We are pleased that you are interested in learning about The University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center (HSC) General Preventive Medicine Residency Program!
Our program received initial accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in April 2021. And we are excited to say that our first residents began July 1, 2022!
As we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, an area of focus that has emerged is the increased emphasis on assuring the health of our communities. This has placed a spotlight on Preventive Medicine Residency programs as society recognizes the importance of public health, population medicine, and the necessity of forging vital community linkages to address the many challenges people face in their neighborhoods and cities. Furthermore, we must learn better ways to keep people healthy and not just treat the sick.
Our residency is well situated and strongly supported by the UTT Health Science Center. Beginning September 1, 2022, we will be a department in the University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine. This is a new medical school who has a keen focus on the health of populations and of the community. We have strong ties to local and state public health in Texas, to prevention focused clinical care within the health system and the community, and significant community-based research in partnership with other health organizations.
Our preventive medicine residency will equip physicians with skills in public health, biostatistics, epidemiology, health policy, environmental health, disease prevention and health promotion. Residents will learn to combine population based public health skills with prevention-oriented clinical practice to promote the health of individuals and communities. The mission of our program is to increase the number of general preventive medicine physicians who have adequate experience and sufficient competence to enter the workforce without direct supervision, while adding a special focus on training in the preventive health needs of communities to help serve the population of East Texas and beyond.
Residency aims are as follows:
- Increase the number of board-certified general preventive medicine graduates able to engage in evidence-based and independent practice in various settings in Texas and beyond.
- Expand the resident experience in inter-professional training including leadership skills development, quality improvement and cost awareness.
- Enhance a robust residency experience in general and rural public health and preventive medicine.
Residents will cover the six general competency domains established by the ACGME and those outlined in the preventive medicine program requirements through a series of required rotations and experiences across the following organizations: The University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center , UT Health East Texas healthcare system, the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health). In addition to these rotations, residents can choose from many elective opportunities based on their prior experience and interests.
As part of the training program, residents will complete the Master of Public Health degree through the School of Health Professions at The University of Texas Tyler. To ensure residents are prepared for their board exams after residency, the program also will provide a rich didactic schedule as well as additional educational opportunities such as conferences, journal clubs and tabletop exercises.
HSC is a founding partner of UT Health East Texas. The system includes ten hospitals and 52 clinic locations within the 25,000 square mile region of Northeast Texas. Health outcomes in our region are some of the worst in the state and physician shortages exist in many specialties. Our residency programs are focused on improving poor health status in East Texas by providing health promotional activities, access to preventive services, and entry to excellent healthcare services.
This area of East Texas, also known as the Piney Woods, is among the most beautiful in the state. Anyone who enjoys the outdoors will find plenty of activities to do with the abundant lakes, parks, cycling paths and family recreational activities. Tyler, with a population of just over 100,000, is the hub city for the area, economically and medically. The advent of a new medical school on our campus will only further enhance the community’s leadership role. Local residents will tell you that Tyler has most of the amenities of a metropolitan area, without the big-city traffic and hassles. However, Dallas is only a short 1.5-hour drive away and easily accessible for those wishing to attend concerts, sporting events or other activities.
We look forward to hearing from interested applicants! Our program will prepare residents for a successful career in general preventive medicine and public health.
Sincerely,
Peter Pendergrass, MD, MPH
Program Director
Sarah Lang, MHA, C-TAGME
Residency and Education Program Manager