A family practice residency network. Affiliated programs in the Pacific Northwest

The Department of Family Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine has developed a regional network of affiliated family practice residency programs in the Pacific Northwest. Collaborative efforts among the seven participating programs are directed to common needs such as curriculum development, sharing of educational resources, program evaluation, problem-solving of operational programs, and coordination of resident rotations. This family practice residency network is a logical and necessary extension of the program that has been developed in Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho for teaching medical students. Regional undergraduate and graduate teaching programs in family practice represent an important role for the university relating to its surrounding region through the collaborative efforts of the medical school and participating hospitals and physicians in the community.