The Syracuse Community Health Center (SCHC) has announced it will partner with Upstate Medical University to develop an Urban Family Medicine Residency Program. The new residency program aims to increase the number of primary care providers trained to support the needs of urban patients and to attract diverse residents, especially those in traditionally underrepresented groups.

The SHCH, a state-licensed Diagnostic and Treatment Center serving more than 30,000 patients in the Greater Syracuse area, received a grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) that is making the collaborative program possible.

The program will be developed in conjunction with Upstate’s Department of Family Medicine and the first class of residents will begin the program in July 2024.

“It is critical that we attract, support and develop a diverse group of primary care providers that understand the unique needs of urban communities and this program will focus on that challenge,” said Mark Hall, President and Chief Executive Officer at Syracuse Community Health Center. “We are extremely grateful for this grant and are very enthusiastic about our partnership with Upstate Medical University to develop this very unique program.”  

The development of the program will be achieved by obtaining ACGME accreditation, creating a comprehensive curriculum focused on urban medicine and matriculating four residents in July of 2024.

“SCHC has a proven commitment to providing complex and necessary care for the entire Central New York Community, as well as the underserved inner-city,” said Mantosh Dewan, MD, President of Upstate Medical University. “Upstate’s mission is to improve the health of the communities we serve through biomedical research, patient care and education.  This partnership with SCHC will both create an excellent training opportunity for family medicine residents and further Upstate’s commitment to serve our inner-city community.”

Syracuse Community Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving the Greater Syracuse area and Onondaga County. Founded in 1978, Syracuse Community Health Center (SCHC) serves approximately 30,000 patients each year. As a FQHC, it is a non-profit community-based health center dedicated to providing comprehensive primary care, dental and mental health services to area residents, especially to those who might have limited access to health care.