Three area hospitals are adding a new class of medical residents to treat patients. WNIN’s Sarah Kuper has more on the growing program that brings more medical expertise to the area:
Twenty-four newly minted doctors participated in a white coat ceremony at downtown Evansville’s Stone Family Center for Health Sciences. Another five doctors in Jasper and six in Vincennes were honored.
During the ceremony – recently graduated medical students trade in their short white coats for longer coats signifying the transition from trainee to practicing physician. These ceremonies in southern Indiana are particularly significant because it shows the growth of several residency programs established in the past few years. Having residents in a hospital system gives patients an extra level of expertise when treating patients.
The residents will be practicing at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, and Memorial Hospital in Jasper.
Over the past few years, the Southwest Indiana Graduate Medical Education Consortium has gone through rigorous accreditation to establish local residencies. Officials say the programs will address the critical physician shortages in the area.