Mercy Hospital (St Louis) Program

Mercy Hospital's Family Medicine Residency Program in St. Louis offers a comprehensive training experience designed to cultivate compassionate, competent family physicians. This program is associated with a large community teaching hospital and emphasizes a collaborative approach to patient care, ensuring residents engage in a well-rounded educational experience.

Program Structure

The Family Medicine Residency Program at Mercy Hospital St. Louis is structured into a three-year curriculum, following the "Clinic First" model. This model standardizes the daily schedules of residents, ensuring a progressive increase in patient care responsibilities as they advance through their training. Residents begin seeing patients in continuity clinics starting in their first year and can expect to spend up to five half-days in the clinic during their second and third years, fostering continuity of care.

The program allows for eight residents to be admitted each year, supporting a personalized training experience. An optional fourth year of accredited training focused on obesity management in children, adolescents, and adults is also available. This additional year aligns with board certification opportunities through the American Board of Obesity Medicine.

Curriculum Details

The curriculum integrates various clinical experiences across multiple settings, including inpatient and outpatient rotations. First-year residents (PGY-1) participate in direct patient care, inpatient consultation, and a wide range of specialties, including pediatrics, obstetrics, and geriatrics. As part of the pediatrics training, residents spend two months at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, covering emergency and inpatient pediatric care.3

Following the first year, PGY-2 and PGY-3 residents continue to build on their knowledge and skills through elective rotations, critical care, surgical specialties, and various subspecialties. They also engage in community medicine, working with local family physicians and other healthcare professionals, thus promoting health equity and community wellness.4

Research and Scholarly Activity

Residents are encouraged to participate in research activities as part of their training. This includes a longitudinal curriculum for critical appraisal and scholarly activity, along with opportunities to present at journal clubs and contribute to case reports and capstone projects throughout their residency.5

Rotations and Training Sites

All residents practice team-based care in one of two clinics located in St. Louis County. The rotations are organized into four-week blocks, allowing a comprehensive exposure to different aspects of family medicine and fostering skills necessary for future practice. Major training sites include Mercy Hospital St. Louis and Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, ensuring residents receive diverse training experiences in both inpatient and outpatient settings.6

Application Process and Requirements

Applicants for the program are expected to submit their applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). The residency seeks candidates demonstrating clinical competence, community-mindedness, and a growth mindset. Notably, the program only welcomes graduates from U.S. and international medical schools but does not sponsor H-1 or J-1 visas. Additionally, applicants should have a medical school graduation date on or before June 1 of the year they intend to enter residency.7

Competitiveness and Candidate Profiles

The Mercy Family Medicine Residency Program is considered a competitive program for applicants. It aims to attract a diverse array of candidates, including DO graduates and international medical graduates (IMGs), thus supporting a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences in medicine.8

Residency Benefits

Residents are provided with various benefits that support their educational and personal well-being. This includes a daily allowance for meals, educational funding totaling $1,500 over three years, free on-site parking, and access to daycare services at Mercy.9

Community Engagement

A notable aspect of the Mercy Family Medicine Residency Program is its strong emphasis on community involvement. Residents are encouraged to participate in outreach programs and initiatives aimed at serving the St. Louis community, further fostering a commitment to health equity and advocacy.10