Happy Labor Day weekend from UMass! I hope you are finding lots of diversions from the hot weather!  I'm Michael Smith, Associate Director of Admissions for both the UMass Worcester and UMass Fitchburg Family Medicine Residencies and it's time for my latest blast about our two UMass programs. We thank you for your interest in our Family Medicine department and our academic programs (and if this is your first email from me, welcome!)
 

This month, I am heading up Route 495 to talk a bit about our community-based residency in Fitchburg, a UMass residency that is entirely separate from our Worcester program.

Our Community Hospital: HealthAlliance Hospital is a medium-sized community hospital and hosts our family medicine residency as its only teaching service. Residents and students enjoy a dynamic team approach to care on the family medicine impatient service. HealthAlliance has repeatedly been voted one of America's "Most Wired" hospitals due to its investment in cutting edge technology. This helped lead to recent recognition as the "Safest Hospital in Massachusetts."

Our Academics: Didactics cover a wide array of medical, community health, and behavioral medicine topics as well as procedural skills and topics in practice management. Morning lecture occurs daily
after hospital sign-out, videoconferenced between hospital and office. Each Tuesday afternoon is reserved for team meetings, a resident support group meeting, and a core lecture series.

We are constantly revising the curriculum as needs and opportunities change. Special training is available in osteopathic therapy, geriatrics, addiction and sports medicine. All residents participate in one of several annual QA projects. Interns have one dedicated Tuesday afternoon each month for workshops.

Our Osteopathic Curriculum:  As the only dually accredited (DO and MD) residency in MA, we offer monthly lectures and regular OMT session with DO preceptors to hone our skills and learn new techniques. Residents are encouraged to use OMT skills in patient care in the office and hospital. There are many occasions to attend osteopathic courses for further learning. In our program, we have a wonderful collaboration between our allopathic and osteopathic physicians.

Global Health: The UMass Family Medicine Global Health Track is designed for residents at both the UMass Fitchburg and UMass Worcester residencies. Interns who apply and are selected for the program will travel to Nicaragua and/or the Dominican Republic to study community health-based systems and to be introduced to epidemiologic research there.


We're Right Up Route 495:  Fitchburg and Leominster are situated in one of the most beautiful areas of New England. The area is easily accessible to Boston, Worcester and Providence, but without the problems of traffic congestion, high crime, or high cost of living. Mountains, beaches, and lots of open space are close by.  Our residents might take a break from their clinical duties by night skiing at Wachusett Mountain, hiking at Mount Wachusett State Park and Leominster State Forest, or joining in  a variety of local sports leagues. Numerous high school and college sports and the Boston Marathon provide opportunities for medical coverage training.

                                             
Next month I'll discuss our Hahnemann center in Worcester. Stay cool in the hot sun and thanks for your interest in UMass Family Medicine. And check out our main Worcester and Fitchburg