Florida State University College of Medicine is partnering with Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside to sponsor the health system’s Family Medicine Residency Program and its Family Medicine-Obstetric Fellowship, according to a May 27 release.
FSU is now the academic sponsor for the 50-year-old physician-training program.
The goal is not only to train new physicians but to encourage them to remain in Northeast Florida, which is in need of more doctors. Statewide data show that more than 75% of physicians who attend medical school and complete residency in Florida stay to practice, according to the release.
The college’s involvement will enable residents to connect to FSU’s network and academic resources. St. Vincent’s will continue its clinical operations with the same rotations, schedules and faculty.
“This partnership with Florida State University strengthens our ability to train family physicians who will serve Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia,” Dr. Syed Jafri, Ascension Florida chief clinical officer, said in the release.
On May 12, the Family Medicine Center opened a satellite office for obstetric patients at Ascension St. Vincent’s Southside in the Roger Main Building. The office is staffed by fellows in the Family Medicine-Obstetric Fellowship, which trains family physicians to provide obstetric care.
“The FSU College of Medicine and Ascension St. Vincent’s share the same goal -— and that is to educate and provide outstanding primary care physicians to the people of our communities,” Dr. Alma Littles, dean of the FSU College of Medicine, said in the release.
“Today, FSU is proud to sponsor 28 GME programs encompassing more than 230 faculty and 330 residents and fellows and we are happy to work with Ascension St. Vincent’s and build on its rich tradition of providing exemplary care.”
The release cited a recent study by the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida that found that FSU-sponsored residency programs rank among the most in demand in the state.