| Family Medicine Residency Puts Him on the Right Course
Six months after graduation, Paul Berg, M.D., of MidMichigan Physicians Group is more certain than ever that the Family Medicine Residency Program of MidMichigan Medical Center–Midland was the right choice. He completed the three-year program in 2008.
MidMichigan’s unopposed residency was one feature that drew Dr. Berg to the program.
“It’s a huge advantage, because you can get better hands-on experience, particularly with obstetrics,” he said. “There are no obstetrics residents to compete with, even for triage and assisting with C-sections. I feel like I got outstanding training.”
Daily Office Hours
Daily office hours during the entire three-year program also helped Dr. Berg build strong fundamental skills. Starting with an hour a day, office hours increase until, in the final year, residents see patients for a half day, five days a week. This regimen is possible because the building where office hours are held is attached to the Medical Center. Residents have a convenient walk, not a long drive to a distant location.
“Daily office hours help you get to know your patients and understand the big picture of their overall health, family life and point of view,” said Dr. Berg. “The communication and trust you build with them can mean big payoffs in quality of care. It’s the cornerstone of primary care and the reason why primary medicine really works. Learning the routines of office medicine—such as paperwork, scheduling and teambuilding—also made my transition to practice easier.”
Diverse Patient Mix and Learning Experiences
MidMichigan Medical Center–Midland is a 250-bed Medical Center with a wide service area that includes patients from diverse backgrounds. Residents can choose some rotations in surrounding communities, or every rotation can be done right at the Medical Center in Midland. The program’s self-directed approach to learning also enabled Dr. Berg to pursue a side interest in sports medicine and gain experience covering sports teams. Other residents followed their interests in women’s health, pediatrics, emergency medicine and other areas.
Every residency is challenging, but being in Midland eased the logistics and personal concerns for Dr. Berg, who is married and has three young children.
“Midland is a great family town,” he said. “It’s a safe place with an excellent school system and plenty of things for families to do. The good central location makes it convenient to go to the north or south part of the state.”
Faculty With a Passion for Teaching
Dr. Berg valued the experience of working one-on-one every day with the program’s faculty.
“Looking at the residency, I don’t see any weak points at all, and one of the strongest points is the quality and dedication of the faculty,” he said. “They are incredible to work with, intelligent and very well educated, with a passion for teaching."
“I have a lot of people to thank on the faculty,” he said. “I felt 100 percent prepared for the transition to full-time practice. It’s been smooth sailing. I am enjoying medicine as much as I thought I would.”
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