In 1997, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio established the Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) for the Lower Rio Grande Valley in south Texas. Through medical education programs, research facilities, and partnerships with health-care providers, the RAHC aims to improve the health status and access to health services for citizens of south Texas. This article explores the RAHC's potential as a medical education model for other U.S.-Mexico border regions. (Contains 1 table.)