Graduate Medical Education targets high-need specialties – Internal Medicine and Psychiatry
St. Francis Medical Center, a member of Prime Healthcare, announced its new medical residency programs in internal medicine and psychiatry. The programs are part of the Prime West Consortium, an affiliate of California University of Science and Medicine (CUSM) in Colton, Calif.
The new programs directly address the physician shortage facing the U.S. According to projections by the American Medical Association, there will be a shortfall of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, particularly in specialties such as internal medicine and psychiatry. This will lead to longer wait times for patients, reduced access to care, and lower quality of care.
St. Francis Medical Center CEO Clay Farell said the region the hospital serves is especially vulnerable to the shortage. “Southeast Los Angeles is a designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) with a ratio of only 56 primary care physicians per 100,000 people. The ideal is 80.” He continued, “Our new Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs will train residents to become well-rounded physicians who can provide evidence-based, cost-effective, and patient-centered healthcare to underserved communities. Ideally, many of them will choose to practice here.”
Anantjit Singh, MD, a practicing cardiologist at St. Francis Medical Center for 30 years, is program director for the internal medicine residency program. He stressed that the St. Francis programs offer a unique patient-focused perspective into the practice of medicine due to the population the hospital serves. Dr. Singh said, “Our community consists of hard-working families, many of whom struggle to make ends meet, with high rates of chronic diseases. We therefore provide an environment consisting of rigorous and comprehensive clinical training along with insights into the socio-economic factors that affect health. Our program is rooted in service.”
The inaugural first-year residents began their training in June. They provide direct care in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of patients in inpatient and outpatient settings under the supervision of attending physicians. St. Francis Medical Center serves as the primary clinical rotation site, offering bedside learning that is integrated with GME didactics, procedure workshops, multi-disciplinary coordination, and personalized training.
In addition to preparing residents for the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) certification exams, the residency program goals are fourfold: to develop well-rounded physicians in the provision of evidence-based, cost-effective, and high-quality healthcare; to instill the importance of diversity and wellness for the mind and body; to recruit high-quality residents from diverse backgrounds that are committed to the region; and to promote lifelong growth as physicians within the healthcare system.
Anil Sharma, MD, psychiatrist and program director for the psychiatry residency program, highlighted his firm belief in being supportive and allowing each resident flexibility to participate in areas of unique interest. “Our program provides a balance of professional autonomy with progressive levels of supervision, giving residents the appropriate combination of clinical experience, education, and research to enable them to succeed as clinical psychiatrists in the twenty-first century.”
Dr. Singh expressed pride in fostering a culture where residents develop the skills, confidence, and resilience needed to provide exceptional care to all patients, regardless of their background or circumstances. He said, “St. Francis Medical Center has served Lynwood and the surrounding area since 1945, and we look forward to continuing our mission of providing excellent care for our community by training the next generation of physicians.”
