Owensboro Health launches new residency program

July 6, 2020 | 12:06 am

Updated July 6, 2020 | 12:10 am

Graphic by Owensboro Times

Seven participants from across the country started their training Wednesday in the Owensboro Health family medicine residency program. The residents will be trained for the next three years, and with family medicine suffering a shortage of doctors, officials with Owensboro Health hope several of the residents will choose to stay local after their training is complete. 

This marks the first time in Owensboro Health’s history that a group of medical residents will train and care for patients at the healthcare system’s facilities. 

The residents will see patients who are admitted to the family medicine teaching hospital ward service as well as the outpatient clinic on Parrish Avenue. Residents will also receive training through different services at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, including emergency services. 

The program was created in partnership with the University of Louisville School of Medicine. According to officials with Owensboro Health, the presence of the seven individuals is important to both Owensboro Health and the community at large. 

“OH’s service area currently faces a shortage of primary care physicians, and welcoming these resident positions to OH better serves our communities by potentially shoring up that shortage,” an OH press release reads. “According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, 39 percent of medical residents remain within 25 miles of their program where they set up their practices.” 

Somer Wilhite, manager of marketing communications, said the seven residents were excited about the prospect of training in Owensboro. Most residents are stationed in bigger cities and often rotate between different hospitals during their training. The idea of staying in a smaller-sized city and receiving training at one hospital was very enticing for the seven participants, Wilhite said. 

The seven residents include:

  • Jerry Bradley, MD, who graduated from the University of Alabama School of Medicine and worked at the Naval Health Clinic Lemoore, Family Medicine Clinic
  • Hamed Haghnazar, MD, who graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine
  • Hayat Itani, MD, who graduated from Faculte de Medecine de Monastir Tunisia and worked at American University of Beirut, Pediatric Residency 
  • Matthew Kolok, MD, who graduated from University of South Carolina School of Medicine and worked as a US Air Force flight doctor at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida 
  • Suheung Lee, MD, who graduated from Texas Tech University School of Medicine, Odessa 
  • Daniel Meis, DO, who graduated from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Auburn
  • Augusta Rawlins-Rader, MD, who graduated from University of Toledo College of Medicine 

July 6, 2020 | 12:06 am

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