University of Montana Family Medicine Residency Program Earns $2.5M Grant

The University of Montana’s Family Medicine Residency of Western Montana just received a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration. UM’s program is now one of 20 throughout the country to receive an award for residency training in primary care. The grant will enhance training for resident physicians in rural or underserved areas, while encouraging graduates to pursue careers in rural and underserved primary care after completion of training.

“This funding will allow us to build on our already robust rural medical education and create new rural training opportunities. With it we will have the resources to develop a number of new programs that have been in various stages of planning for several years.” Dr. Darin Bell, FMRWM assistant director of rural education and the principle investigator on the grant.

The five-year award for FMRWM’s Enhanced Rural Access and Training program will facilitate increased learning opportunities in rural and underserved areas through training in addiction medicine, telehealth and interprofessional education.

It also will allow FMRWM to develop an intensive training track that enables residents to complete much of their training and work as primary care doctors in rural areas. Additionally, the grant funds will allow FMRWM to expand its network of rural partner communities and institutions and provide professional development and education for these partners.

Read the full story from University of Montana here.