Family Medicine

Family Medicine Residency | CMU College of Medicine

Unparalleled inpatient and outpatient experience

The first accredited program in Michigan and one of the oldest in the country, the CMU College of Medicine's Family Medicine residency program offers a rich history of excellence.

We seek enthusiastic residents who want to make important contributions to the field, especially those who share our mission to expand services in Northern Michigan. Those who seek to contribute to the field in other places and in other ways will also find that our program offers outstanding training for whatever their personal mission in Family Medicine may be.

Family medicine at CMU

The Family Medicine program is strengthened by collaboration with two principal hospitals in Saginaw: Covenant HealthCare and Ascension St. Mary's. These serve as the primary referral centers for complex medical care in the Great Lakes Bay Region. Both hospitals see a broad spectrum of clinical problems.

You'll also benefit from the new 46,000 square foot CMU College of Medicine educational building on the Covenant campus, which features advanced technology classrooms and a state-of-the-art simulation center used to augment realistic medical scenarios for residents.

Our faculty come from diverse training locations and offer a strong community preceptor presence. They lead dedicated Friday afternoon didactics as well as an annual retreat for all residents, faculty and staff.

MIDOCs loan repayment program

The MIDOCs program is a state-funded program set up to expand residency positions to recruit and retain physicians in underserved areas of Michigan. This expansion includes a two-year commitment to practice in a rural or underserved area of Michigan. MIDOCs residents are also eligible for up to $75,000 in student loan repayment! Learn more about MIDOCs at the CMU College of Medicine.

Mission statement

The CMU Family Medicine Residency Program’s mission is to prepare and enhance diversity and cultural competency within the resident physicians with focus improving access to high-quality healthcare to patients in medically underserved regions. We aim to develop and maintain exemplary educational programs within the realm of family medicine and promote dissemination of knowledge that is important for clinical practice, education and organization of healthcare. Within community service, we will work in partnership with local organizations to address the needs of both the greater community as well as the community served by the residency program to train future leaders in Family Medicine.

Program highlights

3-year program
Fully accredited by ACGME
8.5 adult inpatient months
Eight elective months
Night float system (no traditional call)
Extensive research and publishing opportunities
Training in various outpatient procedures including dermatologic surgery, gynecologic procedures, and breast procedures.
Outstanding inpatient pediatric experience
Participation in comprehensive outpatient geriatric assessments

Curriculum

First-year residents spend a half day per week in the Family Medicine Center. It is here that they begin the continuity care for their panel of patients that they will see for the three years of training. The first month (July) is spent in community medicine with the introduction of the resident to the medical community and services that they will utilize in the provision of care for their own patients. Included in this month are educational sessions in ACLS, BLS, and PALS training, as well as other introductory training courses.

The second-year resident spends 15 hours per week in the Family Medicine Center providing ongoing care to their respective patient panel. Residents also participate in home visits.

The Third-year resident will spend 20 hours per week seeing their patients in the office. They will gain experience in procedures as well as geriatric assessment and will increase their level of teaching by serving as the chief of the inpatient teaching service.

PGY1 - PGY3 CURRICULUM