Old Dominion University Program

The Family Medicine Residency program at the Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University offers a comprehensive and community-focused training experience. This program is designed to prepare residents to treat a diverse patient population and make a substantive impact on community health, all while fostering a supportive and innovative learning environment.

Curriculum

The residency runs for three years and is rigorously structured around key clinical competencies. The program incorporates innovative hybrid rotations, allowing residents to combine specialty rotations with continuity clinic experiences. Each 4-week block typically allocates two weeks for specialized training and a half-day for continuity clinic activities, ensuring that residents maintain patient relationships while gaining diverse experience 1.

During the first year (PGY-1), residents undergo a comprehensive orientation and participate in essential rotations including inpatient adult medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, and geriatrics 2. The curriculum expands in subsequent years, incorporating elective rotations across various specialties including emergency medicine, nephrology, cardiology, and women’s health 3.

Training Sites

Residents are exposed to a range of training sites that encompass both outpatient and inpatient care settings. Training locations include:

• Ghent Family Medicine: This outpatient clinic serves as one of the primary teaching sites, where residents engage in direct patient care and participate in educational sessions 1.
• Portsmouth Family Medicine: Senior residents primarily train here, undertaking hands-on patient interactions and honing their procedural skills 1.
• Sentara Norfolk General Hospital: The region’s only Level I trauma center, providing residents with exposure to advanced surgical and emergency care 1.
• Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters: The sole freestanding children’s hospital in Virginia where residents gain significant pediatric experience 1.
• Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center: Provides insights into the unique healthcare needs of veterans, covering various specialties, including psychiatry 1.

Research and Academics

The program places a significant emphasis on resident research, quality improvement projects, and community education 4. Residents are encouraged to engage in clinical research that fosters improvements in healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. Examples of ongoing initiatives include improving immunization rates and enhancing diabetic management through telehealth solutions 4.

Resident Wellness

Recognizing the challenges of residency, the program places a premium on wellness initiatives. Resources include monthly wellness events, a dedicated wellness retreat, and flexible clinical responsibilities during wellness programming 4. These initiatives foster a supportive environment for residents to thrive both professionally and personally throughout their training.

Benefits

Residents are presented with competitive benefits, including a stipend, educational funds, health coverage options, and opportunities for professional development 5. The stipend rates for residents start at $64,009 for PGY-1, moving to $67,536 by PGY-3, alongside additional support including memberships to professional organizations and clinical certification courses 5.

Visa Support and Application Requirements

The Family Medicine Residency program offers J-1 visa sponsorship for international medical graduates 2. Applicants must have graduated from an MD or DO program within the last two years, with specific exemption criteria for military physicians. Notably, a minimum of 900 hours of clinical experience in the United States, along with passing scores in the USMLE or COMLEX exams, are mandatory for application consideration 2.

Competitiveness

The program is recognized as highly competitive and is friendly towards both DO and international medical graduates (IMGs). Its commitment to training compassionate and skilled family physicians makes it an appealing choice for candidates interested in making a difference in community health 2.