FP residencies to train you to work in rural/third world countries

[porko]

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My husband and I are about to apply for residency. Our goal is to move to a third world tropical country to practice. We're thinking that FP may be the best option to prepare us for such an endeavor. Does anyone have suggestions for FP programs that focus on training for practice in a poor rural area/third world country (good balance of training in procedures, OB, preventative care with less dependence on expensive diagnostic tools)?

 

[secretwave101]

Look for any procedure-heavy program and you're golden. Training in this country does exactly what you're NOT looking for - it relies on expensive procedures and tests. Did you know that every person triaged through Level 1, 2 and 3 trauma centers get a head CT before they are put in a room?

Just kidding.😛 But that isn't far from the truth. So, just go where procedures are strong and you'll get what you need. Search the FM forums by key word and you'll find lots of threads on this topic.

If you don't find any threads, check out: Ventura, Contra Costa, Ft. Worth and the Dakotas.

Here's a thread worth checking out: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=437935&highlight=ventura

 

[hippiedoc13]

Check out the University of Cincinnati. Their FM residency has an International Medicine track.

 

[exPCM]

http://fammed.etsu.edu/index.cgi?BISKIT=2437084516&CONTEXT=cat&cat=3

I think you should look at ETSU - they even have a rural fellowship program.

 

[porko]

Thank you so much for the help!

 

[voltron77]

I would also check out Via Christi Family Medicine Residency program in Wichita, Kansas.

 

[Saluda]

http://fammed.etsu.edu/index.cgi?BISKIT=2437084516&CONTEXT=cat&cat=3

I think you should look at ETSU - they even have a rural fellowship program.

good call PCM- one of the faculty members in Kingsport just finished the fellowship and early next year he and his wife (also FM) will be heading to Nepal for good. I don't think they will be carrying an MRI or a PET scanner with them. Apparently they will let you tailor the fellowship to anything you want (scopes, sections, whatever).

 

[lowbudget]

Look for any procedure-heavy program and you're golden. Training in this country does exactly what you're NOT looking for - it relies on expensive procedures and tests. Did you know that every person triaged through Level 1, 2 and 3 trauma centers get a head CT before they are put in a room?

Oh yea, I totally agree. I was about to say consider doing residency in a foreign country!

I would go all out and go with Alaska, Montana or Tacoma and take advantage of their rural/remote assignments and wilderness medicine. I would also add some international rotations that focus on infectious/tropical diseases with a good exposure to TB and HIV but you can do that at any program.

 

[secretwave101]

My program touts itself as "procedure" oriented and "rural" focused. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of my program, but we're nothing of the sort. When I started sniffing around to learn endo's and colon's, I got SLAMMED. And the most we get to do on our surgery rotations is - maybe, if we know 100 pimp answers first - close the skin.

So, I'd advise ROTATING at places to really see what they offer before you home in on one. On that note, consider also the RTT of Spokane. My friend up there came away with tonsillectomies, carpal tunnel releases, CS and scopes...enough to actually consider doing them in practice. He did the Coleville track.

 

[Doc Oc]

St. Joe's in South Bend

 

[sophiejane]

Waco Family Medicine. We successfully train lots of folks for overseas work.