Department of Family Medicine

Residency Program

The family medicine residency program began in 1970 as the 49th program in the United States. The three-year program is approved for 24 residents and offers the benefits and resources of an academic center in a community hospital setting.

The curriculum blends clinical and didactic academic experiences with a psychosocial understanding of behavior, which enables residents to acquire the technical skill and medical knowledge of a family physician. Residents learn clinical care, preventive guidance, an array of outpatient procedures and behavioral counseling for individuals and families under faculty supervision. An individualized educational program allows residents to minimize weaknesses, maximize strengths, and work toward accomplishing personal and professional goals over the course of their three years in the program.

The family medicine educational experience is obtained in the Harry H. Lyon, Sr., Family Medicine Center located adjacent to the University of Tennessee Medical Center . Here residents provide continuous ambulatory and inpatient care for their patients under faculty supervision. A resident's family medicine clinics are constant throughout the year and increase in number each year.

The family medicine curriculum is designed to allow exposure to a variety of disciplines and related clinical faculty. First-year rotations include pediatrics, general surgery, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and general internal medicine. In-depth experiences in several medical and surgical subspecialties are obtained in the second and third years. Geriatrics, nutrition, behavioral science, practice management, and medical ethics are taught in a linear fashion throughout the residency. Daily teaching conferences and monthly journal clubs are sponsored by the Department of Family Medicine with additional conferences available in other disciplines.

Unique and innovative electives are available to satisfy the individual needs of residents. Research projects relevant to clinical family practice are required with faculty advisors assisting in project design.

Residents and students are taught by full-time and volunteer faculty. Faculty members offer diversity in educational backgrounds and practical experience. The department sponsors fellowships for graduate physicians in advanced obstetrics, sports medicine, emergency medicine, and homeland security.

Application Process

We only accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and conduct interviews October through early February.  The deadline for application is December 15.   We require that your medical school graduation date be within the last 3 years.  We require minimum scores of 80 on USMLE I & II, and foreign medical school applicants must be ECFMG certified.  US clinical experience is not required of foreign medical graduates, but is strongly recommended.  Applicants must also have passed the Clinical Skills Assessment part II.  We do not sponsor any visas; you must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident.

If you have further questions regarding our program we would be happy to send a brochure further detailing the program. You may contact us here.