Core Educational Principles of Valley Family Medicine Residency:
Our program is based on training residents through provision of health care to the underserved of Stanislaus County. We believe that the service and educational aspects of this care are inextricably linked and mutually reinforcing. Assumption and performance of these important duties is an essential aspect of development of professionalism to prepare for a career in medicine. Excellence in patient care is the ultimate measure of our overall success.
We generally support the teaching methods described as adult learning. These include the characteristics of being self-directed, goal oriented, relevant to immediate goals, tailored individually. Residents are active partners with the faculty in the development, achievement, and evaluation of their educational goals, supplemented where appropriate with didactic lectures, group discussions, and other formats. Self directed learning forms the core of a physicians' life-long educational experience.
We believe in a transition of responsibility during residency, which would be summarized as moving from "learner" to "doer" to "teacher" over the three years of training. The progression of responsibility includes the role of providing supervision and teaching to junior residents. This is a vital part of the residency experience. In many situations, we utilize care teams that allow for this graduation or responsibility in supervision, and the provision of peer-to-peer teaching.
We believe in training our residents for full-scope family medicine, including inpatient medicine/ICU, obstetrics, and pediatrics. While some graduates may choose to limit their future scope of practice, we believe this broad-based training provides the foundation for a successful career in any of the broad range of options available to family physicians.
We value the habits of self-awareness and self-care as essential to the learning process and professional wellbeing. We support and encourage mindful practice and the recognition by physicians of their role as community models of healthful living.
Resident Highlights
I wanted to be close to the Bay Area, which is where my husband works, and join a strong Family Medicine program that focused on a multi-cultural population; this program was the perfect combination.
Dr. Bushra Jawaid
During my visits to the program, I got the sense that they exert a big effort to care for their residents' well being. It is very reassuring to know I will always be supported even when the workload gets overwhelming.
Dr. Abilene Enriquez
The program was very supportive of medical couples, allowing us to schedule our vacation and elective time together.
Dr. Christie and Daren Garb
I found the fact that the residency cares for the underserved, but does it in such a well-equipped and modern hospital, very appealing.
Dr. Jason Markland
I liked the fact that the faculty is large and dedicated to practice in the same health system as the Residency. When I joined the faculty after residency, I became a part of one of the largest medical groups in Modesto.
Dr. Erin Kiesel
As a single resident, it is important that the residents and faculty have a lot of camaraderie and support for each other.
Dr. Kou Yang
This residency is strong in Peds and OB, which was very important to me.
Dr. Lance Gault
I wanted a program which cared for a multi-cultural population, and made an impact on the community.
Dr. Maria J. LaPlante
Our Residency education is based on Adult Learning Principles, where the resident is placed in a position of responsibility to patients and works with faculty to develop a customized learning plan.
Dr. Peter Broderick
Our program strives to create a supportive and collaborative environment by encouraging group activities and retreats.
Dr. Kate Kearns
I like outdoor activities, and having Yosemite and the mountains so close is great for my family.
