Lehigh Valley Health Network (Allentown) Program

Lehigh Valley Health Network's Family Medicine Residency program offers a comprehensive and innovative training experience designed to prepare residents for the multifaceted challenges of family medicine. Situated within one of Pennsylvania's largest teaching hospitals, the program benefits from a network of experienced clinicians and robust clinical training environments. With over 20 years of history, the residency is grounded in relationship-centered and evidence-informed medicine.

Curriculum and Rotations

The residency adopts a longitudinal curriculum, a distinctive approach compared to traditional block rotations common in other family medicine residencies. This structure allows residents to engage consistently with their continuity of care site (CCS), focusing on building long-term patient relationships through regular clinic visits while interspersing hospital rotations. Key elements of the curriculum include:

• Behavioral Medicine Clinic: Specialized half-day sessions where residents see continuity patients with a behavioralist to enhance care integration.
• Educational Tracks: Residents can pursue specific interests through educational tracks such as geriatrics, addiction medicine, leadership, and sports medicine.
• Learning Labs: Facilitated small-group sessions that foster active learning through simulations and discussions.
• Residency Reflective Activities: Weekly sessions focused on evidence-informed medicine and patient-centered care competencies to debrief challenging cases.

Residents experience a diverse outpatient and inpatient training across their three years, with structured schedules that strategically alternate between hospital and CCS duties. The PGY-1 year particularly emphasizes community integration, allowing residents to learn about patient care in varied settings.

Research and Scholarly Activity

All residents are required to engage in scholarly activities, which can take various forms, including clinical research and systematic reviews. This commitment to academic work not only contributes to the field of family medicine but also prepares residents for evidence-based practice.

Community Involvement

The program emphasizes community engagement within the Lehigh Valley through innovative initiatives, such as community asset mapping and collaborations with the Street Medicine Program. These projects expose residents to underserved populations, enhancing their understanding of social determinants of health.

Residency Benefits

LVHN offers a supportive environment with several benefits for residents, including:

• Three weeks of vacation annually.
• Wellness time of half a day each month.
• Financial support for memberships in relevant organizations.
• Paid certifications in BLS, ACLS, PAL, and NRP.

Additionally, the Lehigh Valley Health Network is committed to diversity and inclusion within its residency programs, ensuring a supportive culture for all residents.

Visa Support and Competitiveness

The program does not sponsor visas for international medical graduates (IMGs). However, it considers all applicants regardless of their medical school graduation year, with a preference for graduates from within the last three years, although those within five years are also eligible. The program does not set a specific USMLE/COMLEX score criterion but favors candidates who achieve passing scores within two attempts; three attempts are acceptable under certain circumstances.

Community and Quality of Life

The Lehigh Valley is recognized for its vibrant community and lower cost of living compared to larger metropolitan areas such as Philadelphia and New York City. This environment affords residents a balanced lifestyle while they pursue their medical training, enhancing both their educational and personal experiences.