Federal Funding Supports Increase in Family Medicine Residency Program, Focusing on Rural Health Developments
The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) is set to establish a new Rural Track Program (RTP) with a Maternal Health & Obstetrics Pathway (MHOP), aiming to address the critical shortage of healthcare providers in rural areas.
Starting in June 2026, resident physicians will spend their first year training at Highland Family Medicine/Highland Hospital and the subsequent two years at Tri-County Family Medicine/Noyes Memorial Hospital. This three-year program will see more than half of the residents' experience taking place in rural locations.
The program's focus is on bringing new physicians to the area to address the physician shortages, particularly in maternal health and obstetrics. The RTP with the MHOP aims to equip trainees with clinical skills and knowledge to improve health outcomes in underserved rural areas, particularly relating to pregnancy, childbirth, and women's health.
Key objectives of the program include:
- Training providers to deliver comprehensive maternal and obstetric care adapted to the challenges of rural and underserved settings.
- Improving access to quality prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum care in rural communities through enhanced clinical expertise and community engagement.
- Fostering interests in rural health practice by providing immersive experiences in rural clinical environments and focusing on collaborative care models.
- Addressing health disparities in rural maternal health, potentially including integration of public health principles, behavioral health, and awareness of social determinants affecting women and families.
The program is supported by the American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), aligning with their mission to improve health care and population health by enhancing physician workforce development in underserved areas. The initiative aims to increase access to Family Medicine and Obstetrics for historically marginalized and low-income rural residents and all women of reproductive age in Allegany, Livingston, Steuben, and Wyoming counties.
The University of Rochester Medical Center has received a three-year $750K grant from HRSA to support the training of Family Medicine residents in a rural setting. David C. Holub, MD, project director and Family Medicine Residency program director, will administer the grant. The Department of Family Medicine's residency program will expand from 12 residents per year to 14 residents per year, totaling 42 residents.
The RTP consortium includes the University of Rochester Medical Center, Tri-County Family Medicine, Highland Family Medicine/Department of Family Medicine Residency Program, and Noyes Memorial Hospital. The partnership between the medical center and Tri-County Family Medicine is intended to protect public health.
Tri-County Family Medicine, founded over 50 years ago, has a commitment to bring primary care providers to underserved areas. The development of this program has been supported by various key figures, including Mark Taubman, Steve Goldstein, Karen Stone, J. Chad Teeters, Michele Lawrence, Colleen T. Fogarty, and Brenda Houtenbrink.
Establishing this residency program is an important step at addressing the national shortage of primary care physicians, a issue that is most serious in rural areas. The program aims to train the next generation of medical providers to serve the region. Alex Doucette is the education administrator and project manager for the grant.
- The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) has launched a new Rural Track Program (RTP) with a Maternal Health & Obstetrics Pathway (MHOP) to combat the shortage of healthcare providers in rural communities.
- This program, starting in June 2026, will see resident physicians spend their first year at Highland Family Medicine/Highland Hospital, followed by two years at Tri-County Family Medicine/Noyes Memorial Hospital.
- Over half of the three-year program will take place in rural locations to address critical physician shortages, particularly in maternal health and obstetrics.
- The RTP with MHOP aims to equip trainees with clinical skills and knowledge to improve health outcomes in underserved rural areas, focusing on pregnancy, childbirth, and women's health.
- Key objectives include delivering comprehensive maternal and obstetric care, improving access to quality prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum care, fostering rural health practice interests, and addressing health disparities.
- The program is backed by the American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and aims to increase access to Family Medicine and Obstetrics for marginalized and low-income residents.
- A $750K grant from HRSA supports the training of Family Medicine residents in a rural setting, with the Department of Family Medicine's residency program expanding from 12 to 14 residents per year.
- The RTP consortium comprises the University of Rochester Medical Center, Tri-County Family Medicine, Highland Family Medicine/Department of Family Medicine Residency Program, and Noyes Memorial Hospital.
- Tri-County Family Medicine, established over 50 years ago, is dedicated to bringing primary care providers to underserved areas.
- Key figures supporting the program's development include Mark Taubman, Steve Goldstein, Karen Stone, J. Chad Teeters, Michele Lawrence, Colleen T. Fogarty, and Brenda Houtenbrink.
- This residency program is an important step in addressing the national shortage of primary care physicians, particularly in rural areas.
- The program aims to train the next generation of medical providers to serve the region.
- Alex Doucette is the education administrator and project manager for the grant.
- The program is a health initiative aimed at improving community health in rural areas.
- The RTP's focus on maternal health and obstetrics is crucial for addressing chronic diseases, medical-conditions, and health disparities in rural women.
- Improved healthcare access in rural areas can contribute to the prevention and management of respiratory-conditions, digestive-health issues, eye-health problems, and skin-conditions.
- Rural healthcare providers are essential for addressing the growing burden of cancer, cardiovascular-health issues, autoimmune-disorders, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.
- Awareness of mental-health issues and focusing on mental-health care is essential for ensuring overall family health and wellness.
- The healthcare providers trained by the RTP will also play a role in promoting workplace-wellness and ensuring a healthy workplace environment.
- The program's focus on science and medical education is crucial for promoting evidence-based practices in healthcare delivery.
- The RTP's partnership with Tri-County Family Medicine highlights the importance of collaboration in addressing healthcare challenges in rural areas.
- The program's focus on rural health practice interests and collaborative care models is essential for fostering a culture of healing and compassion in rural communities.
- The RTP's commitment to addressing health disparities and addressing social determinants affects women and families is crucial for promoting health equity.
- Community engagement and public health principles are essential for ensuring that the program addresses the unique needs of rural communities.
- Addressing the physician shortage in rural areas is critical for ensuring access to quality healthcare services and improving health outcomes.
- The RTP's focus on maternal health and obstetrics is essential for reducing maternal and infant mortality rates in rural areas.
- The RTP's commitment to providing immersive experiences in rural clinical environments is essential for developing future healthcare leaders and entrepreneurs.
- The RTP's collaboration with Noyes Memorial Hospital and other partners in the region is essential for building a robust and sustainable healthcare system.
- The RTP's focus on family health, women's health, and mentoring programs is essential for supporting the next generation of healthcare providers.
- The RTP's commitment to investing in the future of healthcare and community health is essential for promoting a culture of health and wellness.
- The RTP's focus on)'climate change', energy, finance, environmental-science, industry, housing-market, and small-business development is essential for addressing the broader determinants of health and promoting a sustainable future.
