LUMBERTON, North Carolina – One year ago, Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine and Southeastern Health welcomed the first class of third year medical students for clinical rotations and the first class of medical residents in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Emergency Medicine. This year, Campbell and Southeastern Health celebrate the next steps in medical education – third and fourth year Campbell University medical students reported to the hospital in July to begin rotations and were joined by the second class of Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine and Internal Medicine Residents.
“Southeastern Health is an invaluable partner in medical education for Campbell University,” said Dr. John M. Kauffman, Jr., dean of Campbell’s medical school. “Located in the most medically underserved county in North Carolina, Southeastern Health is a partner in educating our students and residents as well as fulfilling our mission to serve the rural and underserved in our state.”
“I wanted to train in a small community with a diverse population in order to be better trained to serve my patients in the future,” said Dr. L.K. Ferrell, an internal medicine resident at Southeastern. “So far, the experience has been amazing, and I’m already telling the fourth-year medical students if they’re interested in learning, Lumberton, North Carolina is the place to be.”
“Bringing medical education to a community hospital requires a shared vision, commitment and hard work,” said Dr. Kauffman. “Campbell is thankful for Mrs. Joann Anderson’s leadership and the dedication of everyone at Southeastern Health to make having 77 medical students and 40 residents training in Lumberton a reality.”
Mrs. Anderson, Southeastern Health (SeHealth) President/CEO, was recognized by the SeHealth Board of Trustees for leadership and diligence in the development of the Southeastern Health Medical Education Program during a surprise presentation held Saturday, July 23. A plaque in Anderson’s honor will be permanently hung in the Medical Education Hallway at Southeastern Regional Medical Center.
“I am excited to welcome our second class of residents. Our first year has provided a great start to a vision formed five years ago,” said Joann Anderson, President/CEO of Southeastern Health. “This second group will benefit greatly from the foundation laid by the first year. I am so proud to have Southeastern involved in developing a strategy to improve the health of our community.”
Campbell University’s partnership with community hospitals in creating new residency positions throughout North Carolina provides needed additional medical education opportunities. In 2013, the UNC Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research published a report stating North Carolina was behind the national average in numbers of residents in training per population and, while medical school enrollment was expanding, the number of residency positions in the state was not keeping pace.
“Partnering with community hospitals to create new residency programs for medical school graduates is a critical aspect of the Campbell University vision for meeting the needs of rural and underserved communities,” said Dr. Kauffman.
“Southeastern Health has given me the opportunity to pursue my dream of becoming an Emergency Medicine trained Physician,” said Dr. Krelin Naidu. “The invested faculty makes this program so unique because of the amount of support and coaching you receive from day one. In addition to simulation labs, disaster drills, and weekly didactics, the EM residency provides a multitude of resources and opportunities to equip residents for success. We are a family at Southeastern Health, and I am grateful to be receiving my training here over the next four years.”