Family Medicine Residency Spokane
Overview
The three-year Family Medicine Residency at Spokane Teaching Health Center (STHC) in Spokane, Washington, provides a dynamic and comprehensive training experience in comprehensive family medicine. Based in a collaborative academic environment, residents train alongside dedicated faculty physicians committed to clinical excellence, education, and service. With a strong focus on community-based care, residents gain hands-on experience in both urban and rural settings, preparing them to meet the diverse needs of patients across all life stages.
Program highlights:
Comprehensive training in broad family medicine, including obstetrics, inpatient, and outpatient care
Diverse patient population with continuity clinic at the state-of-the-art Spokane Teaching Health Clinic
Emphasis on behavioral health integration and team-based care
Strong community health focus with opportunities to serve vulnerable populations
Supportive learning environment with experienced, mission-driven faculty
Our Mission
Family Medicine Residency Spokane develops the next generation of family medicine physicians who are compassionate, resourceful, well-rounded, and excel at caring for the whole patient and family over a lifetime, and across all types of communities.
Priorities:
- We aim to provide longitudinal primary care to underserved rural and urban populations while improving access to cost effective, evidence-based care, in an interdisciplinary setting.
- We strive to create a supportive, positive learning environment for our residents and teachers, emphasizing broad spectrum care across ages, diagnoses, and treatment settings while adapting to the ever-changing medical needs in primary care.
Quick Links
Michelle Drobny, DO
Program Director
Family Medicine Residency
Training Tracks
Spokane Training Track
The Spokane Training Track is a comprehensive Family Medicine residency experience based in an urban, underserved setting. Residents spend all three years training in Spokane, gaining broad clinical exposure across diverse patient populations. With strong faculty mentorship, integrated behavioral health, and robust procedural training, this track equips residents to deliver high-quality, compassionate care in both urban and rural environments.
Rural Training Track
The Rural Training Track prepares Family Medicine residents to meet the unique challenges of rural healthcare. Residents spend their first year in Spokane, followed by two years of immersive training in Colville, Washington. With a focus on continuity care, procedural skills, and community engagement, this track cultivates versatile physicians ready to practice independently in rural and underserved areas.
Obstetrics Fellowship
Our fellowship in obstetrics and family medicine offers a unique opportunity to learn management of high risk and operative obstetrics, while teaching and mentoring residents, medical students and obstetrical staff.
Our Clinic
Located in the beautiful University District of Spokane, the Spokane Teaching Health Clinic (STHC) is situated on the riverfront of the Spokane river just a few minutes away from Sacred Heart Medical Center and walking distance to downtown Spokane along the Centennial Trail.
The clinic was first opened to patients 2016 in an inviting 42,000-square-foot modern space, housing more than 49 exam rooms, 3 procedure rooms, 9 counseling spaces, specialized physical and occupational therapy rooms, conference rooms, classrooms, laboratory and more. Due to its centralized location, the clinic serves a diverse population of urban, suburban, and rural multi-ethnic populations from a variety of backgrounds. The clinic is staffed and equipped as a comprehensive family medicine clinic, offering in-house laboratory, imaging, and counseling services.
Faculty staffing the clinic have expertise in obstetrics, pediatrics, OMT, and procedural care. Community practitioners also supplementally precept, which adds breadth to residency education from the perspective of different practice settings. Residency administrative offices are housed on site.
The STHC is an interprofessional clinic, with the psychiatry and internal medicine residencies also hosting their clinics in this building. Residents uniquely benefit from this close collaboration of residencies by joint lectures and teaching.
Curriculum
As a resident at Spokane Teaching Health, you’ll benefit from comprehensive clinical, educational, and research opportunities designed to support your growth. Our program emphasizes both professional development and personal well-being, offering a supportive environment on and off campus that prioritizes balance, resilience, and wellness throughout your training.
Year 1
| Rotation | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Intro to Family Medicine | 4 Weeks |
| Outpatient Pediatrics and Specialty Clinics | 4 Weeks |
| Adult Emergency Medicine + Clinic | 4 Weeks |
| Pediatric Emergency Medicine + Clinic | 2 Weeks Peds ER / 2 Weeks Clinic |
| Family Medicine Hospital Service | 8 Weeks |
| House Staff with Internal Medicine Residency | 4 Weeks |
| Inpatient Pediatrics | 8 Weeks |
| Gynecology + Clinic | 4 Weeks |
| Obstetrics | 8 Weeks |
| ICU | 4 Weeks |
Year 2
| Rotation | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Outpatient Cardiology | 4 Weeks |
| Adult Emergency Medicine | 4 Weeks |
| Family Medicine Outpatient | 4 Weeks |
| Family Medicine Hospital Services | 8 Weeks |
| Inpatient Pediatrics | 4 Weeks |
| Obstetrics | 4 Weeks |
| Orthopedics/Sports Medicines | 4 Weeks |
| Rural Clerkship | 4 Weeks |
| Outpatient Pulmonology | 4 Weeks |
| Surgery + Clinic | 4 Weeks |
| Elective | 4-8 Weeks |
Year 3
| Rotation | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Outpatient Pediatrics and Specialty Clinics | 4 Weeks |
| Electives | 12-16 Weeks |
| Family Medicine Outpatient | 8 Weeks |
| Family Medicine Hospital Service | 8 Weeks |
| Obstetrics | 4-8 Weeks |
| Orthopedics/Sports Medicine | 4 Weeks |
| Geriatrics | 4 Weeks |
| Gynecology + Clinic | 4 Weeks |
Meet Our Residents
At the heart of our Family Medicine Residency is a dedicated team of experienced, passionate educators. Our faculty members bring diverse backgrounds, clinical expertise, and a shared commitment to mentoring the next generation of family physicians. From hands-on training to long-term career guidance, they provide the support and insight residents need to thrive.
Meet Our Faculty
At the heart of our Family Medicine Residency is a dedicated team of experienced, passionate educators. Our faculty members bring diverse backgrounds, clinical expertise, and a shared commitment to mentoring the next generation of family physicians. From hands-on training to long-term career guidance, they provide the support and insight residents need to thrive.
How To Apply
We’re excited you’re considering the Spokane Teaching Health Family Medicine Residency! Below is everything you need to know about applying to our program.
Application Timeline
Submit your application through ERAS and include:
- Applications Open: September (via ERAS)
- Interviews: October through January
Application Criteria
Family Medicine Residency uses the following inclusion criteria to screen ERAS applicants invited to interviews. These criteria are necessary to allow candidates to successfully gain a license to practice in Washington State, increase the likelihood of success passing the AFMB Certification Exam, and ensure their ability to qualify for equal benefits with Providence Medical Group (our resident employer). Only those applicants who possess ALL of the following criteria will be offered an invitation to interview with our program:
- US Citizen (FMRS is unable to support J-1 Visa sponsorship at this time)
- Non-US Medical School must be ECFME certified
- Minimum pass of all clerkships, including shelf copy testing (typically 2 or more failures will exclude from invitation)
- Minimum pass of USMLE Steps 1&2, and/or COMLEX 1&2 – no more than 1 fail
- Less than 2 years out of medical school
- No felonies
Application Requirements
Submit your application through ERAS and include:
- ERAS Application Form
- Personal Statement
- Medical School Transcript
- Valid ECFMG certificate by May
- USMLE/COMLEX Scores (No more than 1 failed attempt)
- 3 Letters of Recommendation (1 from family physician or community doctor)
- MSPE (Dean's Letter)
- Citizenship or permanent resident status
Please note that as of October 18, 2021, all healthcare workers in the state of Washington are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 per Proclamation 21-14.1, issued by Governor Inslee on August 20, 2021. For more information please click here
What We Look For
We’re looking for passionate, community-minded individuals who are:
- Committed to comprehensive Family Medicine
- Excited to work with underserved populations
- Eager to learn in a team-based, collaborative environment
- Interested in urban or rural practive settings
If You Are Selected
Applicant interviews are usually scheduled in November and December and will be conducted virtually. Ten residents per year are accepted through the National Resident Matching Program for the Spokane program, and two residents are accepted for the rural program in Colville, WA. You may apply to one or both of these programs.
We use your applications, transcripts, personal statements and letters of recommendation to select individuals to interview, whose goals and interests seem compatible with our medical residency programs.
Please apply early in September (when ERAS opens) to allow ample time to schedule interviews. We review applications immediately upon their transmittal through ERAS. Encourage those writing your letters of recommendation to send them early enough to your Dean’s Office that they can be transmitted before the middle of October.
Contact
Diane Borgwardt
Program Coordinator
Family Medicine Residency
Rural Training Track Residency
OB Fellowship
Email: Diane.Borgwardt@providence.org