Supports residency program

Editor,
I am writing this letter in response to a commentary by Mr. Harry Foster about “Porterville needs a hospital residency program.” I agree with Mr. Foster that having a Family Medicine Residency Program in Porterville will begin to address the issue of physician shortage. I am a volunteer faculty on A.T. Still Medical School and have mentored medical students without any monetary or their compensation for surgical rotations.

I have supported higher education in Porterville for past 25 years. My wife and I have formed a charitable foundation Pandya Family Foundation promoting Healthcare Access by supporting education and development of health care carriers — www.pandya-foundation.org.

I was involved in grass-roots efforts in bringing RN program to Porterville College. As a SVDH Board director I would support a Residency Program in Porterville and find a solution for current status. I also suggest to the community that we need to expand the capacity of the RN program at Porterville College and add a new physician assistant program. I would support efforts by experienced RNs to obtain Family Nurse Practitioner credential.

Above all I would support mentoring PUSD students in finding resources to become healthcare providers.

Gaurang Pandya, MD
Porterville