What makes us unique?

The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry’s Rural Family Medicine Residency Program was founded to deliver expert care to rural communities where skilled, compassionate physicians are needed most. As one of only a handful of rural residency programs nationwide, we offer a rare and immersive training experience from a leading academic medical center. Residents gain hands-on exposure in high-volume obstetrics, inpatient pediatrics, and comprehensive family medicine, preparing them to practice confidently across the full spectrum of care. Ever evolving, we are training the physicians of tomorrow to meet the needs of our communities today, and for generations to come.

• Funded by a five-year HRSA grant, the Rural Track Family Medicine Residency will begin recruiting its first cohort in July 2027, with interviews in Fall and Match Day in March 2027. Physicians who train in rural settings are 2–3 times more likely to practice rurally after residency. This program is designed to address critical workforce needs in rural Western New York and beyond.
• Residents will complete continuity clinics at Tri-County Family Medicine, a six-site FQHC-lookalike system serving rural communities south of Rochester for more than 50 years. The organization was co-founded by Paul Frame, MD, a nationally recognized leader in evidence-based preventive medicine.
• Training includes inpatient and outpatient rotations at URMC-affiliated rural hospitals, including Noyes Hospital (Dansville), St. James Hospital (Hornell), and Jones Memorial Hospital (Wellsville), serving Allegany, Livingston, and Steuben counties.
• Comprehensive obstetrics training is a core component of the program, helping expand access to maternity care and reduce travel distances for birthing patients in rural New York communities.
• We stress community involvement and care of the underserved, including a political advocacy track for interested residents. We have 14 different Areas of Concentration to tailor your training to your interests, most of which were created by residents themselves using the resources available in our department and our university. Our Global Health experience is unique in its continuity relationship with small rural communities in southwestern Honduras, and funding to support resident participation in these trips.