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

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Family Medicine
• Regional Healthcare Networks

Background:

• The University of Washington School of Medicine's Department of Family Medicine initiated a regional network.
• This network connects affiliated family practice residency programs across the Pacific Northwest.
• It builds upon existing undergraduate and graduate teaching programs in family medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a collaborative regional network for family practice residency programs.
• To address common needs in curriculum development, resource sharing, and program evaluation.
• To extend the university's regional teaching role through community partnerships.

Main Methods:

• Development of a regional network structure.
• Coordination of collaborative efforts among seven participating residency programs.
• Focus on shared educational resources and operational problem-solving.

Main Results:

• Successful establishment of a collaborative network involving seven programs.
• Facilitation of joint efforts in curriculum development and resource sharing.
• Improved coordination of resident rotations across the region.

Conclusions:

• Regional networks are essential for advancing family medicine education.
• Collaborative models effectively address shared challenges in residency training.
• University-led regional initiatives strengthen community-based medical education.