Rural Family Medicine Residency is on track in Dixon

Two residents have started a new chapter in Illinois family medicine as the charter physicians of the University Of Illinois College Of Medicine – Rockford Rural Family Medicine Residency Track.   The first two residents, Mario Galdames, M.D. and Amrish Joseph, M.D., have been learning the ropes a few days a week and will move to Dixon to start full time in July.   By July 2007 the Rural Residency Track will be filled with six residents and looking for two new ones each year.

Just over four years ago, Tim Appenheimer, M.D. approached Katherine Shaw Bethea (KSB) Hospital president and CEO Darryl Vandervort about training family physicians in Dixon to help encourage the future of family medicine in Dixon and communities like it.

According to Vandervort, getting the hospital board’s approval was the easiest part of the whole process.   “We really liked the concept of ‘growing our own docs’ and the hospital saw this as an advantage for us in recruiting,” he said.  “Everyone in the community – from the hospital to the Mayor’s office had not only been supportive, but also helpful in the process.”

“Having a residency program in and of itself is prestigious,” he adds.  “But to have the first one of its kind in Illinois is an added bonus and having the administration from U of I Rockford behind it is also prestigious for our hospital.”

Joseph Welty, M.D., has spent 20 years practicing in Dixon and was eager to join on to the program where enjoys the greater one-on-one time he can now spend with residents.  “I see this is a way to fill a need for new patients,” he says.  “Also at this point in my career I really like building for the future so when I’m retiring I know that I am leaving the community in good hands.”

Kevin Marx, vice president of the KSB medical group management revealed that another benefit from the rural track is the boost they’ve gotten in specialty recruitment. “It’s been an attractive benefit in recruiting other specialties because they are excited to get involved teaching the residents, too.”  He and Vandervort point to cases where they were able to recruit a new cardiologist and radiologist because they could offer the opportunity to work with the residents.

At the same time, the residency allows the not-for-profit KSB hospital to expand its outreach and service to uninsured and underserved populations and allows for greater continuity of care. Welty adds that the program will help the health care community better handle the growing needs of Dixon and keep the patient care here at home.

Now that his program design has finally come to fruition, Appenheimer reflected on the process.  His practice served as the launching pad where the residents began their journey nine months ago.  He’s been thrilled with the overwhelming support he has received from the KSB hospital board, and the physician community – all the family physicians and specialists are behind the program and excited to be a part of it.

Dr. Galdames is very enthusiastic about his first few months as one of the first rural track residents.  Born in California , but raised and schooled in urban El Salvador , Dixon is a big change for him.  He’s enjoyed getting so much attention and insight from all the physicians from the various specialties.  “All the doctors are good teachers and I am benefiting from the teamwork here.”