Swedish Medical Center/Cherry Hill Program

The Swedish Family Medicine Residency at Cherry Hill, established in 1974, is one of the founding programs in family medicine and is situated in Seattle, Washington. The program emphasizes an urban, full-spectrum family medicine training approach, incorporating five designated Seattle training sites along with a 1+2 rural training track. The core mission of the program is to train physicians from diverse backgrounds to provide evidence-based, community-centered primary care aimed at improving the health of vulnerable populations. A key belief underpinning the program is that training physicians of color enhances healthcare outcomes within communities of color, particularly through its continuity clinics, which serve a predominantly underserved patient demographic.

The program implements a robust and comprehensive approach to training that not only addresses essential medical knowledge but also integrates longitudinal Anti-Racism training, community organizing, and advocacy for social justice. Through collaborations with local community organizers, residents engage in hands-on experiences that complement their clinical training with real-world applications aimed at improving community health and equity.

Training Sites

The Swedish Cherry Hill Family Medicine Residency operates through five primary Seattle clinical training sites and a rural training track located in Port Angeles. Four of these Seattle sites and the rural track are designated as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), ensuring that residents gain extensive experience in community health settings. All residents complete the same core curriculum, fostering a unified program despite the decentralized geographic structure. The following are the training sites:

• Swedish Family Medicine – Cherry Hill Clinic (4-4-4): The original residency site that serves a diverse clientele, with over 30 languages represented among patients.
• Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center (2-2-2): Located in the Central District of Seattle, it serves a primarily African American, immigrant, and Spanish-speaking population.
• International Community Health Services (2-2-2): This clinic focuses on providing care to Asian Pacific Islanders and other underserved communities in the Chinatown-International District.
• Sea Mar Community Health Centers (2-2-2): A historic residency site that serves a primarily Spanish-speaking population, where Spanish language proficiency is a requirement for applicants.
• Seattle Indian Health Board (2-2-2): Focused on addressing healthcare needs of Native American and Alaska Native communities.

Inpatient training primarily occurs at Swedish Medical Center's First Hill hospital, where residents care for a wide array of patients from the Seattle area clinics.

Curriculum

Cherry Hill's family medicine residency is distinguished by its full-spectrum curriculum, training residents across various aspects of family medicine including geriatrics, reproductive health, and addiction medicine. The residency employs a longitudinal curriculum designed to provide recurring exposure and extended training in specific areas relevant to family practice, ensuring that by the time of graduation, residents have completed around 80 vaginal deliveries and multiple other surgical procedures relevant to their training.

Notably, the program maintains flexibility via Areas of Concentration (AOCs), allowing residents to specialize in fields of their choosing such as reproductive health, HIV medicine, and palliative care. Feedback from both residents and faculty is integrated into an annual curriculum review process, fostering continuous improvement.

Unique Aspects of the Program

Cherry Hill's commitment to community health engagement and social justice is reflected in its Anti-Racism training initiatives and its focus on training in underserved community contexts. For example, residents participate in community-based programs and advocacy efforts that underscore the importance of social determinants of health. This engagement prepares residents not only to practice medicine but also to advocate for systemic change and community empowerment.

Moreover, the program offers fellowships in specialized areas such as addiction and sports medicine, enabling residents to further their training beyond the standard family medicine curriculum.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

This residency program is known to be competitive, especially while aiming to attract a diverse cohort of applicants. While the program does not set strict standardized test score cut-offs, applicants must have passed USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 by the time of rank list meetings. Additionally, applicants cannot have graduated from medical school more than one year prior to application.

The Cherry Hill Family Medicine Residency does not sponsor visas, which may impact international medical graduates and other candidates requiring visa support.

Residents Empowerment and Wellness

The program places significant value on the empowerment of residents, encouraging participation in leadership roles within the residency framework including curriculum development and clinic operations. Recognizing the rigor and challenges of residency training, the program also upholds wellness as a priority. Various initiatives are in place to ensure that residents' physical, mental, and emotional health are supported throughout their training.

Overall, the Swedish Cherry Hill Family Medicine Residency is dedicated to producing well-rounded, socially conscious family physicians equipped to address the health needs of diverse populations, particularly in underserved settings.