Dr. Armando Osio

Physician, WellMed at Cross Roads, McAllen, Texas

Dr. Armando Osio was born in Crystal City, Texas, near Laredo. As a youngster, he traveled long distances with his family, working fields and picking crops. But his mother always made sure he and his siblings made it back in time for the first day of school. Here he shares what called him to medicine and how he feels blessed to serve the people of the Rio Grande Valley.

Cotulla and farm work up North

​​​​​​​When I was very young, we moved to Cotulla, Texas, a small town south of San Antonio. Every summer we traveled north to work picking crops. In the fields, my mom inspired us to do the best we could in everything. We would go up to Illinois and Indiana and pick spinach, asparagus and tomatoes. The farmer we worked for would move us to different fields. We worked all the time.

Mom never let us skip school, so she’d get us back every year in time for the first bell of the first day of classes.

My teachers in Cotulla were motivators. In my graduating class, there were fewer than 100 students, but nearly all of us went on to college or trade schools. We became engineers, accountants and electricians, and I just hold a lot of respect for those teachers. They encouraged us. Because of them, my grades were good, and I received a full scholarship to Texas A&M University, where I enrolled in engineering.​​​​​​​

An orderly

At that time, I met my future wife and before we married, I spent a summer in McAllen, Texas, to work with her cousins in a hospital. Her cousins were doctors and secured an orderly position for me.

I enjoyed the work. The thing was, if I saw someone suffering and no one to help, I would help. Back then, orderlies were allowed to do more than they are today. I was taught how to dress wounds and take vitals. The grateful smiles of the patients made me feel good. The work didn’t feel like work.

My wife’s cousins encouraged me to go to medical school instead of engineering, and I liked the idea. I graduated from Texas Tech medical school in 1979. Now married, my wife and I returned to McAllen and started my practice.

Health in the Rio Grande Valley

I have been practicing medicine in the Valley for 42 years. Many of my patients, maybe 80%, have diabetes or a chronic condition, or are likely to develop a chronic condition in their lifetime. Many experience congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or a combination of those. This health dilemma is due to many factors, ranging from diet to education to predisposition, but WellMed and Optum have many programs to improve patients’ health. We have programs focused on diabetes, heart health, low-cost and no copay medications, and supportive care. We even have house calls for some of our patients who just cannot make it in.​​​​​​​

Reflections

When I first started in the Valley, we did not have Medicare and Medicaid programs that were as good as they are today. We did not have screening tests paid for. If your patient was poor and faced a co-pay for a test — or to instead use that money for food — they would buy the food. Having these tests paid for has helped many live healthier lives and saved countless others.

Going where you are most in need

Each one of us has a purpose in life. If it is the right purpose, we feel fulfilled as we work toward it. For me, as a physician, you go where you are most in need. I am part of this area and this time. To make patients feel better and get well faster — that is my motivating factor and I am blessed to be able to do that.