Mission Statement and FAQs

Residency Objectives

The Family Medicine Residency at Central Maine Medical Center will graduate residents who are:

• Compassionate and caring physicians with good listening skills and clinical acumen.
• Holistic and collaborative in their approach to patient care with a focus on health promotion and disease prevention.
• Skilled in the use of evidence-based methodology and dedicated to lifelong learning.
• Able to communicate effectively and think critically.
• Aware and respectful of family systems, patient diversity and patient autonomy.
• Well-trained procedurally with a sound knowledge base.
• Actively involved in their communities with a commitment toward social responsibility.
• Exemplary professionals.

Sponsoring Institution Mission Statement

Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) commits to creating a collaborative clinical learning environment that fosters ethical and innovative thinking among our physicians in training to provide the skills and resources needed to effectively care for our community.

CMMC Residency FAQs

Given that time is limited during your interview day, below is a list of questions and answers about our residency that we hope will provide helpful information.

Q	How long has CMMC been training Family Medicine residents?
A	Our program began in 1978
Q	Where do your graduates practice Family Medicine?
A	Our goal is to train family physicians who are prepared to go to any community and be responsive to local needs, to be leaders, and agents of change wherever they land. However, we always hope they will choose to stay here. Many of our residents do choose to remain in Maine and Northern New England, working in ambulatory primary care and as hospitalists, some go on to fellowships such as Sports Medicine, Geriatrics/Palliative Care, and Addictions Medicine, and some take what they have learned and travel all across the globe to places such as Norway and New Zealand.
Q	What does “Clinic First” mean, and how would it influence my education?
A	Clinic First is a response to the reality that many family medicine faculty and residents only spend 1-3 half days per week in clinic, which is disruptive to continuity, access, and team-based care—many of the things that bring residents to family medicine in the first place. Residencies that are part of the Clinic First Collaborative make these essential elements of patient care and resident education a priority. At CMMC FMR, we have created a 2×2 block schedule, meaning residents are in clinic for 2 weeks at a time and then on rotation for 2 weeks at a time—no rushing off to clinic for a half day here and there in the midst of a busy rotation schedule. Wherever you are scheduled to be, you can fully immerse yourself in that learning experience. You always know when you will be in clinic, so you can plan ahead for continuity with your patients.
Q	What are some highlights of your Family Medicine Center, where I would see my continuity patients?
A	We serve a diverse cross-section of the Lewiston-Auburn and surrounding communities that includes elements of both urban and rural low-resourced communities. On any given day, you may see an unsheltered young person, a New Mainer (refugee) who has just arrived in the community, someone living “off the grid” in one of the surrounding rural communities, and an older Mainer, who has lived in the community forever. To meet the needs of our patients, we work as an integrated care team, which includes behavioral health. We provide interprofessional visits, where patients are seen by resident physicians, behavioral health, and pharmacy, for example, and we have monthly teamlet meetings to facilitate communication. Any member of the team can request an interdisciplinary team meeting (IDT) at any time to discuss a patient and develop a shared treatment plan. We also offer home visits that often include both a physician and behavioral health. One area we have been growing over the last few years, in direct response to the needs of our community is Addiction Medicine. We offer a Low Barrier Bridge clinic for OUD and several longer-term treatment pathways.
Q	What would my osteopathic education look like if I am a D.O.?
A	Our program is accredited under the ACGME with Osteopathic Recognition. All residents will have exposure to and education in osteopathic principles and practice.  Osteopathic focused residents, which can include Allopaths, will have additional time practicing OMT in their continuity clinic and on the inpatient service.  In addition, we offer osteopathic electives and an OMNN 2 for those looking for opportunities to advance their skills.  We have 3 Osteopathic faculty, as well as several community Osteopathic Preceptors to support education and training.
Q	Do you have any focus on Resident Wellness as part of your residency program?
A	Yes. We have several wellness activities and initiatives including 5th Tuesdays (every 5th Tuesday afternoon the residents have an off-site resident-only gathering), monthly all-staff after work events, a wellness committee (Thrive), and 2 annual resident retreats. However, we believe that true wellness is maintained by residency culture, so we put most of our effort into building and nurturing a culture in our program where residents feel encouraged to bring their whole self to work, where they are supported in staying connected to those parts of themselves that exist outside of medicine, and where they are challenged to reflect on their meaning and purpose, so they grow as much as a person as a physician during their time in the program.
Q	What are the academic strengths that will benefit me if I train at CMMC?
A	Rigorous hospital medicine training, extensive exposure to Addiction Medicine, ongoing collaboration with a highly skilled Behavioral Health team, OMM, Integrative Medicine, Community-Engaged Learning, and Sports Medicine. Residents are also encouraged to develop autonomy and leadership from Day 1 of residency. They are first responders to Codes; they independently run the hospital service in PGY-2 and oversee interns in PGY-3; they take progressive leadership of their teamlet in clinic; and they are expected to participate in hospital-based committees with support from faculty.
Q	What would CMMC FMR offer to me as perks or value-added benefits?
A	Full benefits package, complimentary Health and Fitness Center visits including most classes, food stipends when on call, free parking.
Q	What is orientation like for new interns?
A	Orientation is a month-long experience that includes Continuity Clinic in the FMC; Orientation to the inpatient and outpatient EMR, orientation to the Hospital and the Lewiston-Auburn area; call done with a senior resident; BLS, ACLS and NRP courses with certification; meetings with the Program Director and your Academic Faculty Advocate; a series of new intern noontime didactics and an extensive introduction to competencies and your first rotation.
Q	What kinds of connections can I expect to make with the L-A (Lewiston-Auburn) community as a resident?
A	You will work in the Dempsey Challenge medical tent, United Way Agency fair, Community Service Day as part of intern orientation, a longitudinal 48-hour community project over the PGY II/III years and give talks in local schools.
Q	Can you tell me about the academic appointments and scholarly activities of the CMMC FMR faculty?
A	All residents complete a scholarly project, and there are many opportunities to be engaged in other research as well. See the Publications and Presentations section on the website for examples.
Q	Will I get to interact with and teach medical students?
A	Yes. We have 11 MSIIIs from UNECOM that complete their entire clerkship year in Lewiston. We also have FM clerkship students from Tufts and the University of Vermont and other medical schools. These students will work with you on inpatient and outpatient teams and you will have multiple opportunities to teach and guide their professional development.
Q	What is a WIMP?
A	The Wilderness and International Medicine Program is a special opportunity available to all residents at CMMC. Please check out our web page for more information.
Q	I have some special interests in Family Medicine – will I be able to tailor my education to assure that I gain competency in those areas?
A	Yes. We work very hard to individualize the education plan to meet each learner’s needs and desires. We have (An intensive education in a particular area that can include but is not limited to Children/Adolescent Care, Emergency Medicine, Geriatrics/Palliative Care, Inpatient FM Hospitalist, Integrative Medicine (formerly known as CAM), International Health, Maternity Care, Reproductive Health and Wilderness Medicine). We also have ample elective time during which you and your Academic Faculty Advocate can map out a plan to achieve your educational goals.