Middlesex Health Receives National Award

Middlesex Health was recently named a recipient of the 2019 Dewitt C. Baldwin, Jr. Award, a national award that is jointly presented by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and the Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

The Dewitt C. Baldwin, Jr. Award recognizes sponsoring institutions of residency programs that are exemplary in fostering a humanistic learning environment with a culture of compassionate, respectful and patient-focused care. These residency programs prepare medical school graduates for board certification and independent practice.

“This is a tremendous honor,” says Middlesex Health President and CEO Vincent G. Capece, Jr. “Our Family Medicine Residency Program, which began in 1973, is an important part of Middlesex Health. Just as we work every day to help our patients, we also work every day to ensure that our residents get the best training and best possible residency experience.”

Middlesex had to apply to be considered for the award. There was also a two-day site visit that occurred in January. It was a competitive process, and Middlesex was up against more than 700 other institutions. Only three, including Middlesex, were named award winners.

In 2007, Middlesex became a national model for innovation in graduate medical education when it developed the nation’s first four-year curriculum in family medicine. Its residency program offers substantially more clinical experience than the traditional three-year model, as well as the opportunity for residents to gain additional experience in areas of personal passion or future practice need, such as pediatrics, geriatrics, hospice care, integrative medicine or global health.

“Residents leave our program with extensive knowledge and experience, as well as much-needed confidence,” says Dr. Alan Douglass, director of Middlesex’s residency program. “They grow to become talented, caring and compassionate physicians during their residency. We are very proud of the program we’ve developed and our more than 300 graduates who care for their communities.”

From the residents

What attracted you to the Middlesex Health Family Residency Program?

“I had a silly ‘metric’ when I was interviewing and comparing programs: how many people said hi to our group when we were on a tour of the hospital. Nearly everyone we passed said hello at Middlesex. Our resident tour guide knew everyone we saw, and a few people even complimented his new haircut. Now that I am part of the Middlesex team, I truly see how dedicated all the residents, faculty, nurses and staff are to not only patient care, but also to caring for each other.”

– Dr. Jonathan Katz, first-year Middlesex Health Family Medicine resident

What is the most important thing you've learned during your residency so far?

“Our program excels at clinical training. We go beyond the science of medicine and into the "art" on a regular basis. We don't simply precept our medical decision-making. The style we use and words we choose when we interact with our patients are also evaluated regularly. This helps us learn how to form a trusting relationship with our patients and then help them achieve their goals for their health on their own terms.”

– Dr. Julie Sayre, third-year Middlesex Health Family Medicine resident

How would you best describe your residency experience? 

“I have felt an incredible degree of support, challenge and guidance from so many aspects of our community. Seeking broad-spectrum training in family medicine, I wanted to find a community hospital with a strong reputation where primary care was valued and respected. I have found all of this at Middlesex to a remarkable degree. Our community at Middlesex has helped me become a stronger and more confident physician, offering me opportunities for growth and challenge. I always know that I have a supportive network of people behind me. From calling a specialist to discussing a challenging office patient to getting direct and honest feedback and guidance from nursing staff to getting to know the Cafeteria and Environmental Services staff, this community has nourished me and inspired me to become the type of family physician I wanted to be. There is a recognition of the interconnected nature of the work that we all do here; a faith and trust that treating each other with kindness, compassion and genuine interest enables us to all be our best selves.”

– Dr. Christopher Ahern, fourth-year Middlesex Health Family Medicine resident