FCM has graduated more than 900 family physicians, half of whom practice in Illinois and more than 40% practice in state and federal health care shortage areas since 2021. Teaching the next generation of family medicine physicians keeps Dr. Janet Albers inspired and optimistic about the future. When she became chair in 2014, four SIU students went into family medicine. It has gradually increased under her leadership, with 12 SIU grads joining in each of the last two years.
“Teaching is so important. We wanted to provide interprofessional training and great experiential learning in population health so our new doctors can go out and recreate similar models of care, provide wraparound services and work in FQHCs,” said Albers. All of SIU’s family medicine residency programs are now located within FQHC sites — a potent recruitment tool.