Methodist Family Medicine Residency Names Inaugural Group of Eight Residents

Program Welcomes Medical School Graduates for Additional Training

(Oak Ridge, Tenn. – March 2024) – Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge has announced its inaugural group of medical school graduates who will train in the Knoxville-Oak Ridge area to become family doctors. The Methodist Family Medicine Residency program, accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), welcomes eight residents to begin training in July 2024.

Methodist Medical Center is the sponsoring institution of the new Family Medicine Residency Program. The program will be integrated with the newly established Methodist Family Medicine Clinic in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The clinic offers family medicine and primary care services for all ages.

The residency program will be led by James Schindler, MD, MPH, family medicine physician. “We are excited to bring in this very diverse and exciting inaugural class of residents,” said Dr. Schindler. “Our goal is to produce excellent primary care physicians who will practice in communities in East Tennessee for years to come.”

Dr. Schindler added, “Residents will have the resources of Methodist Medical Center and the Covenant Health enterprise, plus the amazing community of Oak Ridge and all the latest technology and training tools at their disposal. The program will grow to 24 total residents and a complement of teaching faculty over the next three years while expanding clinical care at the Methodist Family Medicine clinic in Oak Ridge.”

Across the nation and here at Methodist Family Medicine Residency program, there were a record high number of applicants this year. Dr. Schindler explained the thorough match process led by the National Resident Matching Program. He said that according to the national organization, this year’s residency match process included 6,395 certified programs offering 41,503 positions for Program Year One and Program Year Two trainees. That is the largest number in the NRMP’s history and a three percent increase in offered positions for medical training.

“We’re thrilled to be a fully matched program with such strong interest in our first year, knowing how competitive it is to fill family medicine resident spots,” said Dr. Schindler.

The program is pleased to announce the following medical school graduates who will join the program:

Family medicine doctors provide continuous, coordinated and comprehensive health care for the individual and family across all ages, genders, diseases and parts of the body.

To learn more about the Methodist Family Medicine Program, visit MMCFamilyMedicineResidency.com.

---

About Methodist Medical Center

Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge is a member of Covenant Health.  Located in Oak Ridge, it is a 283-bed medical center with an array of medical services including cardiology, orthopedics, oncology, surgical services and outpatient diagnostics.

About Covenant Health

Covenant Health is a Tennessee-based healthcare enterprise committed to providing the right care at the right time and place. As a not-for-profit health system, we are dedicated to being the region’s premier healthcare network through service, community, and innovation. We provide patient-centered care that inspires clinical and service excellence and strive to be the first and best choice for our patients, employees, physicians, employers, volunteers, and communities. Covenant Health is the area’s largest employer and has more than 11,000 compassionate caregivers, expert clinicians, and dedicated employees and volunteers.

About the Author

Covenant Health

Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Covenant Health is a community-owned, healthcare enterprise committed to providing the right care at the right time and place. Covenant Health is the area’s largest employer and has more than 11,000 compassionate caregivers, expert clinicians, and dedicated employees and volunteers.