The Hettinger rural track program has many unique qualities that are not found in your typical residency program. The uniqueness stems from the patient interaction and care along with a group of attendings who are dedicated to passing their experience and knowledge to the next generation of physicians.

At WRHS, there are 2 residents per year and 4 on campus at any time. We also have medical students who rotate throughout the year. This provides a great one-on-one environment to help teach and guide medical students. Along with this, the attendings outnumber the residents 4:1. Each attending has their own different strengths that they share and the teaching is outstanding. Attendings understand that through an educational environment, residents are able to incorporate their advice and skills into their own practice.

The first year of residency is completed in Bismarck, N.D., which provides a great program to get the resident ready to practice and treat patients when they arrive in Hettinger. The program in Hettinger has unique longitudinal rotations that ensure exposure to different specialties occurs throughout training. Along with this, one night each week you are on call for the ER. This provides a great opportunity to initially see the patients and follow through with their care: whether this be discharging and following up in clinic or admitting to the hospital. The program truly does embody the role of a family medicine physician.