University of Rochester/Highland Hospital of Rochester Program

The University of Rochester/Highland Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program is a 12-12-12 program that offers a blend of community-hospital based experience with the resources of an academic medical center. It places a strong emphasis on providing in-depth training in psychosocial medicine, offering a unique 5-month longitudinal rotation in the PGY-2 year that includes supervised family meetings and primary care counseling visits. The program boasts one of the most robust OB experiences in the Northeast, with interns performing 40-60 deliveries during their 2-month rotation. Continuity deliveries are supervised by family medicine faculty, including family physicians with C-section privileges.

The program encourages community involvement and care for the underserved, featuring 13 Areas of Concentration that most were made by residents themselves, and offers a unique global health experience with continuity relationships with communities in southwestern Honduras, including funding support for resident participation.

Located in Rochester, New York, the program highlights the city's low cost of living and the availability of various activities in the Finger Lakes region and nearby major cities like Toronto.

The residency is open to applicants with diverse backgrounds and emphasizes a commitment to underserved populations. It accepts J-1 visas for international medical graduates (IMGs), who must have passed both Steps I and II of the USMLE, be certified or eligible for certification by the ECFMG, have completed at least one year of hands-on employment as a physician in a U.S. or Canadian healthcare facility, and graduated from medical school within the past five years. The residency takes a holistic approach to reviewing applications, aligning with the AAMC’s Experiences, Attributes, Competencies, and Academic and Scholarly Metrics (EACM) model, focusing on applicants’ social responsibility and commitment to under-resourced populations.

Interviews for the residency program are conducted virtually, offering opportunities for interaction through virtual social activities and the potential for in-person second look events after the rank order list is submitted.

This program is a compelling option for those interested in a career in family medicine with a strong emphasis on serving underserved communities, both locally and globally, and seeking comprehensive training in both psychosocial and medical aspects of patient care.