What is a resident physician?

Resident physicians are medical school graduates who have received their Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degrees and are taking part in a Graduate Medical Education (GME) program. These programs provide physicians with between three and nine years of residency training during which time they will gain the knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to become a competent practitioner in a recognized medical specialty.

What additional training do residents receive at an academic clinic?

While resident physicians have already been taught broad medical knowledge and clinical skills and have completed supervised experience in practicing medicine in a variety of fields, residency programs provide in-depth training within a specific branch of medicine. As part of this additional training, residents work at one of our academic medicine clinics that provides them with specialized training in the field of medicine they plan to pursue. Residents provide direct care to patients under the supervision of a board-certified attending physician.

What can I expect at my appointment in an academic medicine clinic?

During an appointment at one of our academic medicine clinics, you can expect to be cared for by compassionate, skilled residents and attending physicians, with residents being supervised by attending physicians at all levels of their training. The level and years of training your resident physician has completed will determine the type of appointment you will have during your visit, which can include:

  • Both the resident and attending physicians will provide care at the same time for the entirety of your visit.
  • The resident physician will provide the initial examination and care during your visit. The attending physician will follow up with you at the end of your appointment to review your visit and ensure appropriate care was provided.
  • The resident physician is the only provider you see during your visit. If this is the case, the resident physician has advanced and additional years of training. While you will only see the resident, the attending physician will review your visit with the resident to ensure proper care was provided.
  • Some attending physicians also see their own panel of patients without a resident physician in training. During this type of appointment, you will not see a resident physician.

What are the benefits of making an appointment at an academic medicine clinic and seeing a resident physician?

  • Resident and attending physicians at our academic medicine clinics are at the forefront of the most recent research and up-to-date medical knowledge. This means patients are receiving state-of-the-art care from both the resident and attending physicians.
  • Often, resident physicians can offer patients more time than a traditional doctor’s appointment. Because you will be cared for by resident and attending physicians, there will be an extra set of eyes on your illness or injury.
  • You will be playing a vital role in helping our resident physicians receive the training they need to be the next generation of healthcare providers in our community.
  • Our academic medicine clinics accept most commercial and private insurance plans, Medicare, and Medicaid. Discounts are offered to uninsured patients.

Learn more about the residency programs at Portsmouth Regional Hospital.