Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Program

The Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency offers a comprehensive training program that emphasizes diverse, community-based rural family practice in central Maine. Established in 1973, this program has been dedicated to advocating for the value of family medicine, focusing on serving rural communities. It provides a hands-on, experiential learning environment facilitated by the MaineGeneral Medical Center's Alfond Center for Health, ensuring residents receive a broad spectrum of primary care training.

The residency program highlights several strengths, including a diverse curriculum that covers osteopathy, integrative medicine, geriatric medicine, sports medicine, dermatology, and active involvement in community activism. As an integrated allopathic/osteopathic residency accredited through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) with Osteopathic Recognition, it offers residents a unique opportunity to learn and apply osteopathic manipulative medicine in both office and inpatient settings. Additional exposure to geriatric medicine, sports medicine, and dermatology ensures residents are well-prepared for various aspects of family medicine.

The program supports J1 visas, indicating an openness to international graduates, provided they meet the eligibility criteria, which includes passing USMLE or COMLEX board scores for at least step 1/level 1, having three references from clinical work performed in the United States relevant to residency application, and being eligible for a J1 visa. All osteopathic candidates who match with the program will automatically be placed in an osteopathic designated position, highlighting the inclusivity and support for osteopathic medicine within their training framework.

Applicants are encouraged to signal their interest through the AAMC’s program signaling process, which suggests the program's openness to considering candidates genuinely interested in their residency, regardless of whether they have rotated with the program previously. The program notes a preference for applicants who have graduated within the last five years but has considered candidates beyond this timeframe, emphasizing a comprehensive review of all applications.

This residency stands out for its commitment to a diverse community of learners and a curriculum that includes aspects like community activism and integrative medicine. With state-of-the-art facilities at the MaineGeneral Medical Center, residents have uncommon access to all inpatient resources, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience.

For medical students looking for a family medicine residency that offers a rigorous education combined with a personally fulfilling experience, the Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency provides a valuable opportunity. The diverse community, commitment to serving structurally vulnerable populations, and unique aspects of the curriculum make it a compelling choice for those aspiring to make a significant impact through their medical career.