University of New Mexico School of Medicine (Santa Fe) Rural Program

The Shiprock Rural Residency Program at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine is a unique program that focuses on training family physicians for rural practice, particularly serving the Diné people on the Navajo Nation. They are the first federal Indian Health Service (IHS) residency program in the country. The program accepts 2 residents per year and follows a 1+2 format. During the first year, residents train at the University of New Mexico Hospital and the North Valley Clinic, then transition to the Northern Navajo Medical Center (NNMC) in Shiprock for years 2 and 3.

Inpatient rotations during the first year occur at the Veterans Affairs Hospital and UNM Hospital, the only level 1 Trauma Center in New Mexico. NNMC in Shiprock is a 65-bed rural hospital and clinic offering a diverse range of services including emergency medicine, obstetrics, inpatient medicine, ICU care, and outpatient clinics with an average of approximately 600 visits per day.

The application deadline for this program is November 1st, and applications are only accepted through ERAS. They encourage early application as interview spots tend to fill up quickly. Applicants must have graduated from medical school within the past four years. International applicants are also welcome, and specific requirements regarding clinical experience are outlined for them.

For international applicants looking to apply, documentation of two years of hands-on clinical experience (hospital-based) comparable to a US medical school curriculum is required. Observerships or research experiences are not considered for this program.

Please note that this program does not sponsor H-1 visas but supports J-1 visas for eligible candidates.

For more information, interested applicants can visit the program's website.