CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Driscoll Health recently announced the creation of a retention program to help attract and keep health care workers in the Rio Grand Valley, an issue that can be seen here in Corpus Christi as well.
While health care workers here won't benefit from the retention program, Driscoll Health Vice President of Marketing and Development Sean Pieri said there are incentives to help keep doctors in the area.
"We have gifts that have supported our residency program and encouraging our residents to stay in the region after they've done their sort of apprenticeship," he said.
The Pediatric Residency Program partners through Texas A&M University to give students a chance to gain experience here in South Texas.
Pieri said the program also has it's advantages.
"We pay their student loans off for them if they serve in our service area for a three-year period," he said.
Allen Hong and Jennifer Asuqu are second-year residency students currently working out of Amistad Community Health Center.
They said that their love of pediatrics started from humble beginnings.
"The thing for me was the patient population," Asuqu said. "We see a lot of different population compared to other parts of Texas, a lot of immigrant population and people that really need help."
For Hong, his passion came from a family perspective.
"I have two sons and they were both sick with atopic dermatitis, so going with that I knew I had a passion and love the children," he said.
Amistad Health CEO Eric Baggerman said that he is too familiar with the shortage of doctors in the area. He said for a field like pediatrics having extra minds around can make a difference, especially when it comes to tackling health issues in children.
"Obesity is one of the big issues that we work with children and families on," he said. "Around 25 percent of children in this area are obese. Beyond that we have many children who are severely obese. "
Baggerman said that's why he is eager to try and retain doctors. He said that he is working to create space for candidates about to graduate in 2025.
However, Asuqu said she is still considering all her options when it comes to staying in the Coastal Bend after graduation.
"A major concern for me is family, like I said, Houston," she said. "However, I love the area so much, I enjoy working here, so it's something that I'm thinking about, no decisions have been made."