About Us
Q & A
What Is Residency at Corpus Christi Family Medicine Residency Program like?
Our residents experience exponential growth over their three years at CCFMRP. Interns complete 6 months of inpatient family medicine which allows them to examine, diagnose and treat over 3000 patients and participate in over 30 code blues with guidance from upper level residents and faculty. Our vast clinical exposure combined with our excellent didactics allows interns to easily transition into upper level residents and become a vital part of the medical community. We become so confident and comfortable with our clinical skills that we obtain our medical licenses early in our second year and may begin moonlighting at many local opportunities. Our graduating residents are well prepared to practice the full spectrum of family medicine from newborns to geriatrics, ob-gyn and palliative care. We can comfortably seek jobs in exclusively outpatient or inpatient settings and rural or urban populations. And we have! Our graduates are well known and sought by the medical community.
What is Internship Like?
Internship is exciting, overwhelming, fun and rewarding. You will work hard on inpatient rotations, but you will also have several outpatient rotations (40 hours/week) and 3 weeks of vacation. The best thing about your intern year is the incredible amount you learn. You will see a lot of patients and have plenty of autonomy at our program. Residents take ownership of their patients and learn to handle emergencies and manage chronically ill patients. Upper level residents and faculty are always available to teach and assist you with everything. Additionally, you will meet 35 other eager physicians and their families and form close friendships. You will really enjoy residency and look forward to working with your friends at Corpus Christi Family Medicine.
Do I have to do a rotation at CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital - Corpus Christi Memorial to get into the Family Medicine Program?
No. We know you are busy and would love to have you visit our program, but it's not a must. The purpose of rotating anywhere is for you to learn more about a program. That being said, resident input regarding intern candidates is essential to our program. If we know you and like you, we are going to make sure our faculty hears us. Trust me - this is a very supportive environment. Our Faculty really cares about our education and wants us to learn and be happy.
What Are Inpatient Rotations Like?
Most of our inpatient rotations begin with morning report at 7am. After we listen to the night call team report the overnight admissions and events, we divide the patient list and see our patients. All teams (except OB-Gyn) have attending rounds daily at 11am. We have protected time from 12:30pm-1:30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays so that everyone can attend noon conference. Lunch is provided. After lunch, we complete our floor work, see new admissions or go to clinic. The day officially ends at 4:30pm and the designated late person (2nd or 3rd year resident) takes admissions from 4:30-6:00pm and then checks out to the night call team at 6:00pm.
Our residents and faculty run the inpatient services (inpatient medicine, family medicine, MICU and Ob-Gyn). The medical teams consist of 2-4 medical students, 1-2 Family Medicine Interns, an Emergency Medicine Intern, Second Year Family Medicine Resident and Third Year Family Medicine Resident. The Third Year FM residents divide the patient list among the residents and delegate additional responsibilities.
What's the difference between Inpatient Family Medicine and Inpatient Medicine?
Nothing really - it's just a way to divide our inpatient teams. Our Inpatient Family Medicine team is headed by a Family Medicine trained -faculty member and our Inpatient Medicine team is headed by an Internal Medicine trained - faculty member. On both teams, you see the same type of patients and learn the same medical guidelines. Our inpatient procedures include; central line placement, intubations, thoracentesis, paracentesis and lumbar punctures.
What are the Second and Third Years of Residency Like?
The second and third years of residency focus on outpatient medicine, clinical procedures, office coding and billing and provide ample opportunity for special interest, moonlighting and practice search.
Where does everyone live in Corpus Christi?
Many residents/faculty reside on the "South Side," which is affordable and a short 15-20 minute drive to our main hospital. Corpus Christi is along the South Texas Coast so many residents/faculty choose to live on the Island. The Island is North Padre Island and is a beautiful 20-25 minute drive. Living there is a little more expensive but worth it for anyone who loves to surf, fish or enjoy the sound and sight of the ocean. A few of us live along Ocean Drive. It's about 5 minutes to our main hospital and along the beautiful Corpus Christi Bay.
Why is the website address CCFPRP.com and the program acronym CCFMRP?
Corpus Christi Family Medicine Residency Program was formally known as the Corpus Christi Family Practice Residency Program, CCFPRP. We are the same great program founded in 1973, but our name has recently changed to reflect a trend among family medicine residency programs. We are in the process of changing our website to CCFMRP.com.
So what's the best thing about Corpus Christi Family Medicine?
Hmmm...Where to start - Coming to CCFMRP has been the best professional decision of my life. I am from Texas and did the usual Texas tour interviewing for residency. I wanted an excellent family medicine program that would prepare me well for the future. I wanted vast clinical experience with a lot of autonomy, but wanted to know I was well supported by my upper level residents and faculty. CCFMRP has definitely done this and so much more. I am proud of my residency program and know I am a great physician.
If you have any other questions, or would like to rotate at our facility, please contact us:
Denise Mireles, Family Medicine Residency Coordinator
Office: 361.902.4473 or Fax: 361.902.4588
Email: denise.mireles@christushealth.org
Belinda Flores, Academic Affairs Administrator
Office: 361.902.6570 or Fax: 361.881.1467
Email: Belinda.flores@christushealth.org
