Our Philosphy

At Columbia St. Mary’s Family Medicine residency program, we want our residents to understand why our program is designed as it is. Instead of simply handing out a lot of information as many programs do – without context or rationale – we want to tell you what’s behind our decisions.

Below we’ve listed some of the common components in Family Medicine residency programs. We’re also including the reasons why we made these components a part of CSM’s program. We hope this will help you make better informed choices. And, we hope you will follow up by asking us – and our competitors – some hard questions.

"Opposed" residencies can be a challenge for the Family Medicine resident in a large tertiary hospital. But Columbia St. Mary’s "busts" the opposed/unopposed myth. OB/GYN residents from the Medical College of Wisconsin rotate through our hospital, and the overall result is superior training and enhanced maternity care. You’ll experience:

• More deliveries. Over 3,000 deliveries in 2008; new hospital’s capacity expected to triple.
• Increased exposure to management of complex cases such as preterm labor.
• Peer-to-peer learning.
• Model “real life” consults with OB colleagues.

The term "opposed" doesn’t capture the spirit of the relationships among residents at Columbia St. Mary’s. While residents share learning opportunities, they don’t consider themselves opposed to each other. They cooperate, support and learn from one another, creating an unparalleled learning experience.

Columbia St. Mary’s Family Medicine residency program emphasizes the care and management of patients from diagnosis through treatment. Being on-site to care for a patient - with the support of the senior resident - creates a stimulating and supportive learning environment, any time of the day or night. Our call schedule with 10 months in-house call in your first year promotes active and reliable teaching.

Some residency programs believe in-house call doesn’t accurately reflect real life. But CSM’s Family Medicine residency program is all about making sure you’re fully trained and supported – preparing you well for life after residency.

Resident input:

Columbia St. Mary’s views Family Medicine residents as vital members of the medical team. We invite our residents’ opinions and welcome their input in program improvement efforts, including:

• curricular enhancements
• faculty/resident selection
• preceptor relations
• quality improvements

While this benefits CSM, it also provides our residents with an invaluable look at the non-medical side of practice operations. Residents at other programs in Southeastern Wisconsin have provided feedback to our residents that they are not afforded these opportunities for active involvement at their program, making CSM truly unique.

Open ICU:

If one of your patients is transferred to the ICU, your involvement with that patient does not end. Continuity of care is a hallmark of Family Medicine – that’s why we emphasize longitudinal care and learning it in Columbia St. Mary’s Family Medicine residency program.

Curricular Tracks:

Some residency programs feature a variety of “tracks” as part of their overall curriculum, risking a watered down approach to your education and training. But at Columbia St. Mary’s, we don’t want to be all things to all people. You may choose to follow our general Family Medicine curriculum. Or, you may select one of our curricular tracks, which encompass the general program and also emphasizes specific niche competencies based on Columbia St. Mary’s strengths.