Why would I want to be at the SIU Alton Family Medicine Residency Program?
Great question! First, we are dedicated to training well-rounded, excellently trained, full-spectrum Family Physicians who are lifelong learners and serve their patients and their communities. Our program has grown a lot since our first few years, and we are even better established in the community now, but we are still striving for continuous improvement for our residents- AND our patients! We have just this year pivoted to a Clinic First model for resident education, have expanded our faculty workforce to include colleagues from OB/GYN and Internal Medicine who work alongside our group of Strong core Family Medicine residency faculty to get residents the best experience they can.
Our program has a close-knit feel with an open-door policy. We are very responsive to feedback and attempt to involve the residents in decisions that will affect their experience whenever possible. This year, we created resident positions for leadership in our new Wellness Committee, added additional resident members to our Program Evaluation Committee, and established a resident outreach/social media lead. Keep up with us on social media to see their impact!
Will the program have the expertise I need?
SIU School of Medicine Department of Family and Community Medicine is responsible for the academic administration of the program. The Department has nearly 50 years of successful family medicine training at its other four residency sites in Carbondale, Decatur, Springfield, and Quincy, having graduated over 900 Board Certified Family Physicians who practice throughout the United States and around the world. Our faculty have ample residency education experience, and our sponsoring hospital, as part of the Barnes-Jewish-Children’s system, has access to institutional experience with resident education throughout the St. Louis metro area. Indeed, as a resident, you will benefit from this directly as you train alongside residents in your first and second years in Pediatrics at one of the country’s top Pediatrics programs at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The residency clinic sites are supportive of resident education and the unique needs of a residency practice. All of the partners involved in this program are fully committed to making your residency experience the best it can be.
What is innovative about this program?
All residency programs are bound to some basic requirements in terms of clinical experiences and time spent in various activities throughout the three year program, in accordance with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME); however, each program has its own unique identity. The SIU Alton program offers special emphasis on evidence-based medicine (EBM) and information mastery, patient and community advocacy, outreach to vulnerable populations, POCUS and procedural training, and women’s health including outreach into a maternity desert. In addition, our program offers a high degree of individualized experiences depending on resident interest and need for preparation for the practices they will have in the future. Residents who are interested in exploring fellowships or academic medicine will be fully supported. Leadership training will also be emphasized and individualized, as physicians in all environments are leaders—in their practices, their organizations, and their communities.
Is your program IMG friendly?
Yes! International medical school graduates are welcome and can apply through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
Is your program unopposed?
Yes, it is. There are no other residencies rotating through Alton Memorial Hospital or our residency clinic sites.
Will there be a lot of traveling between sites?
Thankfully, no. Alton Memorial Hospital, the BJC Family Medicine Residency Clinic, and Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation residency clinic are located on the same campus. St. Louis Children’s Hospital is located approximately 22 driving miles from Alton Memorial Hospital. We do have a rural rotation in year 2 or 3, and for this rotation, which is within a 30-45 minute drive from the program, residents can choose to commute from home or stay on-site with housing provided.
Am I a good fit for your program?
We’ve been asked this question a lot, and it’s a good one. Our ideal candidate is extremely passionate about Family Medicine and serving our patients, their families, and their communities. We really value lifelong learning and a desire to continuously improve. If you demonstrate this through a personal statement or elsewhere in your application, we will notice.
What concessions will you make for applicants affected by COVID-19?
We understand that the pandemic has affected learning opportunities and clinical opportunities, and has affected testing dates. Our best advice is to make your application stronger by having really positive and detailed letters of recommendation and an even stronger personal statement.
What is Alton’s demographic info?
Alton's population is approximately 30,000 residents, but our estimated service area population is about 250,000. Alton is in Madison County and the city demographic information (from www.census.gov) breaks down as follows:
• White - 71.0%
• Black or African American - 24.1%
• American Indian and Alaska Native - 0.1%
• Asian - 0.4%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander - 0.0%
• Two or More Races - 4.1%
• Hispanic or Latino - 2.5%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino - 69.0%