Family Medicine Athens Residency Welcome

Richard David, MD - Program Director - Family Medicine Residency Athens
Richard T. David, MD Program Director

I want you to know how appreciative we are that you are interested in our Family Medicine Residency program here in Athens, Texas. We are proud to be part of the family of residency programs sponsored by The University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center (HSC).

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Although our residency is new (ACGME accredited in May 2020), Family Medicine is not new to Athens, Texas. In fact, we boast 40 years of full service (cradle to grave) family medicine care to our community.

Family Medicine has been the mainstay of our community hospital medical staff throughout generations. Family Medicine physicians provide care in the emergency room, medical surgical units, intensive care unit, obstetrics (routine and operative), nursery, and most recently in the COVID units. Of course, outpatient care is provided by family physicians in the clinics, nursing homes, hospice, and home health. Yes, we have a tradition of Family Medicine in Athens, however, we do not rely on that tradition to carry us through. Quality up-to-date care is important to us. Like-minded full-service Family Physicians seek out Athens to begin practice. The majority come here after fellowship training. This is a place where they can practice the way they were trained. If your dreams include a future in full-service family medicine in a rural setting, then please send us an application via ERAS.

Although our residency is new, we are not starting out from scratch. I am proud to say that we have the full support of HSC. Our mentor residency, HSC Family Medicine, has been in existence for 35 years. Their experience in administration, academics, research, and the ACGME requirements will be immensely helpful during our growing years. We emulate their tradition of providing a quality educational experience.

The mission of the HSC Family Medicine Athens residency is to train resident physicians in high quality healthcare for the entire family. We provide accessible compassionate care for the whole person through all phases of life. We hope to impact our patient’s physical, mental, spiritual and social health and wellbeing. We will focus on preventing future disease as well healing current maladies.

Athens is a great place to live. I moved here 35 years ago to start a practice and have felt welcome from the start. I began calling it my home town within 6 months. The residency program will be new to Athens, but welcoming new physicians to town is not new in Athens. The Athens area offers a wide variety of opportunities for community. Churches, sports leagues, amateur theatre, public and private schools, and our community college are a few or the ways you can participate. If you like the outdoors, it is just outside your front door here in East Texas. Hunting, fishing, boating, water sports, road cycling, walking and running trails, and golf courses are easily accessible here in Henderson County. We boast about our 3 lakes (Athens, Palestine, and Cedar Creek Lake), Purtis Creek State Park, and the beautiful countryside. If you desire the occasional urban fix, Dallas and Tyler are within an hour’s drive.

If you are interested in joining us in Athens for your residency training, I hope that you will send us your application so we can together build your foundation for your career taking care of the whole family.

Richard T. David, MD
Program Director

Virtual Tour