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Family and Community Medicine Residency (Reading, Pa.)

Family and Community Medicine Residency (Reading, Pa.)

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The Family and Community Medicine Residency at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center in Reading, Pa., is a three-year, ACGME-accredited program that admits six residents per year.

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Program Details

The Family and Community Medicine Residency (Reading, Pa.) at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center trains highly qualified family physicians who can confidently provide comprehensive, compassionate and coordinated primary care.

The program offers diverse faculty, a family-friendly environment and an innovative curriculum.

Residents work in a community hospital for their inpatient rotations. As participants in an unopposed residency, residents in the program have the opportunity to really hone their inpatient skills in both pediatrics and adult medicine. The program utilizes evidence-based medicine routinely in the care of patients and strives to improve the health of the community in the hospital, in the office and in the community in general.

Residents work with a diverse patient population that is highly underserved. Program faculty are passionate about the community and work closely with community partners to improve the health of the people of Reading. There is dedicated time in the curriculum for community medicine, and residents are involved with a number of community-based research projects, including Veggies Rx and Walk with a Doc. The program is hoping to have Lifestyle Medicine Certification for 2023.

The residency has deep osteopathic roots and achieved osteopathic recognition for 2022. Residents will have hands-on experience with osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) in both didactics and in dedicated OMM clinics, as well as time for OMM in the inpatient pediatric and adult setting.

The program’s affiliation with Penn State Health allows trainees to work and learn in a community setting, but with access to the resources available at a larger institution, including researchers, specialists and experiences typically only available in a University-based system.

The program accepts both USMLE and COMLEX scores for applicants.

Why Choose Penn State Family and Community Medicine?

Learn More about the Residency

To Apply Expand answer

General Application Guidelines

All applicants must apply through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

Applicants will only be considered for interview and entry into the program if they meet the basic eligibility criteria below and have submitted a complete ERAS application.

Preference will be given to those applicants with solid academic standing at an LCME or AOA-accredited medical school and with a record of leadership, teamwork, compassion, and integrity.

Applicants are discouraged from making solicitations to the program via telephone call or through means other than ERAS.

Review the Office of Graduate Medical Education Eligibility and Selection of Residents Policy here.

Eligibility Criteria for Graduates of LCME–Accredited Allopathic U.S. Medical Schools

  • Graduated from medical school within the past three years. Preference is given to current academic year graduates.
  • Passed USMLE (Steps 1 and 2) with no more than one total prior failure.
  • Passed the Clinical Skills (CS) exam on first attempt.
  • Three letters of recommendation, including at least one from a family physician.

Eligibility Criteria for Osteopathic Graduates

  • Graduated from medical school within the past three years.
  • Graduates of colleges of osteopathic medicine in the United States accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
  • COMLEX scores passed with no more than one total prior failure.
  • Three letters of recommendation, including at least one from a family physician.

Eligibility Criteria for Graduates of Non-LCME and AOA-Accredited Medical Schools

Very highly qualified graduates of non-LCME-accredited medical schools may possibly be considered for an interview if they meet the residency’s standards for consideration.

  • Graduated from medical school within the past three years.
  • Passed USMLE (Steps 1 and 2) with no more than one total prior failure.
  • Passed the Clinical Skills (CS) exam on first attempt.
  • Minimum of three months clinical training in the United States, or clinical experience elsewhere which clearly demonstrates an understanding and interest in primary care and family medicine in particular.
  • Three letters of recommendation, including at least one from a family physician or primary-care physician.

International Medical School Graduates

All graduates of international medical schools must hold a valid certificate issued by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) to be appointed as a resident or fellow. For details on certification, please contact the ECFMG at info@ecfmg.org or write to the following address:

ECFMG
3624 Market St.
Philadelphia PA 19104-2865

Selection and Interview Process

The program begins reviewing candidates when ERAS opens in October. Once a completed ERAS application is received, qualified applicants will be invited for an interview until all available interview spots have been filled. Interviews are by invitation only and will be virtual.

Faculty Expand answer
Current Residents Expand answer
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About Penn State Health Expand answer

Penn State Health

Penn State Health is a multi-hospital health system serving patients and communities across 29 counties of Pennsylvania. Its mission is to improve health through patient care, research, education and community outreach.

In December 2017, the system partnered with Highmark Health to facilitate creation of a value-based, community care network in the region. The shared goal of Highmark and Penn State Health is to ensure patients in the community are within:

  • 10 minutes of a Penn State Health primary care provider
  • 20 minutes of Penn State Health specialty care
  • 30 minutes of a Penn State Health acute care facility

Learn more about Penn State Health

A statue of Penn State's Nittany Lion mascot is seen in the front yard of Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center

Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center

Penn State Health St. Joseph

2500 Bernville Road, Reading, Pa. 19605 (Bern Township, Berks County)

  • A two-campus community medical center in Berks County (southeastern Pennsylvania), with an acute care hospital in Bern Township and a downtown Reading campus
  • Approximately 1,800 employees, including 400 board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians in all specialties
  • Nationally accredited centers for chest pain, stroke, heart failure and cancer care
  • Roughly 47,000 emergency department visits and 7,500 inpatient admissions annually

Learn more about St. Joseph

About Reading: Benefits, Stipends and More Expand answer

Why Reading?

The greater Reading area is a diverse community offering fun for all. It has both rural areas and the excitement of a big city. There is an abundance of outdoor activity with hiking, boating and skiing in the beauty of Berks and its surrounding counties. Locally, there is the excitement of live concerts, plays, comedians and sporting events at the Santander Center and First Energy Stadium. Reading is conveniently located 60 miles from Philadelphia, 110 miles from Baltimore and 120 miles from New York City. With a 60- to 90-minute drive in either direction, there is city excitement, beaches or mountains. Check out all the area has to offer at VisitPAAmericana.com.

Program Benefits

Wellness Initiatives Expand answer

Wellness, including emotional, spiritual, social and physical health, is a crucial component to training and to becoming a professional, compassionate and resilient physician. Self-care is a skill which must be continually practiced and reinforced. Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health are committed to addressing wellness among residents and fellows, with multiple resources readily available.

Institutional resources

Graduate medical education resources

Program Resources

The program has a strong dedication to wellness, including Balint and resident support groups.

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Mailing Address

Penn State Health St. Joseph Family and Community Medicine Residency
145 N. Sixth St.
Reading, PA 19601

General Contact Information

Email: PSHSJFMRP@pennstatehealth.psu.edu

Curriculum Details

Curriculum Overview Expand answer

The program’s curriculum is designed to expose residents to diverse clinical experiences taught by family physicians and specialists who are experts in their fields.

Upon graduation from the program, residents will feel confident in providing their patients with excellent, comprehensive care in a wide variety of clinical settings.

In addition to standard rotations, residents participate in various elective and longitudinal rotations. These rotations supplement resident education in specific areas of interest and take advantage of the educational opportunities at the affiliated academic medical center. Rotations are subject to change.

Certain important training experiences are taught in a progressive, longitudinal format and do not appear as distinct rotations. The nature of training of behavioral health and health systems management lends itself to education in time, and thus resident training in these areas is interwoven throughout all three years.

PGY-1 Rotations Expand answer
  • Behavioral health – one block
  • Cardiology – half a block
  • Community medicine – half a block
  • Dermatology – half a block
  • Elective – one block
  • Essentials – one block
  • Family medicine teaching service – two blocks
  • General surgery – half a block
  • Inpatient pediatrics (Hershey) – one block
  • Inpatient pediatrics (St. Joseph) – half a block
  • Night float – two blocks
  • Obstetrics – one block
  • Outpatient pediatrics – one block
  • Radiology – half a block
PGY-2 Rotations Expand answer
  • Community medicine – one block
  • Elective – two blocks
  • Emergency medicine – half a block
  • Essentials – one block
  • Family medicine practice continuity clinic – half a block
  • Family medicine teaching service – two blocks
  • Geriatrics – one block
  • ICU/pulmonology – one block
  • Inpatient pediatrics (St. Joseph) – one block
  • Night float – one block
  • Obstetrics – one block
  • Sports medicine – one block
PGY-3 Rotations Expand answer
  • Community medicine – half a block
  • Elective – three blocks
  • Emergency medicine – one block
  • Essentials – one block
  • Family medicine practice continuity clinic – half a block
  • Family medicine teaching service – two blocks
  • Gynecology – one block
  • Health systems management – one block
  • Inpatient pediatrics (St. Joseph) – one block
  • Night float – one block
  • Outpatient pediatrics – one block
Electives Expand answer

Elective rotations are opportunities for residents to supplement their education in specific areas of interest. In the past, residents have chosen to pursue the following:

  • Bariatric surgery
  • Dermatology
  • Diabetes management
  • Gastroenterology
  • Hospitalist medicine
  • Infectious disease
  • Laboratory medicine
  • Plastic surgery
  • Podiatry
  • Radiology
  • Rheumatology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Otolaryngology
  • Urology
  • Wound care
Community Involvement Expand answer

All residents participate in a two-week community medicine rotation during their first year of training and a four-week community medicine rotation in their second year of training.

In the first year, they learn more about the community of Reading and the resources available for their patients. Residents visit local community agencies specializing in services like occupational medicine and employee health, mental/behavioral health, physical therapy, social services for children and aging adults, homeless services and housing services. Residents familiarize themselves with the latest community health needs assessment and explore topics like structural racism, social determinants, implicit bias and population health. Residents also take part in a “windshield” walking or driving tour of the local community to familiarize themselves with the locale in which many of their patients live and work.

During the second year, residents spend the majority of their time becoming involved with some of the community engagement projects that the residency supports, including health screening and acute visits for migrant farm workers, school physicals, vaccine clinics, the Walk with a Doc program and other community service experiences. Additionally, residents complete the STFM Advocacy and Leadership modules. Residents use the community health needs assessment for Berks County to identify areas of need within the community and of interest to the resident. Residents write a proposal for how the residency can help to address this need, engaging with community partners that work in similar areas.

Clinical Sites at Penn State Health St. Joseph Expand answer

Outpatient Care: Penn State Health St. Joseph Family and Community Medicine Practice

The St. Joseph Medical Center Downtown Campus is the largest ambulatory care facility in the City of Reading. The campus is located in a federally and state qualified Weed and Seed district at Sixth and Walnut streets. Given the City of Reading’s young and ethnically diverse population, the major health care focus of the Downtown Campus is on ambulatory and primary care. The family and community medicine practice focuses on providing total family health care, with services available for preconception counseling through elder care with an emphasis on women’s care, well-child care and chronic disease management. The campus also offers specialty clinics, laboratory, radiology, wound care, hyperbaric medicine, diabetes and nutritional counseling, dental care, behavioral health and pharmacy services in a location central to serving the community.

Inpatient Care: Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center

This full-service teaching hospital is near the intersection of Routes 222 and 183 in Bern Township. The hospital serves the 417,000 residents of Berks County and the surrounding community. As a teaching hospital, Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center is a clinical training site for not only residents, but also several college and university medical students, nursing and allied health professional programs. The providers of Penn State Health Community Medical Group, a network of providers in various ambulatory and urgent care sites, rely on Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center for their patient care needs.

Resident Honors and Recognitions

Research Presentations Expand answer

Penn State Health St. Joseph holds an annual Resident Scholarly Symposium on its Bern Township hospital campus.

Previous presentations from the Family and Community Medicine Residency (Reading, Pa.) are listed here

Latest News from Family and Community Medicine

Latest News from Penn State Health St. Joseph

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.