Family Medicine Residency Program trains doctors for real life

Before Chris Hiromura, MD, became the Associate Program Director for the Family Medicine Residency Program at Adventist Health White Memorial in 2016, he taught middle school science. 

As the son of bakery owners, Hiromura grew up in Santa Cruz, California, understanding how vital new immigrants were to the food industry. He also witnessed the struggles they faced, such as working long hours, limited access to healthcare and few resources to navigate life in a new country.  

Those experiences shaped his deep sense of compassion. He became fluent in Spanish and committed himself to serving communities like the one in which he was raised.  

He spent a few years in the classroom helping bilingual students succeed, but he kept feeling the pull toward something more. He wanted to help families beyond the classroom, and medicine became that calling. 

In 2008, he completed his family medicine residency at Adventist Health White Memorial. Now, as the Associate Program Director, Hiromura is shaping the next generation of doctors trained to meet the unique needs of underserved communities.  

A Residency Program That Trains Doctors for Real Life 

Family medicine is about more than routine checkups. It is about caring for the whole patient in the context of their life and community. 

“Family medicine is very community-focused,” Hiromura said. “We care for the whole patient in the context of their community. They may have difficulty accessing food, be in a job that is putting them at risk for exposure to certain chemicals, or their finances make it difficult to access the medicines that we prescribe. So, it is a specialty that tries to address not only the patient in front of us but also be aware and address things at the community level that greatly impact patients.” 

This philosophy has been at the heart of the Family Medicine Residency Program since its founding by six Latino physicians committed to serving Boyle Heights and the surrounding communities. Each year, eight new residents join the three-year program, bringing the total to 24 in training at any given time. 

Unlike family medicine programs in wealthier communities, Adventist Health White Memorial residents are trained to handle the realities of working in an underserved area. Many of our patients suffer from chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and kidney failure, but unlike patients in affluent areas, they often have little to no access to specialists. These residents learn to provide a wide range of care, from managing high-risk pregnancies and emergency situations to treating severe infections, strokes and other complications. 

“You need a really well-trained doctor to care for them,” Hiromura said. “Our residents must manage what a specialist would do in other settings. We train them intensely because that is what’s required.” 

More than 60% of Family Medicine Residency Program graduates go on to practice in underserved communities. Many grew up in these neighborhoods and understand firsthand what their patients face. 

How Your Support Helps  

The Family Medicine Residency Program faces financial challenges with the hospital receiving half of the funding that larger institutions receive for the same training due to healthcare subsidies. This also means faculty salaries and resident support are stretched thin. 

“We rely on grants and philanthropic support to sustain and grow this program,” Hiromura said. “From investing in bedside ultrasound technology to faculty training and even helping our residents afford to live here — these are the kinds of things that make a real difference.” 

Your generosity helps ensure that future doctors are not only trained but inspired to stay and serve communities like Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles and Montebello.  

By investing in this residency program, you support doctors and ensure that grateful patients can find a doctor who understands their struggles, speaks their language and stays committed to their care. 

Your support ensures that compassionate, highly trained doctors continue to serve our community. Give today to help the Family Medicine Residency Program grow and thrive