CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs is teaming up with Texas A&M University School of Medicine to introduce a new initiative aimed at bolstering rural healthcare. The collaboration aims to provide medical students with hands-on experience in rural healthcare settings and highlight career opportunities available in these areas.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for both our hospital and our community, and when Texas A&M approached us, we jumped at the possibility," said Paul Harvey, president of CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs. "For us to be able to bring in young, motivated students who have a desire to work in rural areas is an opportunity we are excited about."
The rural medicine program at Texas A&M, which began in 2019, seeks to bring innovative healthcare solutions to rural populations and address the shortage of healthcare providers in rural Texas.
CHRISTUS will collaborate with Texas A&M to host medical students for one- or two-week rotations in the hospital and clinics. So far, 25 counties in Texas are part of the program. CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs will be the first in East Texas and the second CHRISTUS hospital in the program, joining CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital – Beeville.
Curtis Donaldson, director of rural medicine outreach at Texas A&M, expects the first medical students to arrive in Sulphur Springs as early as April.
"Our program has been a tremendous success since its launch, and we have received great feedback from our medical students," said Donaldson. "Our students are returning and expressing their desire to pursue rural healthcare to address the shortage."
The rural medicine program will also involve local school districts to raise awareness of healthcare opportunities in their communities. As part of this effort, students can attend a "Mini Med Camp" at the Texas A&M School of Medicine in College Station, further exposing them to the healthcare needs of rural Texas.
"Good healthcare is vital to ensuring the health of our communities and controlling escalating healthcare costs," stated Dr. John McDonald, chair of CHRISTUS Health Academic Institute. "We hope that this experience and partnership with Texas A&M will expose more students to the joys and rewards of living in a rural community and caring for the healthcare needs of the community."
