Family Medicine Residency Program

Welcome to the Family Medicine Residency Program at Knapp Medical Center

Knapp Medical Center is pleased to announce the start of our Family Medicine Residency Program starting in July 2025. Our facility is a licensed 227-bed acute care hospital offering a wide range of both medical and surgical specialties. The program faculty are dedicated to serving the community and shaping the future of healthcare through education. This is an ACGME certified 3-year comprehensive training program which offers 6 positions in each postgraduate year (PGY) with a total complement of 18 residents.

Welcome Message from the Program Director

We are delighted to welcome you to the Family Medicine Residency Program at Knapp Medical Center, a member of the Prime South GME Consortium. Established in April 2026, our program is dedicated to delivering comprehensive, evidence-based, and family-centered care to the people of the Rio Grande Valley. We remain steadfast in our commitment to training compassionate, highly skilled physicians who will have a lasting, positive impact on the health of the communities we serve.

Our residency program is supported by an exceptional team of engaged and accomplished faculty, each bringing years of experience in Family Medicine education, along with diverse backgrounds and advanced fellowship training. They are committed to providing personalized, resident-focused learning across a broad spectrum of care, including inpatient medicine, outpatient continuity clinic, obstetrics, women’s health, pediatrics, geriatrics, obesity medicine, and hospital-based procedural skills, with a strong emphasis on Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS).

Situated along the U.S.–Mexico border, Knapp Medical Center functions as a multi-center hub for surgical, obstetric, emergency, and inpatient services. Our program and hospital environment uniquely blend the warmth and collegiality of a close-knit community setting with the resources and opportunities of a larger institution.

The City of Weslaco offers a vibrant, culturally rich community that beautifully integrates Texan and Mexican traditions. From diverse local events and exceptional cuisine to family-friendly activities, the city provides an engaging and supportive environment to live and train. Adding to its appeal, South Padre Island is less than an hour away, offering convenient access to coastal recreation.

Our program is designed to cultivate progressive resident autonomy and to encourage innovative, individualized approaches to education. We are deeply committed to tailoring your training to align with your unique career aspirations. Our diverse patient population and thoughtfully balanced curriculum, including longitudinal experiences, core rotations, and a wide range of electives, will equip you with a strong clinical foundation. You will benefit from abundant elective opportunities, one-on-one teaching from community physicians and specialists, and the rare opportunity to help shape the culture and traditions of graduate medical education at our institution. By the completion of your training, you will be thoroughly prepared to practice Full-Spectrum Family Medicine and to pursue further expertise in your chosen area of interest.

I am honored to lead a diverse and dedicated group of faculty and resident leaders and am genuinely excited about the growth and future of our program. Thank you for your interest in the Prime South GME Consortium Family Medicine Residency Program at Knapp Medical Center, we look forward to the possibility of working alongside you.

Natarajan Venkatayan, MD
Program Director