About Us
Grace M. Salinas-Garcia, M.D., P.A.
Dr. Salinas calls San Antonio her home and has lived here for well over 20 years. She spent much of her youth in the Rio Grande Valley city of McAllen, Texas where she graduated from high school. Dr. Salinas is bilingual and enjoys working with Spanish speaking patients. After completion of high school, she moved to San Antonio where she attended Our Lady of the Lake University and completed her undergraduate degree in Biology/Chemistry graduating with honors. She was accepted to the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine and in 1996 completed her MD.
Dr. Salinas received her board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in 2002 after completion of a residency in General Psychiatry. Having a great interest in working with children, adolescents and families, she went on to complete a fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry where she served as Chief Resident in her last year of training, also at UTHSC. She received her second board certification in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in 2004. Dr. Salinas went on to work with severely mentally ill children at the San Antonio State Hospital for five years followed by opening her private practice in 2006.
Dr. Salinas' early psychiatric training in general psychiatry has included working with adults ranging in age from early 20's to seniors. She later added fellowship training in child and adolescent psychiatry. Her approach to treatment is biopsychosocial in nature, meaning that in addition to considering the underlying "chemical imbalances" that are often associated with mental illness, and addressing these with medication, she will explore underlying psychological issues with particular attention to the family system and how it may contribute to difficulties as well as serve as strength for the patient in their road to recovery. Dr. Salinas is very excited about the opportunity to offer TMS to her patients. She sees this as a great gift and privilege. Thus far, the improvements she has seen in her patients have been tremendously rewarding for her as a clinician. While the treatment is currently only FDA approved for adults she is excited to see what is on the horizon for her younger patients as well. She wants to encourage any patient who has suffered with depression, whether they are new to treatment or have been in treatment for years, to contact the office to set up a consultation. She will be happy to discuss your individual needs, whether TMS is right for you, explain the process to you and answer any questions. Her position is that every person who has ever suffered with this brain disease should learn about and consider TMS as a possible treatment option. This is especially so since it is highly effective and there are minimal side effects. She looks forward to meeting with you!
Raul Vallarta
Raul Vallarta is our our Office Manager as well as staff nurse and billing specialist. Raul joined Dr Salinas' practice full time in 2012. Raul is a Veteran of the U.S. Army where he served as an Army Medic for four years. Thereafter he continued his interest in the medical field and became a licensed vocational nurse. Having an interest in mental health, he was employed by Laurel Ridge Treatment Center as a mental health worker while he studied for his nursing license.
Working alongside several mental health professionals, he helped to develop a mental health program for adolescent boys participating in residential treatment at LRTC. He was then recruited by a group of psychiatrists in private practice to help manage their office. Raul brings years of experience in the area of mental health nursing as well as the management of billing issues within a psychiatric practice. He is an army brat himself, but has made San Antonio his home for many years. Raul's resides with his family in San Antonio and is the proud father of three boys.
