Piedmont Columbus Regional has announced the graduation of 44 residents across its Nurse, Family Medicine, and Pharmacy residency programs. This is good news, especially for underserved rural areas outside of Columbus.
As Now Georgia has previously reported, the shortage in these fields is critical with 143 out of 159 Georgia counties designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). This means there are at least 3,500 patients for every one provider.
If current trends continue, Georgia will fall short of its projected registered nurses need by 23,000, meaning 1 in 5 positions will be unfilled by 2036. The picture is even worse for doctors: The state will only have about two-thirds of the doctors it needs in a decade, according to the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis.
Columbus Piedmont Regional’s Transition to Practice Nurse Residency Program is honoring 24 nurse residents who successfully completed their first year as a registered nurse.
“Through learning, clinical experiences with preceptors and ongoing support from experienced educators, mentors, and leaders, residents are integrated into a culture that prioritizes and supports their growth,” said Nurse Residency Program Coordinator Cheryl Navarrete.
The Family Medicine Residency Program hosted a commencement ceremony for 12 physicians in its graduating class. Seven physicians will remain in Georgia to officially begin their careers in medicine.
“Our primary goal is to graduate physicians who are excellent healers, engaged team members, and thoughtful professionals who will impact the lives of others for many years to come,” said Family Medicine Residency Program Director Vibhuti Ansar, M.D. “These physicians are well-equipped to live out the Piedmont Promise of making a positive difference in every life they touch.”
When established in 1972, the Family Medicine Residency Program at Piedmont Columbus Midtown became the first of its kind in Georgia and one of the first in the Southeastern United States. More than 1,000 physicians have graduated from Piedmont Columbus Midtown, going back to physician training that began in the 1940s.
Eight pharmacists recently graduated from the Pharmacy Residency Program and were honored at a commencement ceremony.
“Graduation marks the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication by these pharmacist practitioners,” said Pharmacy Residency Program Director Jamie Crossman, PharmD, BCACP. “During their time here, each of them helped care for people in the Chattahoochee Valley and have positively impacted our community as a whole.
Click here for more information about residency programs at Piedmont Columbus Regional.
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