Novant Health Launches Rural Family Medicine Residency to Address Physician Shortage
Novant Health has launched a new rural family medicine residency program in Pender County, North Carolina, aimed at addressing the physician shortage impacting underserved rural communities. This program places medical residents directly in underserved areas, enhancing access to primary care for populations who often face significant barriers including distance to providers, food insecurity, and lack of insurance. The residency spans three years, with initial training conducted at New Hanover Regional Medical Center and ongoing training focused on inpatient family medicine at Novant Health Pender Medical Center.
The program's first two residents, Drs. Courtney Caruthers and Hannah Hulshult, bring personal experiences with healthcare disparities and a commitment to serving rural populations. Their training includes clinical work at Black River Health Services, where they address chronic disease management and preventive gynecological care, with plans to incorporate prenatal services later. This hands-on approach fosters deep connections between practitioners and community members, emphasizing patient-centered care and public health strategies tailored to historically underserved populations.
By cultivating physicians who are rooted in and dedicated to rural communities, Novant Health aims to create sustainable healthcare solutions through local talent pipelines. This rural residency is designed to encourage retention of board-certified family medicine doctors in high-need areas, potentially easing long-standing access issues. The program embodies a strategic response to national concerns over rural provider shortages and persistent health inequities.
The initiative also aligns with broader healthcare objectives to improve equity and accessibility by ensuring that primary care services are available close to patient populations in need. These efforts underscore the importance of residency programs that embed medical education within communities facing healthcare workforce deficits. Ultimately, Novant Health's approach demonstrates a targeted model of residency-driven rural health improvement with potential applicability to other regions with similar challenges.