Chesterfield Family Medicine Residency Program Richmond, VA

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2500 Pocoshock Place
Richmond, Virginia 23235
Residents call: (804) 276-2150
Billing information: (804) 745-0266
Patients call: (804) 276-9305

The Chesterfield Family Medicine Residency Program is a community based program closely affiliated with the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. This partnership of community and university combines educational resources which form the basis for an excellent training experiences for the residents.

Continued support from the medical community:
Family physicians have long been an integral part of healthcare delivery in south Richmond and Chesterfield County. As a result, an excellent working relationship exists with the specialists and sub-specialists within the medical community. Quality patient care and a nurturing learning environment for the residents are ensured from these relationships.

What to expect each year:

The first year of the program occurs at CJW Medical Center, Chippenham & Johnston-Willis Campuses. Residents have the opportunity to work with experienced, enthusiastic, supportive specialists through their first year rotations.

The CJW Medical Center Campuses include the new Levinson Heart Hospital, Tucker Psychiatric Pavilion, and Labor and Delivery at Chippenham, as well as the new In-patient and Out-patient Surgery Center at Johnston Willis. At night the family practice residents serve as house physicians on the Chippenham Campus and provide primary care for the multiple problems that arise in a large community medical center. By the end of the first year, residents feel very well equipped to deal with hospital medicine.

The second and third year of the program are based at Chesterfield Family Practice Center. This practice serves a large area of south Richmond, suburban Chesterfield County and surrounding rural areas. The patients come from a wide range of age, sex, race and socioeconomic strata. Chesterfield Family Practice is very busy and averages over 2500 patient visits per month. Many outpatient procedures are taught by the faculty. Interns see patients one half day per week during year one and residents five half days per week during years two and three, providing continuity of care for their patients while working closely with the faculty. A unique feature of the program is the "team concept" in which residents and faculty practice together throughout all three years of training. Each team is comprised of faculty and residents from each of the three years.

Confidence through experience:
Learning to practice in a busy office setting also ensures a wealth of experience with practice management and residents are well prepared for private practice by the end of their training. The daily noon conference provides exposure to all areas of primary care through presentations by community physicians as well as resident presentations. Most of the second and third year required rotations are based in our medical community although rotations at the VA Medical Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System are available. Chesterfield Family Practice is a required "Community Medicine Clerkship" site for third year medical students from the VCU School of Medicine. Residents work with these students on a regular basis, adding another dimension to the educational program.

Pediatrics is receiving special emphasis in the program and residents will be working closely with Dr. Susan Pillsbury and Dr. Kara Somers in their practice throughout years one, two and three. This will involve experience in the inpatient and nursery setting as well as suburban and rural outpatient practice.

An exciting update to our OB cirriculum has been the incorporation of Dr. Sumac Diaz who received her training in a combined OB/FP Residency Program. Residents work closely with her during dedicated OB/Gyn months and also during OB/Gyn call. Valuable experience and procedural skills are obtained during this time including deliveries, management of antepartum, laboring, and postpartum patients, and office procedures such as colposcopies. Residents also spend time at various city health departments to provide obstetric and gynecological care.

In summary, the Chesterfield Family Medicine Residency Program provides excellent educational opportunities with unique learning situations designed specifically to enhance and enrich the residency experience. The family medicine residency is the only program offered at CJW Medical Center and residents are not in competition for clinical experience. The community based program with university affiliation combines multiple resources for an optimal learning environment.