Atrium Health Cabarrus Program

The Cabarrus Family Medicine Residency Program at Atrium Health offers a comprehensive training experience designed to equip residents with the skills and knowledge necessary for a successful career in family medicine, particularly with a focus on sports medicine within a family medicine setting. This residency provides an integrative blend of extensive inpatient training, outpatient experiences, and community involvement that directly prepares residents for future practice.

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum of the Cabarrus Family Medicine Residency encompasses a wide variety of training experiences, including inpatient service, outpatient family medicine, and specialized tracks such as obstetrics and sports medicine. The program employs a decentralized model of outpatient training, engaging residents in community practices across Cabarrus County. This structure allows residents to partner with faculty and practice leaders to actively manage patient panels while participating in quality and practice management initiatives.

Inpatient Training

Inpatient service occurs primarily at Atrium Health Cabarrus, a 457-bed not-for-profit medical center. Here, residents manage a broad spectrum of cases, from high-risk pregnancies to ICU patients. The residency places a strong emphasis on autonomy, with responsibilities increasing from year one to year three. Senior residents take on leadership roles, guiding first- and second-year residents while being involved in teaching medical students 1.

Outpatient Training

The residency emphasizes community engagement through outpatient training, where residents are assigned to one of four community practices. This experience includes managing a diverse patient population and exposure to various specialties through joint training initiatives. Residents also participate in internal referral clinics, bringing specialists to family medicine offices to enhance training in specific areas like dermatology and gynecology 2.

Unique Training Opportunities

At Cabarrus, residents can participate in international mission trips and travel medicine clinics led by faculty members certified in travel medicine. Residents are encouraged to pursue global health electives, adding to the richness of their educational experiences. The program supports the development of individual interests through a substantial amount of elective time and tracks designed for specific focuses within family medicine, particularly sports medicine 3.

Resident Life

The Cabarrus Family Medicine Residency fosters a close-knit, supportive community. Various informal gatherings, educational lunches, and team-based activities enhance resident camaraderie. The program prides itself on creating an atmosphere of belonging where residents feel empowered to provide input into the practice management and contribute to the learning environment. Additionally, the program actively involves residents in leadership roles and quality improvement efforts, allowing them to develop essential skills in these areas 4.

Salary and Benefits

The residency offers competitive salaries and benefits. Resident salary levels for the academic year 2024-2025 are as follows: PGY-1 at $65,304, PGY-2 at $68,224, PGY-3 at $71,035, and PGY-4 at $74,387. Benefits include twenty days of PTO, five days for CME, medical and dental insurance at no charge for residents and their families, a stipend for CME activities, moving expenses, a laptop, and meals during shifts 5.

Application Requirements

Applications are only accepted from participants of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Applicants should have completed medical school within two years prior to applying and international medical graduates must possess at least one year of clinical experience in the United States. Importantly, the program does not offer visa sponsorship, so applicants must have independent eligibility to work 6.

Competitiveness and Selection Process

The residency program is considered highly competitive, with a selection process that evaluates commitment to family medicine, clinical excellence, and the ability to work as part of a team. Candidates will be interviewed by members of the recruitment committee and those who demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and a passion for community service will be favorably viewed 7.

Visa Sponsorship

It is important to note that the Cabarrus Family Medicine Residency Program does not have the resources to sponsor visas for international medical graduates. Therefore, eligible candidates must possess the ability to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship 8.