St Mary's Hospital and Medical Center Program

St. Mary's Family Medicine Residency offers a fully accredited three-year residency program designed to prepare residents for success across various practice settings. With a foundation established in 1979, the program emphasizes training family physicians for rural practice, while also accommodating diverse career goals, including fellowships in ambulatory, hospitalist, and emergency room practices. The residency is committed to providing comprehensive, integrated care for underserved patients, incorporating a strong behavioral health component that enriches both patient care and resident education.

Program Overview

The residency's primary goal is to train full-spectrum family practice physicians for rural environments. Opportunities to develop clinical skills are enhanced through working with a diverse patient demographic, where approximately 42% of patients are on Medicaid and 26% on Medicare. The residency’s integrated behavioral health support is a defining feature, enabling residents to collaborate with behavioral health providers for crisis intervention and skilled counseling. This unique setting reinforces the program's commitment to both patient wellness and resident education 1.

Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to cover a wide range of medical disciplines while focusing on integrated team care. Residents will gain exposure to various pathologies and will have the opportunity to utilize elective time to focus on their professional goals. Training includes didactics, quality improvement, and longitudinal behavioral medicine experiences in a full-service family medicine clinic. Additionally, residents have the chance to pursue concentration areas such as global health and obstetrics, enhancing their proficiency in women's health and addiction medicine 1.

Application Requirements

Applicants must be graduates of accredited US or Canadian medical schools. International medical school graduates must meet specific criteria, including having graduated within the last three years and holding a valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate. Applications are exclusively accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and must include a transcript, MSPE, USMLE or COMLEX scores for Step 1 and 2, a personal statement, and three letters of recommendation. Notably, one recommendation must be from a family physician with direct supervisory experience 1.

Visa Sponsorship

The program does not sponsor any visa types for international medical graduate applicants. Specifically, ECFMG J1 or other visas are not accepted. Applicants must have the ability to secure a full unrestricted Colorado Medical License by their second year of training 1.

Resident Benefits and Salary

St. Mary’s Family Medicine Residency provides various benefits that support resident well-being. Opportunities include a resident-led wellness committee, faculty-resident retreats, and financial allocations for educational purposes throughout the training period. Additional benefits include access to low-cost mental health services, a moving allowance of $1,000, and complimentary meals during call and conferences 1.

Medical Student Rotations

For medical students interested in experiencing the residency program, St. Mary’s offers four-week Acting Internships. During these internships, students will participate in outpatient clinic work, inpatient rotations, and obtain exposure to the program's behavioral health team. The opportunity to engage in didactic education alongside residents and faculty enhances the educational experience 1.

Living in Grand Junction

Residing in Western Colorado provides access to exceptional outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, and mountain biking. Cultural amenities include a vibrant arts scene featuring theaters, a symphony orchestra, and various musical performances. The area is also recognized for its picturesque landscapes and recreational opportunities, making it an appealing location for residents and their families 1.