University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Program

Surgery-General Analyst Verified · Jun 13, 2026

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Program

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Program is a residency program specializing in Surgery-General, located in Harlingen, Texas, directed by Alejandro J. Candil, MD and coordinated by Diana Maldonado. The program accepts applications through October 31, 2026. International Medical Graduates interested in this program may contact the program coordinator directly at diana.maldonado@utrgv.edu or (956) 296-1778. IMGPrep analysts have verified and compiled this program’s IMG acceptance rate, USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 score requirements, Visa Sponsorship Policy, graduation year cutoff, and ECFMG certificate requirements — available to IMGPrep subscribers.

Program Identity & Fit

UTRGV General Surgery at Valley Baptist Medical Center is a young, community-based five-year program in Harlingen, Texas, built around a Level II (soon Level I) trauma center serving the underserved Rio Grande Valley border region. The core curriculum blends trauma/critical care with breadth in hepatopancreatobiliary, endocrine, surgical oncology, burn, and advanced endoscopy exposure, supplemented by external rotations at Methodist Specialty Hospital (San Antonio) and Driscoll Children's Hospital (Corpus Christi) for pediatric surgery exposure not available locally. As a new program tied to the recently established UTRGV School of Medicine, it is explicitly positioned as bringing subspecialty surgical care to a historically underserved region rather than functioning as an established academic powerhouse. The small size (2 categorical PGY-1 spots) and reliance on outside rotations for certain subspecialty experience suggest a program still building its full infrastructure, valuing residents who are adaptable and mission-oriented toward regional healthcare needs.

Who it fits

An applicant drawn to broad-based general surgery training in a high-acuity trauma/safety-net environment along the US-Mexico border, motivated by building surgical capacity in an underserved region rather than pursuing a research-heavy academic track.

Research intensity

Low - research is not emphasized in program materials; clinical/trauma training and case breadth are the stated priorities.

Career orientation

Community Practice

Important

Prior U.S. clinical/residency experience, when present, requires a letter from the current program director detailing competency-based performance evaluations and procedural/operative experience; ABSITE reports must be submitted if prior residency/fellowship training was completed.

Choose Specialty / Choose Another Program

Surgery-General

Deadline 10/31/2026

2 days left

Accreditation Status N/A

SCORE

USMLE STEP 1

USMLE STEP 2

SCORE NOTES

VISA POLICY

VISA

GRADUATION CUT OFF

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

ECFMG CERTIFICATE

PROGRAM MISSION STATEMENT

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CURRENT RESIDENTS