First Year | Second Year | Third Year | Procedures | Student Electives

Overview of Curriculum

Family physicians serve as the primary faculty, and other specialist attendings complement the teaching rotations. The Residency faculty oversee the educational and evaluation process of the Program. They also coordinate specialty rotations with community and university physicians who are dedicated to teaching residents. The basic three-year curriculum is explained in this web site. The Program was designed so residents can individually tailor it to meet their needs and interests.

In addition to the required and elective rotations, there is an "in-house" curriculum which consists of daily noon conferences encompassing various disciplines, complemented by other scheduled conferences and journal clubs. These meetings ensure broad exposure to the wide variety of problems encountered in family practice and give exposure to those conditions which are not so common.

The outpatient experience increases as the resident progresses through the program and develops a "practice." The Residency is fortunate to have a patient population which spans all age groups and socioeconomic levels. The patients the residents encounter at the Center for Family Medicine are a true cross section of the community. The resident will experience similar patient diversity in private practice. Sioux River Valley Community Health Center patients generally represent an under-served population and provide unique challenges and learning opportunities.

It is the goal of the SFFMR to train physicians for rural practice. The curriculum, therefore, includes a required one month rural family medicine rotation. Several teaching sites have been carefully selected and prepared for resident participation. One designated site is within 30 miles of Sioux Falls for those residents whose personal situations require a rural site within commuting distance.