with a positive and educational learning experience and see them one day choose El Paso as their home to care for patients.”
TTUHSC El Paso residents training at The Hospitals of Providence Transmountain Campus will benefit from a combined family medicine and pediatrics department for an enhanced educational experience. Each resident will also receive distinct clinical training experiences and opportunities for research and scholarly activities.
“I’ve always been someone who people tell their problems to and I’ve always loved to help however I can. That’s not much different than Family Medicine. You get to know the patient and build a long-lasting relationship to make their lives better,” said Josepha Mpafe, M.D., one of the inaugural Family Medicine residents. “I was born in Cameroon, so I wanted to serve a community that’s reflective of my home. When I learned about the border community, I saw many similarities to the environment I grew up in. El Paso represents a way for me to help a community that reminds me of home.”
Of the six residents, five are medical graduates from countries overseas, including the Philippines, Poland and Pakistan.
Family Medicine physicians and residents offer what Dr. Catinella calls a “cradle to grave” continuum of care. For example, the entire family can been seen in one visit, giving the physician a better sense of the family’s medical history and dynamics.
“Our generational approach to health care is what makes Family Medicine so unique,” Dr. Catinella said. “We take care of everyone, including mom, dad, children and grandchildren. We also coordinate with specialists in other departments if that’s what is needed.”
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