At a time when healthcare dominates the national news, Midwestern University in Glendale and John C. Lincoln Hospitals, Phoenix, are working together to augment local medical resources by creating a general surgery training program for osteopathic medical school graduates.

The new osteopathic general surgery residency program, accredited by the American Osteopathic Association, was jointly developed by Midwestern and John C. Lincoln. The program was approved for two residents to begin each year, for a total of 10 residents in the program.

Residents will be trained at both John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital, 250 East Dunlap, Phoenix, and John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital, 19829 N. 27th Ave., Phoenix. John C. Lincoln Hospitals are not-for-profit acute care community medical centers that have been nationally recognized for their quality of patient care and medical technology.

“Midwestern University is committed to the development of quality postdoctoral residency programs in the State of Arizona and around the country,” said Kathleen H. Goeppinger, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Midwestern University. “Our mission is to provide our communities with well-trained physicians and other much-needed healthcare providers both now and in the future.”

“John C. Lincoln brings a vast array of surgical experience to this program,” noted Alicia Mangram, M.D., FACS, Medical Director of the Level 1 Trauma Services program at John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital and Program Director of the new General Surgery Residency Program. “We have 20 general surgeons who will be associated with the residency program with experience in trauma surgery, advanced laparoscopic, and robotic procedures.”

Projected physician shortages have made establishing new Arizona-based osteopathic surgical residency opportunities a top priority for Midwestern University’s Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM) and the University’s Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institute (MWU/OPTI). According to Midwestern statistics, 97 percent of Arizona-native AZCOM students who receive postdoctoral training in-state remain in Arizona to practice, reducing the state’s physician shortage.

Any graduate of an accredited osteopathic medical school may apply to participate in the surgical residency program, Dr. Mangram explained. Residents selected to participate in the program will complete training in basic general surgery, advanced laparoscopic, robotic, colorectal, trauma, surgical critical care, endoscopy, vascular, and cardiothoracic procedures. Training in burns and pediatrics will be provided offsite.