Athens Regional Medical Center is poised to announce its inaugural class of residents for the Internal Medicine Residency Program this Friday, March 18th at a special reception at 1 pm in the Medical Services Building on King Avenue. The historic first class of fifteen residents will begin on June 30, 2016.
 
In response to physician workforce needs in northeast Georgia and across the state, ARMC is undertaking broad efforts to train the next generation of doctors.  This program is the first of several anticipated at ARMC, and is the result of years of planning by ARMC administration and physicians.  Program development has been funded primarily by ARMC as an investment in the future of healthcare for this community, with support from partners at the Board of Regents.  Other key community affiliations include the Augusta University – University of Georgia Medical Partnership, as well as collaborators at several colleges at the University of Georgia.
 
The three-year internal medicine training program will match an innovative teaching curriculum with timeless patient-centered clinical skills.  In developing the program, Athens-based physicians have coalesced into a teaching faculty that has been central in curriculum design, led resident selection, and will serve as the key supervisors of these physicians-in-training.  Even before the arrival of resident physicians this summer, this training program has already had an impact on the health of Athens, with the development of the Community Care Clinic at ARMC – a primary care practice centered on improving access to high quality care.
 
“We are extremely pleased to play a part in solving the physician workforce challenges in Georgia by welcoming our first Internal Medicine residents to Athens Regional Health System. The enthusiastic embracing of our clinical and teaching mission by the Athens medical community has been gratifying and the high level of competency and excellence these residents represent bodes well for our community’s healthcare future. It has been a privilege working with both UGA and the Medical Partnership during this process,” said Dr. Charles Peck, President & CEO of Athens Regional Health System.
 
“The Graduate Medical Education office, the Faculty of the Internal Medicine Residency Program and I are very excited to welcome our first class of 15 trainees. Together, faculty, key leaders and members of the medical community have developed a rich learning environment for our residents designed to train healers, coach leaders and transform health care.  We believe that the very best health care is patient-centered and evidence-based; grounded in science, respectful of the needs and values of each individual and responsive to the needs of the community,” said Dr. Catherine Apaloo, MD, Internal Medicine Program Director at Athens Regional Medical Center.