The University of Alabama School of Medicine
Huntsville Family Medicine Program
Introduction
The University of Alabama School of Medicine's Family Medicine Residency Program in Huntsville enjoys more than a quarter-century reputation for excellence. You will learn about many specific features of the program on this CD, and we especially encourage you to visit us in person—to see our facilities and to talk with residents and faculty. To learn more about Huntsville, you can visit www.huntsvillealabamausa.com. What really makes us special cannot be conveyed through photographs and text, and probably will be felt rather than heard when you visit—it is an underlying philosophy of teaching and learning that uniquely embodies the spirit of family medicine.
Our mission is to provide an environment of respect and support and the most comprehensive training possible. Whether you want to practice in a rural or an urban setting, we will help you to acquire medical knowledge, master procedural skills, and attain interpersonal competence in your relationships with patients.
We succeed because highly-trained residents and nurturant faculty members create an exciting environment promoting both professional growth and personal satisfaction. We take pride in our faculty and residents, who are selected, in part, because of a willingness to work, learn, and play together—like a family. When you visit, listen as much to how the residents and faculty talk about the program as to what specific information you get. You will like what you hear. It is our belief that three years here cements the important foundation of a successful career in family medicine, which demands a lifelong commitment to the betterment of both self, others and community. We hope you will want to join us.
Over 25 percent of the family physicians who have trained in Alabama are graduates of the Huntsville residency program, the state’s first family practice residency. Since admitting its first resident in November 1973, the program has prepared selected young physicians for careers of medical services to their communities. This family practice residency is the only residency program of any kind in the entire North Alabama area.
The Family Practice Program in Huntsville is unique in that it is a strong community program based in a university medical school. This situation provides opportunities for the Family Practice Program to enjoy full service patient care and teaching, as well as research and scholarly activity. Family Practice residents are responsible for teaching third and fourth year UAB medical students assigned to various clinical clerkships.
A strong clinically oriented curriculum is the cornerstone of the Residency. In addition to providing each resident responsibility for ongoing care for assigned patients in the Family Practice Center, the program emphasizes the traditional specialties – medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, and surgery. There are concentrated experiences in the clinical subspecialties as well as ongoing training in behavioral medicine, geriatrics, and practice management. Our primary teaching site is Huntsville Hospital (www.hhsys.org).
The first Family Practice – Sports Medicine Fellowship in the state of Alabama was started in 1995 at our program. As part of the residency curriculum the Family Practice residents and the Sports Medicine resident participate in the care of many athletes in our area and develop the knowledge and skills to deliver high quality care to athletes young and old.
