CHRISTUS, UT Tyler announce partnership for new medical program

TYLER, Texas (KETK) – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System and the UT Tyler School of Medicine announced a partnership on Tuesday that will provide hands-on access for students while giving East Texans more access to healthcare.

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Starting next January, the newest class of 40 medical students at UT Tyler will do 12-month rotations with an emphasis on primary care at different hospitals and clinics in the Piney Woods.

“Focusing on primary care gives these students the opportunity to become interested in primary care and showcase the benefits to them of practicing in rural areas,” said Dr. Brent Wadle, institute chair for primary care at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic. “In the end, patients in East Texas stand to benefit, as we aim to not only train the students in East Texas but have them practice in East Texas once they graduate.”

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UT Tyler Dean of the School of Medicine Brigham Willis said that integrating real-world clinical experiences with the school’s academic programs will help better prepare students to meet the healthcare needs of the region.

“The entire reason the med school was created was to recruit and train doctors who are going to stay here in East Texas,” Willis said. “It really doesn’t do any good to have students come from wherever and train here and then leave. It doesn’t help the region. So our mission is very oriented toward getting kids from East Texas to enroll, train and stay.”

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