UKIAH, Calif. – Physicians, staff and community leaders left with a sense of excitement after a check presentation in mid-October that raised more than $130,000 in funds to go towards development of the new Family Medicine Residency Program scheduled to start in June 2018.

The program will help to attract family medicine doctors to the area to pursue graduate medical training at Ukiah Valley Medical Center, or UVMC.
 
The community based organization Family Medicine Education for Mendocino County, or FMEMC, presented a check in the amount of $45,000, raised by the Rural Health Rocks concert event featuring Michael McDonald earlier this year.

Robert Werra, MD, of the Mendo Lake Medical Foundation also announced they would be providing a check in the amount of $20,000 for a grand total of $65,000.

Gwen Matthews, president and chief executive officer of Ukiah Valley Medical Center, went on to announce that UVMC would match these amounts, bringing the total funds raised to $130,000.
 
“It’s refreshing to see so many partners coming together to help make the Family Residency Program in Ukiah a reality,” said Matthews.

She thanked FMEMC and Mendo Lake Medical Foundation for their dedication and support, “Deepest thanks to both organizations for their generous donations and grassroots work they’ve done for the future of health care in Mendocino County.”
 
The Family Medicine Residency Program is part of a long-term solution to bring more highly skilled family medicine doctors to the community.

Studies show that 60 to 80 percent of physicians who undergo training in a geographic area typically stay and practice medicine in the same town after their training is complete.
 
“We are thrilled to be able to offer a curriculum that will challenge residents to be thought leaders in a rapidly changing health care environment both in the clinic and hospital setting,” Matthews said.
 
For more information about the local Family Medicine Residency Program or the Family Medicine Education for Mendocino County organization, contact Daphne Macneil, president of FMEMC, at 707-463-2878 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .