The residency program at CHCI was an ideal opportunity that provided the key direction, support, and further training that worked ultimately towards my community health career success and longevity.  The residency used a rigorous training platform that was masterfully customizable to provide critical experiential-learning opportunities for me and each resident.  So, on top of enhancing my general clinical knowledge and skills, I also focused on improving women’s health care delivery and EKG interpretation.  For example, I had clinical sessions in the OB/GYN department where I was warmly accepted by clinicians and staff as a team member and learner.  This acceptance was part of the global culture at CHCI and extended to specialists who welcomed us to their practices during our specialty rotations.  These rotations uniquely taught me what clinicians can and should do prior to referrals to their respective practices.  I received tips and advanced training on services that proved to be an asset in my career (e.g., IUD insertions, prenatal care, biopsies).

This residency program also indoctrinated me into a culture of collaboration within and across disciplines, facilitating the acceptance of the full scope of my new role as a primary care provider and advocate.   Wonderfully, the camaraderie among my cohort and residency staff endures, and it is a safety-net of support throughout my career.

Collectively, all my residency experiences prepared me to enter the fast-paced world of health care delivery at a “runner’s pace,” allowing me to meet the ever-changing demands of my future employers, patients, and profession.  I started my career with the ability to manage a full panel of patients while providing cost-effective, culturally-relevant, and comprehensive services to patients.  For all these reasons and more, I highly recommend this residency program to those seeking an enduring success in community health.