Medical access in Villalba
Villalba has 11 verified specialists in the federal registry for 23,025 residents: 4.8 per 10,000. The island median is 4.9.
Called several offices and nobody called you back? Or called and the number no longer exists?
It is not that you are doing something wrong. The federal government already measured what is happening to you in Villalba: 3 official shortage designations (mental health, 20 of 25 points; dental health, 18 of 25 points; primary care, 14 of 25 points). What you are living has a name, a number, and a date. Here it is, in plain language.
🏛️ The federal government already recognized the shortage here
Villalba has 3 active federal provider-shortage designations (HPSA): mental health (score 20/25) · dental health (score 18/25) · primary care (score 14/25). That is not our opinion: it is HRSA, the federal health agency. What that means and the money it brings →
The numbers that do not add up (until you see the third one)
The official record and what you see, side by side. Neither one is lying; they measure different things. The line below each card explains which.
Villalba has 5 dentists in the federal registry.
And it is still a federal dental shortage area: 18 of 25 points, among the highest scores there are.
How can both be true? The designation measures access for the low-income population: 5,009 people per available dentist for that group. There are dentists. What is missing is an appointment for those on the government plan.
1 psychiatrist and 4 psychologists in the registry.
For the low-income population, the federal count comes to people per available mental health provider.
The designation measures outpatient appointments available to low-income patients, not total offices. That is why the federal number and the list above can say different things and both be true.
⚠️ And a detail almost nobody knows: the federal government does not remove anyone from the registry on its own. When a doctor or dentist retires, moves, or closes the office, it is on them to take themselves out of the system, and many never do. That is why these counts are a ceiling, not a floor: the real shortage can be worse than the number says. And it is why people call an office "in the registry" and find it already closed. Every name below links its federal NPI so you can confirm before making the trip.
The diagnosis already comes with money
This information was always public. It was scattered across four federal databases, in English. We just gathered it and put it in plain language.
What almost nobody knows: a shortage designation is not just a diagnosis. It is a key. It unlocks real federal money:
- 💵A psychologist, counselor, clinical social worker, or psychiatrist practicing here can qualify for the federal government to repay up to $50,000 of their student loans (National Health Service Corps, 2 years of service).
- 💵A dentist or dental hygienist, the same: up to $50,000, and Villalba's 18/25 score competes near the top of the priority list.
- 💵In primary care the repayment reaches up to $75,000, plus an additional $5,000 for serving Spanish speakers.
The problem is already recognized and funded. What is missing is not a diagnosis. It is more professionals knowing the key exists.
Are you a health professional? See if your site qualifies: nhsc.hrsa.gov · FY2026 cycle figures (HRSA), verified Jul 2026.
What Villalba HAS
Tap any to see the full list with names and phone numbers.
Full directory of Villalba
Every name by category, alphabetical. Tap one for their profile, phone, and the link to verify their NPI in the federal registry.
🏘️ Community Health Center (FQHC) 1
🦷 Dentist 5
👨👩👧 Family Medicine 1
🦠 Infectious Disease 1
🩺 Internal Medicine 2
🫘 Nephrologist (Kidney) 1
🖐️ Occupational Therapist 1
👓 Optometrist 4
💊 Pharmacist 22
- Ana Lopez Call
- Ana R. Cruz-Aponte Call
- Camir Maria Ortiz Rodriguez Call
- Carlos Blanco Call
- Carmelo Rodriguez Call
- Carmen I. Rivera-Cintron Call
- Edna Magaly Rodriguez Call
- Eimer Maldonado Call
- Hector Vazquez Call
- Idalia Bonilla Call
- Ilia A Velez Call
- Jacqueline Lopez Melendez Call
- Jixamille Marie Hernandez-Garcia Call
- Johanna Marie Gratacos Call
- Luis Rafael Laboy Call
- Marisol Santiago Call
- Maritza Rodriguez Call
- Marlene Monge Call
- Saryann Gonzalez Collazo Call
- Valeria Marie Lopez De Victoria Santiago Call
- Vanessa Peresz Call
- Yasmin Garcia Call
🩺 Physician Assistant (PA) 4
💬 Professional Counselor 2
🧠 Psychiatrist 1
🧠 Psychologist 4
🗣️ Speech-Language Pathologist 4
What is MISSING (and where the nearest one is)
Of the most sought-after specialists, these have no verified practice in Villalba:
- ✗❤️ Cardiologist: none verified here; the Centro region has 3 →
- ✗🧒 Pediatrician: none verified here; the Centro region has 3 →
- ✗🤰 OB-GYN: none verified here; the Centro region has 3 →
- ✗👵 Geriatrician: none verified here; none in the Centro region either: the largest group is in the metro area (73) →
- ✗🫁 Pulmonologist (Lungs): none verified here; none in the Centro region either: the largest group is in the metro area (85) →
- ✗🩺 Endocrinologist (Diabetes): none verified here; the Centro region has 1 →
- ✗🎗️ Oncologist / Hematologist: none verified here; the Centro region has 1 →
- ✗🧠 Neurologist: none verified here; the Centro region has 1 →
- ✗🩺 Gastroenterologist: none verified here; the Centro region has 3 →
A specialist missing from town is not always a crisis: what matters is how far the nearest one is and whether the appointment comes in time. That is why each gap shows where they DO exist.
📋 Citable facts about Villalba
For press, mayors, school papers, or Facebook arguments: copy the fact with the source attached.
Villalba has 11 verified medical specialists for 23,025 residents: 4.8 per 10,000. Rank 39 of Puerto Rico's 78 municipalities (median: 4.9).
Source: federal NPPES registry + Census · registromedicopr.com/pueblo/villalba
Villalba has 1 verified psychiatrist. In Puerto Rico, 36 municipalities have none.
Source: federal NPPES registry + Census · registromedicopr.com/pueblo/villalba
Villalba has no verified practice of: Cardiologist, Pediatrician, OB-GYN, Geriatrician, Pulmonologist (Lungs), Endocrinologist (Diabetes), Oncologist / Hematologist, Neurologist, Gastroenterologist.
Source: federal NPPES registry + Census · registromedicopr.com/pueblo/villalba
Villalba has an active federal shortage designation (HPSA) for mental health (score 20/25) and dental health (score 18/25, 5,009 low-income residents per provider) and primary care (score 14/25, 6,379 low-income residents per provider), per HRSA.
Source: federal NPPES registry + Census · registromedicopr.com/pueblo/villalba
Villalba's HPSA designation unlocks federal NHSC loan repayment: up to $50,000 per 2 years for mental health and dental health and primary care providers serving the designated area (HRSA, FY2026 cycle).
Source: federal NPPES registry + Census · registromedicopr.com/pueblo/villalba
🔔 I will let you know when a new one arrives in Villalba
When a new specialist shows up verified in the federal registry for this town, I will email you. That is it. No spam, no marketing list.
📤 Pásalo a quien le toca
To the hometown or family group chat. Everyone checks their own.
Looking for a specialist now?
Search by specialty and region, or tell me your situation and I will give you the steps.
One important thing, neighbor to neighbor
This is not a substitute for medical advice. We verify public data, but phone numbers, health plans, and availability change. Before you go, call and confirm.
Spotted outdated info? Tell us and we fix it: angel@angelanderson.com