Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1526715
8 | Health Matters: Providence St. Mary Medical Center Developing the Next Generation of Physicians A new residency program will bring more doctors, reduced wait times and enhanced services to the High Desert. P rovidence St. Mary Medical Center proudly announces the accreditation of its Internal Medicine Residency Program by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. This initiative will expand medical services in the High Desert and provide opportunities for faculty development, research and scholarly activities. Overseeing the program is Michele Lynn, Providence St. Mary 's newly appointed director of graduate-level education. She joined the hospital in April, bringing more than 15 years of experience to the position. In 2021, Lynn played a crucial role in launching the residency program at Riverside University Health System, and she served as coordinator of the University of California, Riverside Internal Medicine Residency Program for six and a half years. RECRUITMENT IS UNDERWAY The residency program is in the recruitment stage, with staff reviewing applications for interviews scheduled to start in late October. This rigorous process aims to select 10 initial residents from up to 200 applicants. These residents will be announced in March 2025 and begin their training at Providence St. Mary in July. The program will provide these physicians with valuable hands-on experience under the guidance of seasoned medical professionals. According to Lynn, they are seeking applicants whose goals align with St. Mary 's values. "We'd like to see volunteer experience on their CVs or other ways they 've been involved in their communities," she says. "Serving the underserved is a key part of our mission, so we want to recruit well-balanced, caring physicians." At St. Mary, the residents will rotate through various units within the hospital. They 'll also see patients in the primary care setting through St. Mary High Desert Medical Group and at a new clinic located at the Hesperia campus on Main Street. BENEFITS FOR PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS AND THE COMMUNITY Residency Program Coordinator Henry Phan explains that one of the program's greatest benefits is its potential to enhance availability of primary care physicians for St. Mary High Desert Medical Group patients. "We're looking forward to offering more appointments and reduced wait times," says Phan. "I know many people in this area make the long drive down the hill for regular care, so I'm excited that we'll be able to bring in 10 new doctors each year of this three-year program, for a total of 30 additional physicians." Those doctors are needed, too. The High Desert has 35 primary care physicians for every 100,000 people — roughly half of the Health Resources and Services Administration's recommended 60 to 80 per 100,000 to ensure adequate care. The new residency program is expected to help close that gap. Looking beyond patient care, Lynn underscores how the program will also benefit the hospital's caregivers. "The goal is to retain as many graduates from the program as possible. We want them to stay to continue to serve our community once they complete the program," she says. "Beyond that, our current physicians will have access to courses and learning opportunities that they wouldn't have otherwise. The faculty development sessions are already in progress." Planning for the residency program began in 2021. Seeing this dream come to fruition is immensely gratifying and exciting for everyone involved. It represents another significant way in which Providence St. Mary delivers world-class care to the community. Visit stmaryresidency.com for more information about the new Internal Medicine Residency Program. Michele Lynn, Dr. Elan Mohanty, Dr. Kevin Park, Dr. Ajay Moganti, Henry Phan