In an effort to bolster the residency program and grow much-needed clinical support for the region, the Department of Family and Community Medicine on the UAB Heersink School of Medicine’s Birmingham campus will assume leadership of the UAB Selma Family Medicine Residency Program beginning October 1.
"Selma holds a rich history that is deeply woven into the fabric of Alabama, and the Selma Family Medicine Residency Program has been a pillar of that legacy for many years," said Anupam Agarwal, M.D., dean of the Heersink School of Medicine. "As one of the few programs in the U.S. offering a completely rural training experience, this partnership not only honors our commitment to the Selma community but also advances our mission of recruiting and training primary care physicians to serve in rural areas across Alabama. Together, we are strengthening the future of primary care in our state."
The Selma Family Medicine Residency Program — which launched in 1975 — is one of the longest tenured programs in the country and one of the only training programs offering residents a completely rural experience. UAB Selma plays a pivotal role in caring for the people of central Alabama, where there is a critical provider shortage. However, like many rural providers, in recent years the program and clinic have faced a variety of obstacles, including staffing challenges.
“The UAB Selma Family Medicine Residency Program has traditionally done great work reaching patients in rural clinic and hospital settings, nursing homes, and through home visits,” said Irfan Asif, M.D., chair of the UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine and associate dean for primary care and rural health. “Increasing collaboration between our Selma and Birmingham locations will bring more focus and resources to advancing their work as we look for opportunities to grow the number of primary care physicians serving in rural areas, and ultimately, improve access for people in the seven counties that travel to Selma for care.”
Among other plans, Family and Community Medicine leadership aims to immediately begin recruitment for additional clinical faculty and establish a Community Advisory Board.
“As someone who works closely with UAB’s residents, I always want to ensure that our future physician leaders across every campus are receiving the very highest quality clinical training possible,” said Alice Goepfert, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology and maternal-fetal medicine and associate dean for Graduate Medical Education. “On a personal note — as a native of Selma — I am thrilled to see the Heersink School of Medicine strengthening its commitment to the community and to serving these wonderful people.”
The department’s long-term goals for both the program and family medicine clinic include enhancing medical education for residents as well as other learners who rotate through the clinic, increasing pediatric services, addressing preventable health disparities, and improving health outcomes for the people of Selma and throughout Alabama’s Black Belt region.
"By enhancing collaboration between UABSFM and the Department of Family and Community Medicine, we are better positioned to address the health care needs of rural communities,” said David Ibrahim, M.D., program director for the Selma Family Medicine Residency. “This partnership equips residents with the skills and experience needed to provide high-quality, comprehensive primary care, directly benefiting underserved populations, and improving overall community health outcomes.”
The UAB Selma Family Medicine Residency Program has previously been primarily affiliated with the UAB Montgomery Regional Medical Campus.