Teaching Health Center (THC) Graduate Medical Education (GME) Payment Program - Name: Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program Discipline: Family Medicine Type of Application: Expansion (HRSA-25-077) Eligible Entity: Federally qualified health center, as defined in section 1905(I)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1396d(I)(2)(B)]; Residency sponsored by Clinica Sierra Vista Year Residency started: 2014 Web sites: http://riobravofmrp.org/ (Residency Program), https://www.clinicasierravista.org/ (Sponsoring Institution) The Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program (RBFMRP) is proud to be an HRSA-funded Teaching Health Center. Sponsored by Clinica Sierra Vista, a healthcare organization that operates over 25 federally qualified health centers, RBFMRP maintains a strong academic affiliation with the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Since its founding in 2014, the program has been centered at the East Niles Community Health Center, where residents provide continuity care to their patients. In the past academic year alone, Rio Bravo residents delivered over 13,000 visits to a highly underserved population. Over 70% of patients are Medi-Cal recipients, with an additional 5-10% uninsured. The patient population is predominantly Latino, including migrant farmworkers, their families, the homeless, and other low-income individuals from surrounding Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUA). With a decade of experience, the residency program has demonstrated its value to the community. In addition to the care provided by residents during their training, the program’s graduates have significantly boosted the region’s primary care workforce. As of June 30, 2024, 55 residents have graduated, with 33 continuing to serve Kern and Fresno Counties. Notably, 10 of these graduates are now employed by Clinica Sierra Vista. Furthermore, 34 graduates are from underrepresented minority groups, and 16 of the current 26 residents come from similar backgrounds. Impressively, all graduates have passed the American Board of Family Medicine certification examination on their first attempt. As the only Family Medicine residency in Kern County, RBFMRP is crucial in addressing the growing healthcare needs of a population that is outpacing physician supply. The region's HPSA score, which worsened during the pandemic, underscores this need. To meet demand, the program has applied to the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for a permanent expansion from its current complement of 8-8-8 in AY2024/2025 to 12-12-12 in AY2025/2026. Recently, the program received a temporary increase in residency slots, taking on two "orphan residents" from a THC that lost accreditation. However, this temporary increase will only last until those residents graduate in 2027. A permanent expansion request, effective July 2025, is currently under review by the ACGME. In anticipation of this growth, RBFMRP has expanded its core faculty and is preparing to outgrow its current site. Clinica Sierra Vista is actively working on plans for a larger health center that will integrate behavioral health and dental services, ensuring a comprehensive care model. Through this continued growth, the program remains committed to enhancing healthcare for underserved communities by training and supplying a steady pipeline of Family Medicine physicians. The program is seeking an expansion grant from its current level of funding (26 FTE’s, 10 - 8 - 8) to 12-12-12 for the duration of the grant period.
