CHRISTUS Health partners with Texas A&M in Jacksonville for rural medicine program

CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville is partnering with Texas A&M University College of Medicine on a rural health initiative that will give medical students health care experience in rural areas and show them opportunities available.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our hospital and our community,” said Barry Lofquist, administrator, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville. “From the moment we first met with Texas A&M and learned about their rural medicine program, we were all in. We are excited to help inspire future doctors to pursue the practice of medicine in rural communities like ours where the needs are so significant.”

The rural medicine program at Texas A&M began in 2019 and aims to address the provider shortage in rural Texas. Ninety-four percent of non-metro counties in Texas are in a primary care shortage area, according to the state Health Resources and Services Administration.

To date, 52 Texas A&M medical students have participated in rotations at 25 rural locations statewide.

CHRISTUS will work with the university to host medical students for one-week or two-week rotations in the Jacksonville hospital and clinics.

Curtis Donaldson, director of rural medicine outreach at Texas A&M, estimates the first students could be making rotations in Jacksonville as early June.

"Our partnership with CHRISTUS in Northeast Texas that was launched a year ago is already having a tremendous impact on our students,” Donaldson said. "We are honored to have the opportunity to work alongside community leaders and area school districts to impact future generations around healthcare workforce aimed specifically at improving rural outcomes."

CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville is the second hospital in East Texas to join the program following CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, which signed an agreement with Texas A&M in February 2024.

The rural medicine program will also include local school districts to create awareness of health care opportunities in their local communities. Sixty-four school districts in 45 counties have engaged with K-12 programming through the rural medicine program.

As part of the partnership with schools, students can attend a “Mini Med Camp” at the Texas A&M School of Medicine in College Station. This camp will further educate students about the needs of health care in rural Texas.

“Good health care is vital to ensuring the health of our communities and to control escalating health care costs” said Dr. John McDonald, chair of CHRISTUS Health Academic Institute. “We hope that this experience and partnership with Texas A&M will expose more students to the joys and rewards of living in a rural community and caring for the healthcare needs of the community.”