Wellmont Health System/Norton Community Hospital Program

The Ballad Health Internal Medicine Residency at Norton Community Hospital in Norton, VA, offers a comprehensive program aimed at training residents to become local physicians. With 27 slots available and nine new interns accepted yearly, this Internal Medicine program combines training opportunities at rural acute care centers like Norton Community Hospital with urban tertiary care centers such as Holston Valley Medical Center and Bristol Regional Medical Center. Residents gain hands-on experience, working with patients and attending physicians, to develop their skills in a supportive and family-like atmosphere.

The program emphasizes providing quality healthcare to an underserved rural community, preparing residents for various future practice areas in internal medicine. Core rotations take place at Norton Community Hospital, with optional subspecialty rotations available at affiliates in Northeast Tennessee. Residents also have one-half day per week dedicated to ambulatory medical clinic work with their own patients throughout the residency.

The Internal Medicine program at Norton Community Hospital caters to both traditional medical students and transfer residents. For traditional students, application requirements include three letters of reference, a Dean's letter, relevant examination scores, medical school transcript, and completion of medical school within the last five years. On the other hand, transfer residents must provide current letters of reference, relevant examination scores, program director's letter, and various application documents.

Residents in the program benefit from competitive salaries, educational support, and a range of benefits which include comprehensive health insurance, life insurance, retirement plans, meal plan, residency training license fees, and more. The program offers a traditional three-year training curriculum that includes inpatient medicine, night float, ICU, subspecialty rotations, and educational opportunities such as morning reports, ICU didactics, and board reviews.

Previous residents have excelled in various specialties, including hospitalist roles and fellowship programs in cardiology, infectious disease, nephrology, and more. Testimonials from former residents highlight the program's support, hands-on experience, and the valuable skills gained during residency that prepare them for diverse career paths in medicine.