LANSING, Mich. — Becoming a doctor takes years of dedication and specialized training, and McLaren Greater Lansing’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs continue to serve as integral stepping stones for helping physicians to hone their skills.
“Graduate medical education represents a significant contribution to McLaren’s mission,” said Dr. Robert Flora, chief academic officer for McLaren Health Care. “Our programs aim to better the health of our community, ensure a quality experience for patients, and reduce the cost of health care.”
Around 450 residents are currently training at five McLaren Health Care hospitals across the state, including eight specializations at McLaren Greater Lansing. Residents are in training programs such as emergency medicine, oncology, anesthesiology, obstetrics/gynecology, general and orthopedic surgery, and family medicine.
Dr. Mark Garcia completed a residency at McLaren Greater Lansing’s Family Medicine Residency Clinic before joining the staff as clinical faculty. “I learned so much at the Family Medicine Residency Clinic,” said Dr. Garcia. “A resident sees lots of different patients and some very rare cases that they might not see in a normal office environment. The complexity meant a lot of experiences that made me very confident treating patients.”
McLaren Greater Lansing’s mission is to be the best value in health care, as defined by quality outcomes and cost. That mission is key at the Family Medicine Residency Clinic, as it accepts patients with private insurance and Medicaid.
“The Family Medicine Residency Clinic is focused on cost-conscious care, and has a staff that is truly engaged in providing the best quality for our patients,” said Brenda McCaige, the McLaren Greater Lansing residency clinics practice manager.
McLaren Greater Lansing’s well-established relationship with Michigan State University’s Colleges of Human Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine attracts a consistent roster of eager and energetic post-graduate physicians. “Patients get two doctors looking over their charts, with new, fresh doctors giving exceptionally attentive care under the guidance of attending physicians,” said R. Taylor Scott, DO, Associate Program Director for the McLaren Family Medicine Residency Program. “Our team provides excellent and expert care, and we’re proud of the access we can provide to the community.”
Working with other hospitals within the McLaren Health Care network provides more opportunities for McLaren Greater Lansing’s residents, thanks in part to a newly integrated medical research program. “We now have a full infrastructure in place to help residents do research and other scholarly activities,” said Dr. Flora. “This matters because new certification requirements mandate that residents take part in research and quality improvement projects as part of their training.”
The mid-Michigan community also benefits from McLaren Greater Lansing’s graduate medical education programs by having access to talented doctors during their residencies, and beyond. Resident physicians who train at McLaren Greater Lansing are more likely to stay in the region to provide health care and build their careers. “We retain about 30 percent of our resident physicians, which is a good number,” said Dr. Flora. “Our goal is to train them well, then keep them here.”
