Central Romana Medical Center Launches La Romana’s First Emergency Medicine Residency

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Central Romana Medical Center reached a long-awaited milestone for healthcare in La Romana. The hospital officially launched its first medical residency program, becoming the province’s first teaching hospital specializing in Emergency and Critical Care Medicine.

Approved by the Ministry of Public Health, the program welcomes five resident physicians and marks a meaningful step forward for medical training in the region. According to the official statement, the residency offers accredited degrees through Universidad Central del Este.

A First Class With a Big Mission

The inaugural group includes Drs. Juana Rafaela Torres, Liliana Guzmán, Francis Pérez, María Canó and Rayber Mercedes. Over the next four years, the residents will complete a rigorous training path focused on emergency response, critical decision-making and patient care under pressure.

“We welcome this group of young doctors to a hospital where ethics and evidence-based medicine guide everything we do,” said Dr. José López Larache, vice president of health at Central Romana, in an official statement. “Our goal is to provide care that is both technically strong and deeply humane.”

Dr. López added that the residency fulfills a vision first proposed more than three decades ago by former medical director Dr. Francisco A. Gonzalvo and supported consistently by Central Romana’s leadership.

Built for Real-World Training

The residency is led by a specialized leadership team comprising Dr. Julio Anglada, chief of emergency medicine; Dr. Tomás Pacheco, head of teaching; and Dr. Judith Rodríguez, residency program coordinator.

“Central Romana is equipped to function as a model teaching hospital,” said Dr. Pacheco, citing advanced medical technology, a multidisciplinary clinical staff, access to diagnostic imaging and 24-hour on-site coverage. These resources allow residents to learn in real hospital settings while receiving close academic supervision.

Collaboration Beyond Borders

For more than a decade, Central Romana Medical Center has maintained a professional advisory relationship with Baptist Hospital in Florida. According to the hospital, this partnership has helped strengthen key areas such as emergency services, intensive care and nursing practices.

The residency program builds on that foundation, reinforcing the hospital’s role as a reference point for urgent and critical care in the Eastern region.

A New Chapter for a Century-Old Institution

Founded in 1912, Central Romana Medical Center has served La Romana for more than 100 years. The hospital is home to the first Endo Alpha smart operating room in the Dominican Republic and the only intensive care unit for burn patients in the Eastern region.

With 24-hour coverage that includes surgeons, anesthesiologists, interventional specialists, family physicians and OB-GYNs, the hospital has long been recognized for its emergency care.

Now, with its first residency program underway, Central Romana Medical Center enters a new phase — training the next generation of emergency physicians while continuing to care for the community it has served for more than a century.

*Photos and official statement courtesy of Central Romana Corporation