University of Minnesota and Lakewood Health System expand rural physician pipeline with new residency program in Staples
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (04/27/2026) — The University of Minnesota Medical School and Lakewood Health System are expanding rural physician training in the state with a new residency program. The Lakewood Rural Family Medicine Residency Program was recently approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
Residents will start the three-year program with one year of training with the North Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program in North Minneapolis, followed by two years with Lakewood Health System in Staples, Minnesota. The program will train two new family medicine physicians per year.
"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to train excellent family physicians at Lakewood. Our mission is to equip our graduates with the broad skills and deep knowledge necessary to provide high-quality comprehensive care to patients and families in underserved rural communities in Minnesota and beyond — and we cannot wait to get started," Alex Harsha Bangura, MD, residency program director and Lakewood Health System family medicine physician.
“This new residency program is a critical investment in the future of healthcare in Minnesota. By training physicians in rural communities, we're not only expanding access to care where it's needed most, but also increasing the likelihood that these doctors will build their careers and lives in Greater Minnesota communities like Staples,” said Shailey Prasad, MD, MPH, associate vice president for global and rural health for the Office of Academic Clinical Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
Students can start applying to the program in September 2026, with the first cohort set to begin in the summer of 2027.
This new program joins the Willmar Rural Family Medicine Residency Program and the Grand Itasca Rural Family Medicine Residency Program as the only rural family medicine training programs in Minnesota — creating new opportunities for medical students seeking specialized training in rural healthcare.
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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.
About Lakewood
Lakewood Health System is an independent, community-based healthcare organization serving patients and families across central Minnesota, dedicated to providing high-quality, compassionate care close to home. Offering a comprehensive range of services to support health and well-being at every stage of life, Lakewood Health System is guided by a commitment to personalized care, collaboration, and continuous improvement, and partners with patients and communities to promote better health outcomes and an exceptional care experience. For more information, visit lakewoodhealthsystem.com or follow Lakewood Health System on social media.