Training Tomorrow’s Doctors, Strengthening Our Community Today
How the Rural Family Medicine Residency Program Benefits the High Country
Access to quality healthcare is one of the most important factors in maintaining a healthy, thriving community. In the High Country, UNC Health Appalachian serves not only as a healthcare provider but also as a teaching institution through the MAHEC Boone Rural Family Medicine Residency Program. This unique partnership helps train the next generation of physicians while expanding healthcare services for local residents.
What Is the Rural Family Medicine Residency Program?
The MAHEC Boone Rural Family Medicine Residency Program is a physician training program based at UNC Health Appalachian. Resident physicians are doctors who have completed medical school and are now receiving specialized training in family medicine. As part of their education, they work directly with patients under the supervision of experienced attending physicians and alongside advanced practice providers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
The program operates within a teaching practice environment, meaning patients may be cared for by a team of clinicians rather than a single provider. Every aspect of care is closely reviewed by experienced physicians to ensure high-quality, evidence-based treatment.
Bringing More Healthcare Providers to Rural Communities
One of the greatest challenges facing rural communities is recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals. Residency programs help address this challenge by bringing highly trained physicians into the community and giving them firsthand experience caring for patients in a rural setting.
By training physicians locally, the program helps build a stronger healthcare workforce capable of serving the needs of mountain communities today and in the future. Residents gain valuable experience treating patients of all ages and managing a wide range of health conditions commonly seen in family medicine.
Benefits for Patients
Patients participating in the teaching practice often receive care from a collaborative team that includes attending physicians, resident physicians, advanced practice providers, and other healthcare professionals. This team-based approach encourages discussion, shared expertise, and careful review of treatment recommendations.
Patients may also benefit from:
• Access to a broader care team.
• Evidence-based care informed by the latest medical training.
• Additional attention through collaborative case review.
• Continued oversight by experienced attending physicians.
Importantly, patients remain at the center of every decision, and their comfort, preferences, and questions are respected throughout the care process.
Investing in the Future of Healthcare
The residency program reflects UNC Health Appalachian’s commitment to serving as both a healthcare provider and an academic health center. By combining patient care with physician education, the organization helps prepare future healthcare professionals while continuing to meet the healthcare needs of the High Country.
The program also supports other areas of care within the health system. UNC Health Appalachian's service guide notes that the MAHEC Rural Family Medicine Residency Program collaborates with pediatric hospital services, creating additional opportunities for training and comprehensive patient care.
A Win for the Community
A strong healthcare system is essential to a strong community. The Rural Family Medicine Residency Program benefits local residents by expanding access to care, supporting physician training, and helping ensure that rural communities continue to have access to high-quality healthcare services close to home. Through this investment in education and patient care, UNC Health Appalachian is helping build a healthier future for the High Country while training the physicians who will care for communities like ours for years to come.
Pictured above is the latest class of residents of the Rural Family Medicine Residency Program. They began their three-year residency in July 2026 and include:
Dr. Gabrielle Hitzemann, Dr. Anthony Plochocki, Dr. Kaleigh Wingler, Dr. Eliza Filene, Dr. Emily Huffman, and Dr. Robert Brown.
