University of Minnesota/CentraCare Willmar Rural Family Medicine Residency Program receives accreditation

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (5/09/2024) — The University of Minnesota Medical School and CentraCare are proud to announce a significant milestone in healthcare education: the accreditation of its three-year, rural family medicine residency program by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

“This is the first Rural Training Program residency in the state of Minnesota and the result of a great partnership with CentraCare’s Willmar clinic, the Minnesota Department of Health, and our Medical School,” said Shailey Prasad, MD, MPH, associate vice president for global and rural health at the U of M Medical School. “The magic ingredient in bringing this residency to fruition is our relationship with CentraCare.”

The first cohort is set to begin in 2025 — marking important progress in expanding rural healthcare training in Minnesota. 

“Accreditation is a significant milestone. It has taken a team of dedicated individuals across many organizations that have worked hard to create this robust program,” said Willmar Rural Training program director Richard Wehseler, MD. “Up to this point, many things were theoretical, and while there have been several milestones on our path to develop this program, receiving accreditation is a big one.”

Currently, as the only rural family medicine program in Minnesota, this accreditation opens doors for medical students seeking specialized training in rural healthcare. 

“This is exciting news and something we had been anticipating,” said Molly Gardner, rural residency coordinator. “With this announcement, we can begin preparation for interviewing fourth-year medical students this fall in order to choose the top candidates to become our first class of residents.”

The program, which will hold training at CentraCare – Willmar Lakeland Clinic and CentraCare – Rice Memorial Hospital, aims to train two new family medicine physicians a year. Dr. Wehseler emphasized the program's importance to the community, noting, “The presence of a residency program has a far-reaching impact. Studies indicate that a program yields numerous positive outcomes and invigorates the entire area. This endeavor will significantly benefit not just Willmar, but the wider region.”

This accreditation represents the culmination of a collaborative effort involving various organizations and individuals, including the Medical School’s Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, the Minnesota Department of Health, the CentraCare system and local support across Greater Minnesota.

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About the University of Minnesota Medical School
The University of Minnesota Medical School is at the forefront of learning and discovery, transforming medical care and educating the next generation of physicians. Our graduates and faculty produce high-impact biomedical research and advance the practice of medicine. We acknowledge that the U of M Medical School is located on traditional, ancestral and contemporary lands of the Dakota and the Ojibwe, and scores of other Indigenous people, and we affirm our commitment to tribal communities and their sovereignty as we seek to improve and strengthen our relations with tribal nations. For more information about the U of M Medical School, please visit med.umn.edu.