Huntington Times

A new rural internal medicine residency program, a collaboration between the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and Holzer Health System in Gallipolis, Ohio, has received initial accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). This program is the first of its kind in West Virginia and third in the United States.

The rural internal medicine program is sponsored by the Marshall Community Health Consortium. The consortium includes the school of medicine, Cabell Huntington Hospital, and Valley Health Systems, in collaboration with Holzer Health System and Logan Regional Medical Center. ACGME has approved this three-year training program for four trainees per year, reaching a full complement of 12 residents once fully implemented. While recruitment will begin as early as September 2024, the program will also participate in the nationwide matching program for medical student applicants starting training in July 2025.

“We are excited to continue to educate young physicians in the unique structure of a rural residency,” said Paulette S. Wehner, M.D., vice dean for education at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. “The very strict accreditation criteria are met as well as additional stringent requirements to qualify as a separately accredited Rural Internal Medicine Residency. We are proud to lead the nation in this type of residency training to support the needs of our local communities.”

Stephen A. Roy, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and a primary care physician at Marshall Health, is director of this new rural residency program. Jennifer Calafato, D.O., from Holzer Health System will serve as associate program director.

“Our rural internal medicine residency offers a truly unique experience immersing residents in the diverse challenges and rewards of practicing in underserved areas,” Roy said. “The program equips residents with a robust foundation in primary care, chronic disease management and preventive medicine while honing their skills in procedural care and acute intervention."

“We are proud to announce this addition to our services at Holzer," said Calafato who also serves as a primary care provider at Holzer Health System. "This marks a significant milestone in our commitment to providing high-quality medical education and addressing the health care needs of rural communities we serve."

As part of meeting rural accreditation requirements, internal medicine residents will conduct at least 50% of their training at a rural site such as Holzer Medical Center in Gallipolis with remaining training occurring at facilities like Cabell Huntington Hospital, St Mary’s Medical Center and VA Medical Center.

In April 2023, The Consortium received a $750,000 grant from U.S Department Of Health And Human Services’ Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA 23-015) supporting planning and development.

Currently hosting combined 28 residency fellowship programs including two other rural residencies psychiatry surgery fellowship programs various specialties visit jcesom.marshall.edu/rural-internal-medicine learn more about new internal medicine residency.