Training Tomorrow's Emergency Physicians

Our Programs

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The Emergency Medicine residency program is committed to recruiting underrepresented minorities and other individuals with diverse backgrounds. We understand that all aspects of human differences such as gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and age, help create the inclusive environment which will best serve the diverse health needs of our patients in South Texas. Consistent with our Sponsoring Institution’s mission to “cultivate a pervasive, adaptive and respectful environment promoting diversity, inclusion, equity, professionalism, humanism and opportunity,” our recruitment focuses on outreach; we encourage applications from diverse individuals.

Our selection processes is based on a holistic review of applicants, with a view to determine their fit with and motivation to care for the diverse populations of South Texas, without an inordinate focus on any single application parameter such as class rank or USMLE score. Our retention strategy focuses on the fact that a diverse group of matriculants to our program will need variable levels of support and mentoring in order to maximize their potential to succeed in training.

As a Department of Emergency Medicine, we are aware and encourage resident participation in GME programs at the institution that advance diversity. For example, a program entitled the House staff Emerging Academy of Leaders (HEAL) + Plus for Underrepresented in Medicine (URMs) is available through our GME programs. The house staff Emerging Academy of Leaders (HEAL) + Plus is a networking and professional development program designed for individuals underrepresented in medicine (URMs) — Black/African Americans, Native Americans/Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics/Latinos.

The Department of Emergency Medicine has also chartered its own Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, made up of faculty members, the Program Director, and staff with support from the Chair. This committee is creating metrics to track the success of our recruitment, selection, and retention initiatives, and will make data driven modifications of those initiatives as needed. The Program Director was also recently elected to the UT Long SOM Diversity Advisory Council for a 2 year term.

Contact Us
Melissa A. Villanueva
Program Coordinator-Senior
Department of Emergency Medicine
Phone: (210) 567-4621
Email: villanuevam5@uthscsa.edu