The Internal Medicine Residency Program, Northeast Georgia's first medical residency program and a joint effort by the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership and St. Mary's Health Care System, has been granted continued accreditation, the highest status possible, by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

"This is a major milestone," stated Shelley Nuss, M.D., Campus Dean and Designated Institutional Officer for the AU/UGA Medical Partnership in an email announcing the accreditation. "Savor the moment – and celebrate!"

The Internal Medicine Residency Program enables graduates of medical school to complete the final phase of their medical education. A maximum of 10 residents are recruited each year through a national process that matches medical school graduates with residency programs around the nation. The IMRP is accredited for a maximum of 30 residents, 10 for each year of the three-year program.

As residents advance from year to year, they gain increasing independence and autonomy, culminating in the opportunity to take their medical board exams and become fully licensed, practicing physicians. Some will go directly into internal medicine practice, providing primary care in the Athens area or other communities, while others will go into fellowships for specialties such as cardiology, neurology or surgery.

"Our program has enjoyed fantastic success, especially for a brand new program," said Pete Yunyongying, M.D., Program Director. "We have successfully recruited two full classes of 10 residents each, with more than 1,300 applications for our first class, more than 1,800 for our second class, and over 2,100 for our third class. Most importantly, between their practice at St. Mary's Hospital and our residency clinic, Community Internal Medicine of Athens, our resident physicians are building the foundation they need to become highly skilled practitioners."

"Thanks go out to many individuals who worked tirelessly to bring GME to Athens, and to St. Mary's, our hospital partner," Dr. Nuss said. "Without St. Mary's and their relentless support, this would not have been possible."

Dr. Nuss specifically thanked Don McKenna, St. Mary's President and CEO, and Bruce Middendorf, M.D., St. Mary's Chief Medical Officer, praising both for their "support and drive for excellence."

She also thanked Dr. Yunyongying, Seth Jelinek, M.D., Assistant Program Director, and Achilia Morrow, M.D., Associate Program Director, for "their dedication and hard work to bring the program to this level. They, too, have worked tirelessly to provide the highest quality education to our future residents."

Finally, Dr. Nuss thanked the more than 70 physician faculty members who work with the residents, as well as the nursing, ancillary and support staff of St. Mary's and the IMRP whose behind-the-scenes efforts keep the program running smoothly and contribute to the residents' education. She also extended her appreciation to Medical College of Georgia Dean Peter Buckley, M.D., and UGA Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Pamela Whitten for their support of GME through the Medical Partnership.