Top Family Medicine Residency Programs

Ranked by Rural Percentage by RUCA coding as per Hart method noted at  Bowman FP Grad Studies

Robert C. Bowman, M.D.   rbowman@unmc.edu

City listed and more details given for cities with more programs. So far the data is a mix of first practice location after leaving residency zip code but includes 1997 - 2003 graduates. Hopefully future efforts will allow some updating.

Family medicine is unique in that locations away from Major Medical Centers are maintained, with all other physicians, primary care physicians, and primary care types including NP and PA folding back into major medical centers over time. FM distributions of first time graduates often are similar to mid career and later graduates.

The standard for workforce should remain multiple class years in equilibrium conditions. 11% rural and 7% underserved are standards for all physicians across the nation and FP is a steady 24% rural and 12 - 14% underserved across class years and distance from graduation.

Additions submitted

 I was looking at the RME website as to best FM residency programs wrt grads doing rural practice. I am familiar with most of the residency programs that are listed including several UW network residency programs. As you know I have helped many of these programs develop their rural GME. I was surprised to see that Family Medicine and our RTTs were not included among “best programs”. Through 2006, FMS has had 208 grads of whom 105 (50%) practice in rural communities which is about twice the National average. The RTT has had 30 grads of whom 24 (80%) are practicing rurally. 97% of the RTT grads practice in WA, OR, AK and ID. If you could include the Spokane programs with your list that would be appreciated as I believe them to be among the better programs with rural practice preparation and placing/maintaining grads in rural areas. I am in the process of analyzing the information returned to me as part of our 2006 Graduate Follow-up Survey and it is very interesting e.g. 51% of FMS grads do OB and 29% do CS, while 67% of RTT grads do OB and 61% do C/Sections. Reflective of where they practice I am sure. Bob Maudlin

Bob truly has been instrumental in all these areas and in the training of the Minifellows and myself. I have revised to reflect these and will continue to accept submissions based on current data on a number of class years, a workforce in equilibrium. I have added two columns also as Bob has reported. Just email rbowman@unmc.edu  Data on all tracks is appreciated since these often cannot be tracked using secondary data. Programs with a common sponsor as in Arkansas or Mayo programs are also hard to track. Maine residency programs also have rural graduates in top percentages and need updating.
There are two list serve sources worth pursuing - STFM Procedures list serve and the RME list serve. email rbowman@unmc.edu for details or check with the STFM web site. The RME list serve is open to all regardless of membership.