Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Family Medicine residency program faculty members are active in the Pathway to Med School program. The program, conducted annually by Foothills Area Health Education Center (AHEC), is a 180-hour structured experience aimed at pre-med students that includes 80 hours of clinical shadowing in the primary care fields of Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN and Pediatrics. In addition, students will participate in a primary care research project and have the opportunity to interact with area medical schools to learn about the medical school experience as well as learn how to navigate the medical school application/interview process.
The program was started as a result of the severe shortage of primary care physicians in Georgia, especially in rural and medically underserved communities. The goals of the program are:
- To enhance students’ understanding of the medical profession and increase the likelihood of acceptance to medical school
- To encourage students to pursue careers in primary care
- To encourage students to return to Northeast Georgia to practice medicine upon completion of medical school and residency training
From 2015 to 2018, 32 students have completed the month-long Foothills AHEC Pathway to Med School program.
During the program, students spend most of their time with primary care physicians who volunteer their time to serve as hosts for clinical shadowing. These physicians offer our students an opportunity to experience a day in the life of their practice and specialty. Several NGPG physicians participate in the program because of their passion for serving the next generation of primary care providers.
Dr. Philip Kimsey, faculty member for NGMC’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) Family Medicine residency program, has served on the Planning Committee, as a research project mentor and has provided showing opportunities annually since the inception of the program.
Other GME faculty members who have volunteered their time include Dr. Jyoti Manekar, Dr. Monica Newton, Family Medicine residency program director, and Dr. Antonio Rios.
As a part of the program, physicians volunteer to lead practice-based research projects. Dr. Kimsey was recently awarded3rd Place in the Pre-Med category at the 2018 GAFP Annual Research Poster Presentation for his topic, Investigating the Healthcare Provider-Patient Discussion of Overcoming Treatment Compliance Barriers: A Survey of Primary Care Clinics.
We are proud of all NGMC GME faculty and others who demonstrate their passion for teaching by participating in this valuable program that encourages students to become excited about practicing medicine in our underserved region.
About Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s GME program
Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s (NGMC) GME program offers residency training in General Surgery, Internal Medicine and Family Medicine. Our inaugural residents in General Surgery and Internal Medicine will start this summer. NGMC’s Graduate Medical Education program is designed to train residents to be leaders in the medical field as well as in the community. Learn more about the NGMC GME program.
About Northeast Georgia Health System
Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) is a non-profit institution on a mission of improving the health of our community in all we do. Our team cares for more than 800,000 people across the region through three hospitals and a variety of outpatient locations. Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) has three hospital campuses – NGMC Gainesville, NGMC Braselton, and NGMC Barrow – with a total of 713 beds and more than 700 medical staff members representing more than 50 specialties. Learn more at www.nghs.com.