Full Circle Health (Boise) Program

The Family Medicine Residency of Idaho offers a 12-month ACGME accredited Geriatric Fellowship through Full Circle Health located in Boise. This fellowship is designed for physicians who have completed three years of either family medicine or internal medicine residency training. The program emphasizes the clinical care of older adults and aims to equip fellows with skills necessary for comprehensive geriatric care.

Fellows will participate in a competitive selection process, and candidates must be board-certified or eligible for board certification in family medicine. The program provides an opportunity to engage closely with geriatric experts, focusing on delivering comprehensive care within a patient-centered medical home framework. Full Circle Health operates as a community health center, providing diverse geriatric care to patients with varied social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.

Training during the fellowship encompasses experiences in acute and ambulatory care, nursing homes, hospice settings, and a variety of clinical environments. Fellows will work as integral members of an interdisciplinary team, which includes physician assistants, nurse practitioners, social workers, clinical psychologists, psychiatric residents, dietitians, and other family medicine physicians.

Application Requirements

Only one fellow is selected each year. All applicants must have completed or are expected to complete a three-year ACGME-accredited Family Medicine or Internal Medicine Residency program and be board-certified in Family Medicine. By the start of the fellowship, candidates must obtain an unrestricted Idaho State Medical License and DEA. Applications are accepted exclusively through the ERAS system, with a submission deadline set for September 1.

It is essential to note that interviews take place during the fall/winter months. The faculty will rank applicants according to their preferences and subsequently submit the list to the National Resident Matching Program.

Salary and Benefits

The fellowship provides a competitive annual salary of $74,685, along with comprehensive benefits inclusive of a retirement package. Each fellow will be entitled to 16 days of paid vacation per year, a Continuing Medical Education (CME) allowance of $1,500 per year, and financial support for attending conferences. Licensing and dues covered include those for the Idaho Board of Medicine, DEA, board of pharmacy, along with certifications such as BLS, ACLS, AAFP membership, and AAHIVM accreditation.

Curriculum Overview

The fellowship curriculum includes a variety of longitudinal experiences, focusing on both general family medicine and specialized geriatric care. Key components include:

• Full scope family medicine continuity clinic (1 time per week)
• Focused geriatric continuity clinic (1 time per week)
• Geriatric assessment and cognitive assessment clinic (1 time per week, including experiences at Full Circle Health and the VA)
• Nursing home rounds (1 time per week)
• Inpatient Geriatric Consult Service (2-3 times per week)
• Home visits (approximately 6 times per year)
• Block Schedule Rehab (one month)
• Palliative Care (2 one-month rotations)
• Additional rotations in nephrology, podiatry, geropsychiatry, long-term acute care, neurology, wound care, hospice, infectious disease, and urology.

Training Facilities

Training occurs in a range of facilities:

• Full Circle Health – Raymond Clinic: The primary clinical site since 1983, featuring robust procedural support and housing multiple specialty clinics.
• Full Circle Health – Meridian Clinic: Provides care to a diverse patient population and offers practical experiences through a multidisciplinary approach.
• Boise VA Medical Center: Offers comprehensive medical and surgical services to veterans, alongside a strong research program.

Competitiveness and Visa Support

This geriatric fellowship program is known for its competitive nature, and while it accepts applications from domestic graduates, it may be less familiar to international medical graduates. Currently, visa sponsorship is typically not provided for fellows.

Special Application Requirements

In addition to the standard application requirements, the program may have specific expectations concerning the timing of graduation and eligibility. Prospective fellows are encouraged to ensure compliance with these standards before applying to maximize their chances of selection.