Medical City Healthcare and UNTHSC team up to address physician shortage

HCA Healthcare, Medical City Healthcare, and UNT Health Science Center (UNTHSC) have teamed up to create hundreds of new residency positions in North Texas in an effort to address physician shortages and improve the region’s healthcare, a news release announced.

According to HCA, the partnership is part of the organization’s aim to boost the nation’s physician supply through residency and fellowship positions within its facilities. Additionally, the effort reflects UNTHSC and Texas Christian University’s shared commitment to training healthcare providers of the future both for North Texas and beyond.

“It’s important that we develop more of these innovative public-private partnerships that don’t strain state resources but still improve healthcare in Texas,” said UNTHSC President Michael R. Williams. “By developing more residency slots and creating new training opportunities for all of our students, we’ll be at the forefront of transforming healthcare in our community and creating medical providers of the future.”

Medical City has pledged to develop 500 resident positions across it’s 14 Dallas-Fort Worth-area hospitals over the next seven years, the release explained. The organization’s goal is for the partnership to establish programs in internal medicine and general surgery among other specialties.

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“The establishment of these residency positions is vital to the health of this incredible community that we serve,” said Medical City President Erol Akdamar. “Studies show that physicians often remain in the communities where they complete their residencies. Not only will this investment result in significant additional physician capacity, but we know that when we convert facilities into teaching hospitals patient care gets even better. It reflects our dedication to improve the health, wellness, and future of our community.”

According to the release, a separate agreement will create additional clinical training opportunities in Medical City’s network of hospitals for UNTHSC students enrolled in the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, the planned TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine, UNT System College of Pharmacy and the School of Health Professions.

Medical City Healthcare is known for its graduate medical education, offering several accredited programs in cardiology and interventional cardiology, family medicine, neuromusculoskeletal medicine, gastroenterology, general surgery, internal medicine and dermatology across Medical City Fort Worth and Weatherford.

UNTHSC and its two medical schools — the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and the planned TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine — will serve as the academic sponsor the residencies. The TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine is scheduled to open in 2019, pending accreditation this October.

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“This agreement shows how the new TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine will be a driving force in transforming medical education and expanding residency opportunities in North Texas,” said TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini Jr. “We’re creating a pipeline for new physicians that will take them from medical school directly into the local workforce to care for our community.”