Look for DRMC resident interns this summer

Danville Regional Medical Center will kick off its new residency program this summer with 12 “traditional rotating interns.”

The interns will arrive for orientation in mid-June and will “hit the ground running” at the end of June, said Dr. Heidi A. Morris, who will oversee their training. As part of their training, the new doctors will complete month-long sessions in different areas of medicine while at DRMC.

“This class, they’re going to set the tone,” Morris said. “They’re going to set the example.”

Morris started serving as the hospital’s director of medical education for the residency program March 10. Morris, a doctor of osteopathic medicine who also earned a master’s degree in health administration, brings experience in leading osteopathic residency programs.

“We are pleased to have Dr. Morris on our staff as we continue providing residency programs to not only the family medicine residents, but as we expand our program to include15 internal medicine residents a year for the next three years,” Danville Regional CEO Eric Deaton said via statement. “This is one more way Danville Regional is committed to helping educate our future health-care providers.”

Danville Regional’s residency program is sponsored in conjunction with the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine. The hospital is approved for 16 one-year traditional rotating internship spots and six spots in a three-year family medicine residency.

A few family medicine residents may begin in July and the hospital continues interviewing for family medicine, Morris said. At least 40 preceptors, or current doctors, will help teach and supervise the resident interns.

Morris will also precept and see her own family practice patients.

The hospital began interviewing for the residency program last year and was very selective in choosing resident interns. They come from all over the country, have a good base of medical knowledge and are “accomplished” people, Morris said. For instance, one intern also earned a law degree.

“The No. 1 thing we need to do is take care of the patients,” Morris said. “We’re going to have absolutely great residents.”

The hospital is also in the process of expanding the program next year with 15 spots in three-year internal medicine residencies and four spots in four-year obstetrics-gynecology residencies. Danville Regional awaits approval from the American Osteopathic Association for internal medicine and is applying for the ob-gyn residency program.

When the programs become developed and if they reach full capacity, Danville could host 95 residents in a given year.

“It’s adding primary care to the community on a very large scale,” Morris said.

With a successful residency program comes jobs, added services and high quality medical care for patients in an underserved area, she said. Academic centers tend to have a greater amount of oversight.

“There are many eyes and ears in terms of those who are watching and listening to the patient,” Morris said.

Dr. Gary Miller, who served as director of student education for the past five years, is excited to serve as a preceptor for residents in invasive cardiology. He comes from a family of teachers.

“It keeps you on your toes,” Miller said. “You’ve got to stay on the cutting edge.”

Additionally, Miller said the residents could teach and mentor the third- and fourth-year medical students who finish their rotations at the hospital. Between 18 and 20 medical students are learning at the hospital at any given time.

He remembers learning quite a bit from residents when he was a medical student.

Miller hopes to retain the residents as physicians in the Dan River Region as many tend to locate where they train. Increasing primary care also increases the referral base for specialists.

“The primary care physician shortage in this area is real,” Miller said.