Our curriculum is designed to fully prepare residents for any setting after graduation. Our rotations and training represent a balance of foundational family medicine, including outpatient, inpatient, obstetrics, pediatrics, geriatrics, and procedures.

Saint Joe’s is a particularly excellent program for those considering full-spectrum practice in the future. Our more intense rotations, while challenging, will expand your knowledge and skills. In comparison, other rotations are more relaxed and allow for more decompression and personal time. All rotations are structured to maximize learning opportunities and respect the resident’s time and efforts. Lastly, our ample flexibility and elective opportunities allow residents to cater training to their specific interests and goals.

Didactics are taught on a daily basis through our noon conference series. Our core didactic curriculum is based on an 18-month cycle, meaning you will get exposed to each topic at least twice during residency. We also offer academic half-day sessions in our simulation lab (or in the great outdoors) on a number of topics, including:

• Wilderness medicine
• Obstetric emergencies
• Hospital procedures
• Family planning training
• Casting and splinting workshop

Our didactics includes a balanced mix of family medicine and specialty perspectives, including teaching from our colleagues in OB/GYN, medicine and critical care. There are a number of scheduled recurring talks, including:

• Journal club
• Sports medicine
• OMT
• Community medicine
• Family medicine morning report
• Behavioral health
• Practice management
• Palliative medicine
• Complementary and Integrative medicine

Our noon conference series also includes dedicated time for team-based quality improvement conferences. You will also have access to didactics in a number of other specialties during your rotations, including Pediatrics, IM/ICU and ECG conferences.

As a family medicine resident at Saint Joseph Hospital, you can focus on a specialty area of medicine with our several opportunities and tracks, such as global health, integrative medicine, obstetrics, osteopathic manipulation, or sports medicine.

• Global Health
• Integrative Medicine
• Obstetrics Emphasis
• Osteopathic Medicine
• Sports Medicine

In the last five years, more than 50% of our graduates have gone on to work in underserved or rural practices. Training at Saint Joseph Hospital definitely prepares you to work in any environment, such as small towns, federally qualified health centers, private practices, and academic centers.

The Saint Joseph Hospital Family Medicine Residency will also prepare you to be competitive when applying to fellowships. Some of the fellowships residents have chosen in the past few years include sports medicine, global health, maternity care, and integrative medicine.

All applications are accepted only through Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) hosted by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). ERAS may be accessed via the dean's office of your U.S. medical school.

For international medical graduates (IMGs), you may access ERAS via Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).

Application Requirements

• We will have nine PGY1 openings for the upcoming academic year
• The deadline for applications is November 1
• All required exams must have a PASSING score on first try, but no minimum score is required for application
• We require three letters of recommendation, one from a family medicine physician
• Within your personal statement, please tell us what led you to apply to our program and why you think St. Joseph Family Medicine Residency is a good fit for you and your interests.
• Applications are accepted only through ERAS
• If you have postgraduate training, a letter of recommendation and/or evaluation from the program director is also required
• NRMP regulations do not permit pre-match

To assure that a systematic and fair process is used for selecting eligible applicants, our program:

• Participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)
• Does not discriminate with regard to sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion, color, national origin, disability, or any other applicable legally protected status.

Interview Invitations

We will send invitations for interviews after receiving a completed ERAS application.

• Interviews are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Our program accepts signals and gives preference in interview offers to applicants who signal us. Signals will not be used in developing our rank order list.
• Interview months: October, November, and December
• We offer morning and afternoon interviews each Thursday and several additional Tuesdays during October, November, and December
• All interviews will be virtual and will include a video tour
• We host virtual happy hours during interview season to offer the opportunity to get to know our residents better. Details about these social events will be communicated when interviews are scheduled.

Further Information for IMGs

Eligible Applicants Include:

• Graduates of Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accredited medical schools in the United States or Canada or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) accredited medical schools in the United States who have passed Step 2 (USMLE) or Level 2 (COMLEX) prior to medical school graduation.
• Graduates of medical schools outside the United States and Canada must meet all of the following qualifications:
  • No more than two years since medical school graduation.
  • Satisfactory completion of the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 examinations.
  • Strong preference will be given to applicants who are eligible to obtain full licensure in the State of Colorado at the end of the PGY1 year in training. The Colorado Board of Medical Examiners requires one year of postgraduate US education for US and Canadian graduates and requires three years of postgraduate US education for international graduates before licensure may be granted. If you have questions regarding Colorado licensure, please contact the Board of Medical Examiners.
  • Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States (U.S.) on a full-time basis.
  • The institution will sponsor a limited number of J-1 visas.

Saint Joseph Hospital Residency programs offer a comprehensive benefits package, designed to help residents and their families have peace of mind knowing they have the coverage they need it.

We want residents to maintain their humanity throughout their residency training and to develop healthy work habits and coping skills that will last throughout their professional lives. To this end, we have a robust wellness program that includes:

• Resident leadership training
• Annual team-building retreat in the mountains
• Free on-site gym membership (open 24 hours)
• Concierge services
  • Free lab coat cleaning
  • Drop off dry cleaning
  • Valet service for vehicle maintenance (oil changes, etc.)
• Physician financial wellness education
• Social committee: a select group of residents who are committed to fun. They plan regular happy hours, social events and organize teams for annual sports leagues.
• Free food: lunch with noon conference every day as well as breakfast and snacks in the doctor's dining room.
• Behavioral health faculty available for resident support and well-being
  • Matt Davis is our behavioral health educator and clinic psychologist. Matt is always available to talk with residents about concerns or difficulties they are facing, whether they be residency-related or not. He also meets monthly with each resident class to facilitate a safe space for debriefing, voicing concerns and sharing stories. Additionally, he plans various events such as our annual overnight retreat in the mountains and the wilderness medicine day each year.
• Resident buddy program and switch nights
  • Buddy "families" consist of one resident from each class who serve as a support system for each other. The upper level residents in the families serve as mentors to the intern and are always available to answer questions, provide support during tough times in residency or just grab dinner and a drink when you need a break!
  • Switch nights: The week before starting a new rotation, the entire intern class meets for dinner, drinks, socializing and to discuss the rotations. Each intern will share information, tips and tricks with the next intern to start the rotation he/she just completed.

The Saint Joseph Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program offers many opportunities for medical students to spend time with us. Medical students are invited to spend time observing in the clinic, hospital, or both.

Acting internships

We offer a 4-week family medicine acting internship to fourth-year students. Preference is given to students intending to apply to family medicine residency.

The family medicine acting internship is designed to broaden students' experience within the full scope of the practice of family medicine as it relates to ongoing comprehensive care of the patient. Students work closely with both the family medicine faculty and residents throughout the rotation. Clinical responsibilities are divided between office practice in the Bruner Family Medicine Clinic and the inpatient family medicine service at Saint Joseph Hospital (typically 2 weeks of each; some students will do nights as part of their time). Throughout the clerkship, emphasis is placed on the maturation of medical communication skills, patient management, and interdisciplinary coordination of patient care. Acting interns will be expected to function at or near the level of an intern; experience managing hospitalized patients is strongly encouraged.

• We host acting interns from September - January and can accommodate two fourth-year students at a time.
• Applications are accepted beginning January 1 each year.
• We will let all applicants know about the status of their application by April 30 at the latest. Students are highly encouraged to apply early as spots fill quickly on a rolling basis.
• Underrepresented Minorities in Medicine are strongly encouraged to apply. Travel and lodging stipends are available for a select group of applicants.

2024-2025 Dates

• 8/19/24 - 9/13/24
• 9/16/24 - 10/11/24
• 10/14/24 - 11/8/24
• 11/11/24 -12/6/24
• 12/9/24 - 1/3/25
• 1/6/25 - 1/31/25 

Eligibility Requirements*

• Current U.S. medical school student
• Liability insurance
• Health insurance coverage
• Immunizations up to date

*Please do not send until requested

Preference Given To:

• Passion for working with underserved populations
• Spanish fluency
• Strong leadership and inpatient experiences
• USMLE 210 or above; COMLEX 590 or above

Questions? 

Please contact Andrea Godina, residency program administrator or Erika Burke, MD.