Healthcare Network was awarded $500,000 in grant funding for the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA).
The THCGME program is designed to strengthen the healthcare workforce and address health professional shortages across the nation. The funding will support Healthcare Network’s implementation of a family medicine residency program in collaboration with Lee Health and NCH hospitals.
“It is our strong belief that starting a new primary care residency program, which focuses on integrated primary care and population health, will attract physicians who are committed to a mission-driven practice that directly and comprehensively impacts the health of the most vulnerable and underserved including our migrant communities,” said Jamie Ulmer, president and CEO of Healthcare Network.
Healthcare Network will seek certification by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and lead the residency program which will commence during the 2025 – 2026 academic year. Through the program residents will experience and participate in a spectrum of primary care services including family care, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and behavioral health. Additionally, through collaborations with Lee Health and NCH Healthcare System, residents will also gain valuable experience in acute and emergency care in a hospital setting.
This is the second THCGME program grant awarded to the organization. In 2021, Healthcare Network also received $491,237 in funding to create a residency in Advanced Education in Pediatric Dentistry Program (AEPD). The health center is in the final stages of program development, currently applying for accreditation from Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and expects to welcome dental residents at its Nichols Community Health Center located in Golden Gate in summer 2024. Through the program, dental residents will also have an opportunity to gain experience with Lee Health, specifically Golisano Children’s Hospital.
For more than 45 years, Healthcare Network has distinguished itself by providing primary health care to men, women and children of all ages, helping the disenfranchised, underinsured and uninsured of our communities. The organization has grown from two small trailers in Immokalee to a network of providers located throughout Collier County. The THCGME program with Healthcare Network will provide residents a unique opportunity to positively impact the health of migrant farmers workers and at-risk populations throughout the county.
To learn more about this program or other Healthcare Network initiatives that support people regardless of income, insurance or employment status, visit HealthcareSWFL.org. To schedule an appointment, call 239-658-3000.
