Pediatric Residency Program

The UMN/CentraCare Rural Pediatric Residency Primary Care Track is an innovative, blended training model dedicated to cultivating a new generation of pediatricians who are uniquely equipped to lead and serve in rural healthcare environments. We aim to bridge the rural-urban health divide by integrating rigorous academic training with deep community immersion.

• Mission: To provide an unparalleled, dual-site training experience that produces highly skilled, compassionate pediatricians committed to improving health equity and access to care for children in rural communities.
• Rural Health Advocacy: We empower residents to become voices for rural populations, understanding the social determinants of health unique to rural communities.
• Clinical Excellence: We maintain a standard of excellence by leveraging premier tertiary resources of the Twin Cities and the community-based expertise of the CentraCare system.
• Sustainable Impact: Our goal is to create a long-term physician pipeline that addresses the pediatrician shortage in rural communities to ensure families receive specialized care close to home.

Curriculum Timeline

The rural primary care track is strategically split into two distinct phases to ensure both clinical depth and specialized rural breadth.

Phase 1: Foundation (Months 1–18)

• Location: Twin Cities Metro
• Clinical Focus: Residents rotate through M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital, Children’s Minnesota, Hennepin County Medical Center, and Gillette Children’s. (Clinical Experiences and Curriculum | Medical School)
• Core Rotations: Focus on high-acuity inpatient medicine, neonatal and pediatric intensive care (NICU/PICU), and a wide array of pediatric subspecialties.
• Continuity Clinic: Established in a metropolitan primary care setting to build early outpatient fundamentals.

Phase 2: Rural Immersion (Months 19–36)

• Location: St. Cloud and Affiliated Rural Sites
• Clinical Focus: Residents transition to CentraCare – St. Cloud Hospital and surrounding rural clinics.
• Rural Primary Care: Our curriculum prioritizes pediatric primary care, anchoring the resident experience at Plaza Pediatrics for continuity clinic. Beyond the core setting, residents engage in dedicated rural selective rotations across greater MN at a site of their choosing and will gain a deep, longitudinal perspective on rural health through an integrated experience at a rural CentraCare Family Medicine clinic within an hour of St. Cloud.
• Community Rural Referral Center: Residents will experience providing community-based care at a large rural referral center rotating in emergency medicine, inpatient pediatrics, NICU, and PICU.
• Leadership & Advocacy: Includes dedicated time for rural health projects, community outreach, and mastering the "generalist" skillset required for rural practice.

Resident Benefits & Support

We recognize that a dual-site program requires extra logistical coordination. Our program is committed to supporting your well-being, financial health, and professional growth across both locations.

• Competitive Salary & Benefits: Residents receive a competitive stipend and a full benefits package through the University of Minnesota.
• Relocation Assistance: To ease the transition from the Twin Cities to Phase 2, the program provides logistical support and resources specifically for relocating to the St. Cloud area if desired.
• Dual-Site Resources: You will maintain full access to University of Minnesota Libraries and academic resources while gaining on-site physician amenities at CentraCare facilities.
• Wellness & Mentorship:
  • Rural Track Mentors: You will be paired with faculty mentors who specialize in rural advocacy and career longevity.
  • Resident Wellness: Access to mental health services and wellness programs is a priority, ensuring you have the resilience needed to serve rural communities.
• Professional Development: Dedicated funding is available for attending pediatric conferences. Elective time and mentorship is available for engaging in rural health research or community advocacy projects.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is this a separate residency program? No. You are a full resident of the University of Minnesota Pediatric Residency. You will have the same core requirements as your peers, but with a specialized curriculum and location focus for the second half of your training.

How do I apply to this track?

Residents interested in the rural primary care track can select this track through ERAS and should notify both the Associate Program Director for the track, Dr. Sarah Thompson, by email at [email protected] and the Senior Pediatric Residency Program Administrator, Amy Gaug, by email at [email protected].

Where will I live during the program? Achieving a healthy balance between personal and professional needs is essential when choosing where to live. To maintain a consistent home base throughout their training, some residents may choose to settle between the Twin Cities and St. Cloud. Others may prefer to relocate closer to specific training sites. Regardless of your choice, our program coordinators are available to provide resources and support to ensure a smooth transition. Funding will be available for relocation.

What makes this training model unique? While many pediatric residency programs offer rural rotations, this is one of the only programs that guarantees a 50/50 split between a major urban academic center and a dedicated rural health system, specifically designed to prepare you for independent rural practice.

Will I be prepared for a subspecialty fellowship? Yes. Because Phase 1 is identical to our standard pediatric track, you will receive high-volume tertiary training. While the track is designed to train rural primary care leaders, the foundational training supports any career path within pediatrics. In addition to the shortage of general pediatricians in rural communities, subspecialists are often sought after to support rural communities.

Do I have a continuity clinic in both locations? Yes. You will start your continuity clinic in the Twin Cities and then transition to a CentraCare clinic site in the St. Cloud region for your final 18 months. Uniquely, you will also participate in a longitudinal rural health experience imbedded in a family medicine clinic close to St. Cloud.