UNC Health Blue Ridge Program

The UNC Health Blue Ridge Internal Medicine Residency Program is a small training program located in western North Carolina that provides broad-based training for physicians interested in practicing in rural areas. The program focuses on both inpatient and outpatient general internal medicine to prepare residents for dealing with a wide spectrum of patient acuity.

The training program emphasizes the core competencies outlined by the ACGME, including patient care, medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, practice-based learning and improvement, and systems-based practice. Residents have the opportunity to work at primary, secondary, and tertiary training sites in western North Carolina, gaining exposure to diverse pathology.

The program offers inpatient training at UNC Health Blue Ridge, which is a comprehensive primary care center serving a diverse population. Residents rotate through the ambulatory general internal medicine training at Mountain Valley Health Clinic and subspecialty offices within UNC Health Blue Ridge and the Salisbury Veterans Administration. They also have the opportunity to rotate through community practices.

The Internal Medicine Residency Program at UNC Health Blue Ridge provides various training experiences, including intern night float rotations, resident night float rotations, post-call days, and outpatient training. Residents have the chance to engage in consults and electives covering a range of subspecialties and other areas of interest.

The program is led by Dr. Sampath, a program director with extensive experience in internal medicine and infectious diseases. The residents are accepted through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and come from diverse backgrounds, with a shared interest in rural medicine.

For more information on eligibility and application requirements, interested applicants should visit the ERAS website to begin the residency application process. The program does not sponsor visas.

Overall, the UNC Health Blue Ridge Internal Medicine Residency Program offers a unique training experience focused on preparing residents for rural practice and providing comprehensive training in internal medicine.