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FAQs

What is the mission of the Primary Care Residency?

By the end of their training, Primary Care residents will have:

  • the medical knowledge and clinical skills to provide coordinated care for chronically ill children with complex health care needs in the context of social issues such as poverty, abuse, language or cultural barriers
  • expertise in caring for an acutely ill child
  • the passion, training experience, and skill to create a medical home for their patients
  • an awareness of population science, and the role of primary care and prevention in bettering the health of individuals and populations
  • the ability to provide thoughtful, evidence-based, cost effective care for their patients
  • proficiency in providing care that is patient-and-family-centered

What are the main differences between the primary care residency and the traditional, categorical residency?

  • The core difference is 3-5 primary care blocks each year that emphasize continuity and allows residents see the same patients in multiple venues. A resident may see a newborn in the nursery, follow up with that patient in their continuity clinic at Cone Health Center for Children, and potentially take care of the same patient in the ED or on the ward.
  • Many months will include 2 or more continuity clinic sessions a week
  • A month of rural health at a rural practice
  • A strong emphasis on skills needed to confidently practice in a primary care setting such as managing developmental issues, mastery of the newborn nursery, sports medicine, management of asthma and diabetes, and using community resources
  • More total months done in Greensboro than categorical residents (an average of 6-8 per year compared with an average of 1-3 per year, respectively)

How many positions are available in the Primary Care Residency?

4 residents each year will be accepted into the Primary Care Residency

What if I enter the Primary Care Residency and later change my mind and decide to pursue a specialty? Will my post-residency choices be limited if I follow this track?

No. While we expect that the vast majority of the Primary Care residents will choose primary care or generalist careers, we have designed the program so that you will be prepared for any career you choose. Primary Care residents still get ample subspecialty and tertiary care exposure.

What kind of mentoring is there?

Residents in this program will have their interest in primary care supported through focused mentoring relationships with faculty. In addition, residents will have close working relationships with primary care providers at Cone Health Center for Children who will be a consistent presence in their education. These residents will benefit from mentors with a primary care perspective for their quality improvement project, advocacy project, and journal club experiences.

Will I have a chance to teach?

As an intern, you will teach UNC third year students and fourth year students (acting interns). As a second and third year resident, you will supervise UNC primary care and categorical interns as well as Moses Cone Family Medicine interns.

How integrated are the two residencies?

Both programs are part of the same residency program and share the goal of training outstanding physicians with excellent general pediatric clinical skills. Residents from both will be fully integrated in the program, will rotate at both institutions, and will share many of the same experiences. However, the diverse experiences available through each residency will enable residents to tailor their educational experiences towards their individual goals. Primary Care residents will have ample opportunity to interact clinically and socially with the general categorical residents. In addition, pediatric residents work closely with the Family Medicine residents while at Moses Cone Hospital and can enjoy camaraderie with them outside of the hospital as well.

Where will my continuity clinic be?

The Tim and Carolynn Rice Center for Child and Adolescent Health (the Rice Center), will serve as the primary site for residents’ continuity clinic and also serves as a rotation site for categorical residents. The Rice Center serves children birth to age 21 and is committed to providing the best care possible for children in Greensboro and surrounding areas. Adolescent Medicine and Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics subspecialty services are also offered in the clinic. The Rice Center aims to provide medical care regardless of insurance status to Greensboro’s most vulnerable children and their families. This model of care is designed to meet the needs of a medically complex and ethnically diverse patient population. The clinic provides comprehensive care with integrated behavioral health services, parent educators, and registered dietitian services.

How do I apply for this program?

Application to the Primary Care Residency is through ERAS. You can choose to apply to both the general categorical and the primary care residencies, or to just the Primary Care Residency if desired.

Should I apply to just one or both residencies?

Many of our applicants will have interests and career aspirations that fit with the goals of both residencies, and we encourage those applicants apply to both residencies.