Mega Doctor News
By Roberto Hugo González
Mega Doctor News
McAllen, Texas – When Dr. Naomi D’Acolatse first drove to HOPE Family Health Center in McAllen, she felt something unexpected. “I just knew this was my place,” she recalled. “As I was driving to my interview, I felt this overwhelming sense of peace—it brought me to tears. Even before I stepped inside, I knew I belonged here.” That moment has shaped her mission as Medical Director of HOPE Family Health Center, where compassion, access, and dignity guide every decision she makes.
Dr. D’Acolatse joined HOPE in September 2024, bringing more than two decades of experience in family medicine, public health, and medical education. A board-certified family physician and fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, she has dedicated her career to serving vulnerable populations. “I came to the Valley because I wanted to do underserved medicine,” she said. “I’ve always been drawn to mission work, volunteering, and community outreach. HOPE is exactly the kind of place that allows me to live out my purpose.”
Before joining HOPE, Dr. D’Acolatse worked at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, where she helped establish its Family Medicine Residency Program in partnership with DHR Health. She later served as Associate Dean for Medical Education, overseeing student training. In 2022, she joined DHR Health to lead its own family medicine residency program. Two years later, she was invited by longtime HOPE Medical Director Dr. Gutierrez and the clinic’s executive team to take the helm. “When they asked me to take over, it was an easy decision,” she said. “This is my realm—nonprofit care for the community.”
Since stepping into her role, Dr. D’Acolatse has led an ambitious revitalization of the clinic, modernizing both its facility and its services. “Since I’m new to this clinic, I want it to reflect who I am and the level of care and standards I uphold,” she explained. Under her leadership, HOPE has been transformed with new furniture, freshly painted walls, updated counseling rooms, outdoor benches, and landscaping. Plans are also underway for a new roof and HVAC system. “You can’t provide quality care in an environment that doesn’t reflect quality,” she said.
Dr. D’Acolatse has also expanded the clinic’s services and improved how care is delivered. One of her most impactful initiatives is integrating behavioral health into primary care visits. “If someone has anxiety or depression, the behavioral health consultant can meet with them right then—no need to reschedule or travel back,” she explained. “Many of our patients face barriers like transportation and childcare, so real-time care makes a huge difference.”
As the founding Program Director of DHR Health’s Family Medicine Residency, Dr. D’Acolatse also brought resident physicians to HOPE as volunteer providers. “Our residents are here on Mondays and Tuesdays,” she said. “They’re able to get excellent training while helping a population that really needs it.” Internal medicine doctors see patients midweek, and volunteer physicians continue the effort on Thursdays. This collaboration gives residents valuable experience while expanding access to care.
Under her leadership, HOPE’s scope now includes pediatric services, allowing families to receive care from birth through adulthood. “We see everyone—from newborns to the elderly,” Dr. D’Acolatse said. “We diagnose pregnancies, care for mothers, deliver babies, and provide lifelong care. I want to emphasize that we welcome all patients—children, adults, and seniors—with no restrictions.”
To ensure that no one is turned away, Dr. D’Acolatse is developing a three-tier patient system. “Some patients fully qualify for grant-supported care because they meet low-income criteria,” she explained. “Others earn a bit more but are still struggling, so we’re introducing a sliding scale—not required payments, just suggested donations. And for those with higher incomes who have no insurance, we don’t want to turn them away either. We simply ask for whatever they can give.”
Funding remains essential to keeping these programs running. HOPE operates entirely on donations and grants from partners including Hidalgo County CDBG, Methodist Health Ministries, Valley Baptist, and DHR Health. “Every dollar goes directly to operations—staff salaries, labs, medications, and keeping the lights on,” Dr. D’Acolatse said. With about 3,000 patient visits a year, HOPE also provides free or low-cost medications through its Dispensary and Prescription Assistance Programs. “Everything we do is sustained by generosity,” she added.
Looking ahead, Dr. D’Acolatse envisions a future where HOPE is even more connected to the community. With the Boys and Girls Club across the street and the new Christian Manor—a housing and education facility for women and children—under development nearby, she sees HOPE as part of a network that uplifts families. “The children can receive help from the Boys and Girls Club, come here for their medical care, and families can stay at Christian Manor until they’re back on their feet,” she said.
For Dr. D’Acolatse, leading HOPE is more than a professional role—it’s a calling. Inspired by her grandmother, who cared for elderly patients as a nurse’s assistant, she learned early on the value of compassion. “I grew up helping my grandmother care for others,” she said. “That’s where my heart for the vulnerable began.” Now firmly rooted in McAllen, where she lives with her husband and two daughters, she is devoted to the community she serves. “The people here are incredibly kind and family-oriented,” she said. “It’s such a rich culture—and it’s where I’m meant to be.”
Through her leadership, HOPE Family Health Center continues to live up to its name—offering healing, opportunity, purpose, and empowerment to every patient who walks through its doors. “It’s truly been a blessing,” Dr. D’Acolatse said. “The progress feels like night and day compared to before, and it reflects my vision for where I want to take HOPE moving forward.”
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