Family Medicine Residency Program - Iowa Lutheran Hospital

• Emergency Medicine (4 weeks)
• Family Medicine Ambulatory (8 weeks)
• Family Medicine Inpatient (8 weeks)
• ICU (4 weeks)
• Night Float (4 weeks)
• Obstetrics (8 weeks)
• Pediatrics Inpatient - Blank (4 weeks)
• Pediatrics ER - Blank (4 weeks)
• Surgery (4 weeks)

• Behavioral Medicine (2 weeks)
• Cardiology (4 weeks)
• Community Medicine (4 weeks)
• Electives (8 weeks)
• Electives - Away (4 weeks)
• Gastroenterology (2 weeks)
• Gynecology (4 weeks)
• NICU (2 weeks)
• Orthopedics (2 weeks)
• Pediatrics Ambulatory (4 weeks)
• Pediatrics Selective (4 weeks)
• Psychiatry (2 weeks)
• Pulmonary Medicine (2 weeks)
• Sports Medicine (2 weeks)
• Ultrasound (2 weeks)

• Behavioral Health (2 weeks)
• Community-Based Practice (4 weeks)
• Dermatology (2 weeks)
• Electives (8 weeks)
• Electives – Away (4 weeks)
• Family Medicine Inpatient (8 weeks)
• Nephrology (2 weeks)
• Neurology (2 weeks)
• Obstetrics (8 weeks)
• Ophthalmology (2 weeks)
• Orthopedics (2 weeks)
• Otolaryngology (2 weeks)
• Urology (2 weeks)

• Allergy
• Casting
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Endocrinology
• Gynecology
• High Risk OB
• Hospice
• Infectious Disease
• Office Cardiology
• Oncology
• Pain Management
• Palliative Care
• Pediatric Cardiology
• Perinatology
• Pharmacy
• Podiatry
• Rheumatology
• Wound Care

These are just a few options available.

Daily morning conference starts with case presentations for new admissions and obstetrical deliveries.  Monday through Thursday we have teaching conferences that include topics from the following areas:

• Cardiology
• Pediatrics
• Geriatrics
• Ob/Gyn lectures and conferences
• Practice management/coding specialist presentations
• Psychiatry
• University of Iowa Visiting Professor Lectures
• Electronic medical records
• Pharmacology
• Medical subspecialties
• Ancillary services
• Resident-led Journal Club
• Resident Balint sessions to help us examine the emotional content of the doctor/patient relationship
• Jeopardy™-like board review

Once a year, in December, we schedule breakout sessions, bringing all the residents together to learn procedures, use the chart review process to examine standards of practice, learn from community agencies and participate in interactive seminars, commonly tied together by a common theme or area of medicine.

Recent topics have included community medicine, chronic pain, domestic violence and human sexuality.

• Adverse Weather
• Appeals Procedure for the Resident (Addendum B)
• Business Issues
• Chief Resident Selection
• Clinic Staffing Chart Review
• Clinical Competency Committee
• Documentation of Experiences by Residents
• Home Visits
• Hospital Procedures Policy 
• Independent Study
• In-Training Exam Performance
• Library Resources
• Licensure
• Messages
• Morning Report Attendance
• Nursing Home Visits
• Passing Part 3 Boards
• Procedures for Admissions, Discharges, Coverage and Medical Records
• Professional Appearance
• Professional Conduct and Contact 
• Program Evaluation Committee
• Progress Committee
• Residency Program Personnel
• Resident Contract
• Selection of Residents Applicant Criteria
• Statement of Stipends and Benefits (Addendum A)
• Supervision of Residents
• Timely Completion of Documentation
• Transition of Care
• UnityPoint Health and UnityPoint Clinic Mission Statements
• UnityPoint Health Central Iowa Family Medicine Residency Program Mission Statement 
• Vacation & Time Off Protocol
• Video Recording
• Work Hours

Applicants with one of the following qualifications are eligible for appointment to accredited residency programs:

• Graduate of medical schools in the U.S. and Canada accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
• Graduate of medical schools in the U.S. and Canada accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
• Graduate of medical schools outside the U.S. and Canada who meet one of the following qualifications:
  • Have received a currently valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
  • Have a full unrestricted license to practice medicine in a U.S. licensing jurisdiction
• Graduates of medical schools outside the U.S. who have completed a Fifth Pathway program provided by an LCME accredited medical school

To be eligible for a resident license, an applicant shall meet all the following requirements as found in Chapter 10 of the Administrative Rules of the Iowa Board of Medical Examiners:

• Fulfill the application requirements
• Be at least 20 years of age
• Hold a medical degree from an educational institution approved by The Board at the time the applicant graduated and was awarded the degree
  • Educational institutions approved by The Board shall be fully accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the board as schools of instruction in medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery and empowered to grant academic degrees in medicine
  • The accrediting bodies currently recognized by the board are:
    • LCME for the educational institutions granting degrees in medicine and surgery; and
    • AOA for educational institutions granting degrees in osteopathic medicine and surgery
  • If the applicant holds a medical degree from an educational institution not approved by the board at the time the applicant graduated and was awarded the degree, the applicant must hold a valid certificate issued by ECFMG or have successfully completed a fifth pathway program established in accordance with AMA criteria

Must meet all of the following:

• Preference given to those with recent training:
  • Currently attending medical school training and eligible for graduation by the start of the residency year or be a recent medical school graduate
     — or —
  • Been in training in an accredited internship or residency program within the past year.
• Must have received passing scores on USMLE or NBOME Step 1 and be eligible for the Step 2 exams.
• Must be fluent in written and verbal English language.

"Enough cannot be said about our faculty and how lucky we are to have them. They are the most supportive, intelligent, and fun group of physicians I have ever worked with. They do not take themselves too seriously and create a fantastic learning environment where they are always accessible and willing to help in whatever way possible. I can promise you that you will always feel well supported by our faculty." — Daniel Hanson

"One of the main reasons why I chose to attend this program was due to the excellent faculty members. They are great at giving us independence to grow and learn while at the same time remaining available and approachable when we need them." — Madeline Godar

"As a rotating medical student, I found myself captivated by the relationships I observed between residents and faculty members at Iowa Lutheran Hospital. On my first day, I watched as numerous residents and faculty members trickled into the resident lounge over the lunch hour to find any remaining seat (or part of a seat) to eat lunch together (and yes, it was hospital cafeteria food). This simple routine spoke volumes about the program culture at Iowa Lutheran Hospital, one of both mutual respect and comradery among faculty and residents alike. As a resident, I have been fortunate enough to count myself among those lucky enough to learn from such an outstanding group of intelligent, supportive, approachable and fun faculty physicians." — April Forsyth

"One of the reasons I was excited about this program was how the faculty and residents get along. Some of our faculty are graduates from the program, so they have literally been in our shoes. They often stop by the lounge to chat, eat lunch or just check in on us. They remember being an intern calling a specialist for the first time, running their first code, etc. That means they have lots of tips and tricks for us!  We have a similar comradery in the clinic. They really make us feel like equals; for example, we all sit at the same workspace while seeing patients. They are always available for a question or to give their advice on a complicated patient, and on rare occassion, they may even need our help!" — Eric Neill

"I love the work environment at Lutheran. I truly enjoy going to work every day, and that is a testament to the people and the program culture. The residents and faculty are very driven and are highly successful because of this mutual drive for excellence. However, while we strive to excel in our work, we also hang out together. This was one of the only programs I interviewed at where the residents and faculty sit to eat lunch together and talk about everything besides work. Our program invests a lot in the people to help prevent burnout and fatigue." — Tyler Olson

"Being a new intern, I was incredibly nervous about making medical decisions on my own and learning how to function efficiently in my new role. So far, I have had incredible support from my fellow residents, attending faculty, nursing staff and electronic record support staff. I always feel comfortable asking my senior or attendings for help. Everyone is willing to teach and answer questions, no matter how trivial they may seem. Nurses have been helpful in orienting us to different policies on the floors, and EMR staff have been available during clinic hours to help with outpatient charting. I am so glad I chose to come to Lutheran because the welcoming, collaborative environment has made the transition from student to resident much easier!" — Julia Farruggia

"The work environment was one of the main reasons I wanted to complete my training at Iowa Lutheran Hospital. Our program has such an amazing group of people – both co-residents and faculty. I have never once been afraid to ask senior residents or faculty for help. We genuinely enjoy spending time together – as evidenced by the nearly constant lunchtime cribbage games that happen, as well as frequent gatherings outside of work which both residents and faculty attend, such as our intramural softball and volleyball teams. I find that spending time together at work (while not working) and outside of work made it much easier to approach seniors and faculty to ask questions and while staffing patients. The friendly and supportive environment makes it very easy to look forward to coming to work each day and lets us focus on learning and taking excellent care of patients instead of being nervous about interacting with each other or our faculty." — Eric Jones

"As an intern, it can feel both exciting and nerve racking to go from being a student to making medical decisions and learning how to function efficiently in my new role. So far, I have had incredible support from my fellow residents, attending faculty, nursing staff and other health care workers. I always feel comfortable asking my senior or attendings for help. Everyone is willing to teach and answer questions, no matter how trivial they may seem. No matter what role an individual may play in the healthcare system, there is always something to learn from them. I am so glad I chose to come to Iowa Lutheran Hospital because the welcoming, collaborative environment has made the transition from student to resident much easier!" — Jeals Brines

"The people are what make our residency program shine! We have a very supportive community of residents and faculty members who get along well both inside and outside of work. We frequently have formal and informal events outside of work where residents, faculty and their family members can get together. It is more enjoyable coming to work every day knowing that you get to work with such an outstanding group of doctors." — Madeline Godar

"The biggest strength of our program is the amazing group of people we work with. We have a very supportive group of residents and faculty who get along great at work and outside of work. We have many formal and informal outings where residents, faculty and family members can get together. Coming to work is a lot of fun when you are surrounded by an amazing group of doctors who are not only your colleagues but become good friends!" — Sasha Kloos

"I love that I get to take care of all ages and stages of life. Every day is a mix of patients, which makes it fun and exciting! From taking care of moms and babies in the hospital to having end-of-life discussions with patients to increase their quality of life to the everyday well woman or well man physical, we get to do it all." — Samantha Banser

"It's very exciting to work at a community-based hospital in a large metropolitan area. Lutheran Hospital is truly a unique gem on the East Side of Des Moines. You will get to know everyone who works at Lutheran - nurses, housekeepers, cafeteria workers, respiratory therapists, etc. Residents spend intern year becoming very familiar with the hospital as we rotate through the family medicine inpatient service, emergency department and ICU." — Madeline Godar

"There is an incredibly wide spectrum of learning that comes with an unopposed residency. At Iowa Lutheran, we work up patients in the ER, admit patients from the ER, run an inpatient service and respond to MET calls and Code Blues. Being the only residents, we have the opportunity and responsibility to be involved in all different areas of the hospital. This truly is what makes Family Medicine so unique, and being an unopposed program really allows us to experience that at its finest!" — Julia Farruggia

"I chose Iowa Lutheran Hospital because it was immediately obvious to me how much the faculty and residents genuinely enjoyed working together. There is a palpable sense of camaraderie within the residency program, and everyone seems to enjoy what they do. Combine that with being an unopposed program with broad spectrum learning and it checked all of the boxes for me." — Daniel Hanson

"I chose Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines because while I was rotating here as a medical student, it was clear to me how much the residents and faculty enjoyed it here and enjoyed working together. The culture was something I knew I would fit in well with and enjoy being a part of for three years. Additionally, I knew after I completed my residency, I would be prepared for my future career in rural Iowa." — Demi Eble

"Two things stuck out the most to me when I chose Iowa Lutheran Hospital for my residency, the culture and the education. Being from Iowa, I knew I wanted to stay in Des Moines but when it came to choosing between the programs, I ultimately chose Iowa Lutheran Hospital. I think our culture exemplifies comradery between the residents, faculty and clinic staff. I found outside of work we truly care about one another and would describe each other as friends in addition to colleagues. Residency is such a hard time; you might as well be doing it with your best friends. The other aspect is an obvious one. The education at Iowa Lutheran Hospital is outstanding. As an affiliate program of the University of Iowa, we have access to all the resources and education of a university/academic institution while being in a community-based program. We spend the majority of time at Iowa Lutheran Hospital for our inpatient service. We are unopposed, get interesting patients, have access to procedures and are the code team (opportunities we may not get at another hospital). I think Iowa Lutheran Hospital was the best fit for me and hope it is for you too!" — Hannah Hartman

"Since we are the only medicine residents in the hospital, we get to work directly with specialists from all fields. You are not stuck talking with other residents or fellows, but rather communicate directly with them and work right alongside them. These specialists are also used to working one-on-one with us and are great at teaching us and including us whenever there are procedures to be done." —- Daniel Hanson

"In my training at Iowa Lutheran Hospital Family Medicine Residency, I've had the opportunity and privilege to work with medical specialists and experts who not only benefit the lives of my patients but who also take time and effort to improve my skills and knowledge. The relationships that we learn to cultivate throughout our three years at Iowa Lutheran Hospital begin with the network provided to us by our hospital system and afforded to us by the connections already built by our faculty members to UnityPoint Health's medical specialists. In this way, when we call for a consult or go on rotation to a specialist clinic site, we are not only there for our patients' health and well-being, our own learning and development, but to continue to foster a community of learners and support between specialty and primary care. I know anytime that a specialist makes a request of our service or whenever we need to reach out for a consult, it's with this confidence that I can approach the conversation and help UnityPoint Health's patients together." — Austin Pillon

"La Clinica provides the opportunity to work with the under-served Hispanic population for their prenatal care and deliveries. Not only does this give us the opportunity to become well trained in both high risk and low risk OB populations, it also introduces a different culture. These patients are under-served and often under-insured, which is an excellent learning opportunity for how to become more financially cognizant when practicing medicine." — Samantha Keady

"At our OB Clinic, which takes place twice per week, we are able to provide prenatal care to women who are of an underserved population, many of whom are uninsured, of low socioeconomic status and/or refugees. Being able to serve these women and their families and provide them with a high standard of care is incredibly rewarding." — Heidi Klingelhofer

"The Iowa Lutheran Hospital Family Medicine residency has dedicated time on Monday and Thursday afternoons where we see patients of "La Clinica." This is a clinic dedicated to obstetric care. Most patients are underserved and uninsured and many speak Spanish or other foreign languages. This is a great opportunity for residents to get experience with prenatal care for low-risk and high-risk pregnancies, as well as building cultural awareness around how a patient's health care experience is shaped by their cultural values and beliefs. Residents work together as a team when seeing patients so there is a lot of collaboration and teaching among the group. Teamwork makes the dream work!" — Jill Pollpeter

"The East Des Moines Family Care Center provides care to an extremely diverse patient population. We take care of patients of all ages allowing us the opportunity to work with infants, children, teens, adults and elderly individuals. We get practice working with many different cultures and learning how to take that into consideration when developing treatment plans. Many of our patients are underserved and/or underinsured, which provides an excellent learning opportunity to become more financially cognizant while practicing medicine. In our clinic, we have a pharmacist, community care coordinator, lab, X-ray and DEXA scanner available for use. This allows us to complete as much of a workup as possible while the patient is here and the chance to quickly walk over and chat with any of these services if we have questions. You gain more and more responsibility as you progress through residency, giving you plenty of autonomy, but attendings, co-residents and other support staff are always here and eager to help when needed!" — Alexia Fisher

"Des Moines is a young, fun, family-friendly Midwest city! Great place to explore local farmers markets, festivals, concerts and sporting events. No shortage of things to do on the weekends and on days off!" — Cameron Overcash

"There are many bike/running trails throughout the metro area and multiple ponds and lakes within driving distance if you enjoy outdoor activities. Des Moines is small enough to feel like home but big enough that there is never a shortage of things to do." — Samantha Keady

"Des Moines is the best of both worlds - a growing urban center with small town vibes and historic charm. The restaurant scene in Des Moines is booming, making living downtown a blast! Some of my local favorites include St. Kilda for breakfast, Iowa Taproom for Midwest comfort food and Hello Marjorie for drinks." — Matthew Molin

"Living in Des Moines has been a great adjustment for us. With kids, we are always looking for activities to do, and there are plentiful indoor and outdoor activities to fill our time. We also enjoy the perks of city life but still have places to seek out that are secluded and quiet. While overused, the 'it only takes 20 minutes to get there' saying runs true the majority of the time." — Taylor Dreise