Program Overview

Introduction to the Rural Family Medicine Residency Program

The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine Rural Family Medicine Residency Program was established in 2014 to provide residents with the opportunity to deliver primary care to residents in underserved and rural communities. The program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and meets all national accreditation requirements for medical education and training.

Program Overview

The three-year program is designed to produce residents who are competent in all aspects of care, including trauma, and are comfortable treating patients of all backgrounds, from well-child care to geriatrics. Residents will receive training in both urban and rural settings, with the first year spent rotating at University Medical Center (UMC) in Las Vegas, and the final two years working with rural communities at Humboldt General Hospital in Winnemucca, Nevada.

Curriculum

The program follows a 1+2 format, with the first year spent in Las Vegas and the final two years in Winnemucca. The curriculum includes:

• Hospital Adult Medicine
• ICU
• Pediatrics Inpatient
• Pediatrics Outpatient
• Psychiatry
• Obstetrics
• Sports Medicine
• Gynecology/Rheumatology/Endocrinology
• ENT/Ophthalmology/Neurology
• Elective rotations

PGY-1 (Las Vegas)

Residents will spend their first year rotating at UMC, a Level 1 Trauma Center, in Las Vegas. Rotations include:

• Hospital Adult Medicine
• ICU
• Pediatrics Inpatient
• Pediatrics Outpatient
• Psychiatry
• Obstetrics
• Sports Medicine
• Gynecology/Rheumatology/Endocrinology
• ENT/Ophthalmology/Neurology
• Elective

PGY-2 (Winnemucca)

Residents will spend their second year working with rural communities at Humboldt General Hospital in Winnemucca, Nevada. Rotations include:

• Community Medicine
• Hospital Adult Medicine
• Surgery
• Obstetrics
• Orthopedics
• Emergency Medicine
• FRMC (Continuity Clinic + Specialty Interest month)
• Selective (EM, orthopedics, surgery, obstetrics)
• Elective

PGY-3 (Winnemucca)

Residents will spend their third year continuing their training in Winnemucca. Rotations include:

• Health Systems Management
• Hospital Adult Medicine
• Emergency Medicine
• FRMC/Gynecology
• FRMC (Continuity Clinic + Specialty Interest month)
• Selective (EM, orthopedics, surgery, obstetrics)
• Elective

Research

All residents are required to complete at least one scholarly project and one Quality Improvement (QI) project by the completion of their PGY-3 year. Residents will be paired with a faculty member as a mentor for their research.

Program Faculty

The program faculty includes:

• Aron Rogers, DO, Program Director
• Elissa Palmer, MD, FAAFP, Las Vegas Site Director
• Trenton Argyle, MD, Winnemucca Site Director
• Carl Ketcham, DO, Chief Resident
• Kyle Shepherd, DO, Chief Resident

Resident Life

Each year, the program accepts two residents per class, making a total of six residents in the program. Residents enjoy a great work-life balance and have the opportunity to tailor their residency training to their interests.

Life After Residency

Graduates of the program have gone on to practice family medicine in a variety of settings, including rural and urban areas.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Services (ERAS) only. Candidates must have graduated from an accredited MD or DO school by the time of their proposed residency start date and must be a U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder.

Selection and Interview Process

The program reviews applications on a first-come, first-served basis and selects candidates for interview based on their academic, personal, and reference credentials. Interviews are conducted virtually via Zoom.

Selection Process

The program utilizes the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) exclusively. The Application Review Committee considers ERAS applications for interview selection, and selected candidates are interviewed by the program director, department chair, faculty, and program residents.

Requirements for Application

A complete application packet must include:

• ERAS application
• Personal statement
• Curriculum vitae
• Medical school transcript
• USMLE/COMLEX Scores (Step 1 and 2)
• Photograph
• Three letters of reference (at least one letter must be from a family physician)
• ECFMG Certificate (if applicable)

Eligibility

To be eligible, candidates must have graduated from an accredited MD or DO school by the time of their proposed residency start date and must be a U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder. The program does not consider applications from international medical graduate (IMG) candidates.