Rural Training Track Sutter Health Family Medicine Residency

Rural Training Track Sutter Health Family Medicine Residency

Family Medicine Rural Training Track on America’s Wild Rivers Coast

The Sutter Coast Hospital Family Medicine Rural Training Track offers a dynamic, community-focused residency designed to prepare physicians for the unique rewards and challenges of rural healthcare. Residents begin their first year at a busy urban medical center in Sacramento, where they build a strong clinical foundation working with diverse patient populations across a wide range of specialties.

In their second and third years, residents transition to Crescent City on California’s scenic North Coast, serving a medically underserved area. Training takes place at Sutter Coast’s 49-bed hospital and its Community Clinic, where residents gain comprehensive experience in inpatient medicine, emergency care, obstetrics, pediatrics, behavioral health, and outpatient family medicine. Personalized electives allow residents to tailor their training to their career goals.

Guided by board-certified physicians, residents develop expertise in rural primary care and population health, focusing on continuity of care, chronic disease management, and preventive medicine. They learn to track patient health over time and deliver compassionate care in resource-limited settings, building lasting relationships within the community.

This residency prepares physicians not only to excel clinically but to become trusted leaders in rural healthcare—ready to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and communities that need it most.

Curriculum

The Rural Track Family Medicine Residency Program has a comprehensive, community-focused curriculum designed to prepare physicians for full-spectrum practice in rural and underserved areas. Spanning three years, residents engage in intensive clinical training combined with immersive rural experiences, developing the skills needed to provide high-quality, compassionate care throughout all stages of life.

The curriculum begins with foundational rotations in inpatient medicine, obstetrics, pediatrics, and behavioral health, establishing a broad clinical base. As the program progresses, residents shift focus to predominantly rural environments where they refine procedural skills, cultivate leadership, and build long-term patient relationships.

Dedicated training time includes rural primary care, emergency medicine, community engagement, and electives aligned with individual career goals. Longitudinal experiences in population health, telemedicine, and practice management prepare residents to effectively navigate the unique challenges of rural healthcare delivery.

Mentorship from rural-based faculty ensures personalized guidance and professional growth. Hands-on procedural training, combined with deep integration into the local community, fosters confidence and a strong commitment to rural medicine.

Graduates of the Rural Track emerge as capable, compassionate family physicians ready to lead and serve in rural America, equipped with the knowledge and experience to meet the diverse healthcare needs of their communities.

Requirements

We do not accept mailed, faxed, e-mailed or in-person applications. Only applications submitted through ERAS will be accepted.

Applications to our residency will only be accepted via the Electronic Residency Application Services (ERAS) system. The program will select and interview candidates during interview season in November/December. In-person "open house" sessions to visit our program will be offered to interviewees in January/February. Please note open house sessions are nonevaluative and have no impact on our rank lists. 

Complete applications will be reviewed and considered for positions and should include:

• Personal Statement
• USMLE or COMLEX Step I Score
• Official Transcript
• Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Applicants are required to submit three letters of recommendation (LORs). While each LOR does not need to meet all the following categories, they should algin with one or more of these criteria1. Letter from a department chair
    2. Letter from someone within the specialty
    3. Specialty-specific Standardized letter of evaluationThese LORs should be predominantly from an IM or PCP faculty or attending, and at least one LOR should come from a Family Medicine specialty faculty or attending that provided supervision during a rotation during your MS3 or MS4 year. These LORs should be from physicians who have directly observed you and can speak to your clinical skills, knowledge, and professional behavior.
• In some instances, a decision may not be made until the following is also included in the application:
  • Dean’s Letter
• Note - Each track has its own NRMP code
  • FamilyMed Sacramento- 1135120C0
  • FamilyMed Davis- 1135120C1
  • FamilyMed Amador- 1135120C2
  • FamilyMed Coast- 1135120C5

Residency Appointment Eligibility

• A graduate of a United States or Canadian Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accredited medical school, OR
• A graduate of an American or Canadian Osteopathic Association accredited medical school OR
• A graduate of a medical school outside of the United States must be ECFMG certified, please see below for more details.
• Contingent upon demonstrating successful completion of USMLE (Step 1 and Step 2 CK by the 2nd attempt) or COMLEX (Level 1 and Level 2 CE by the 2nd attempt) examinations. Scores must be received by January 31st.