Family Practice opening details

An experienced and dedicated family physician with an interest in teaching is sought to join the faculty of a well-established rural residency program in a clinical faculty role based in Fairfield, Maine, just minutes from the highly desirable college town of Waterville. This is an outpatient facility, but some inpatient and admissions responsibilities are included. The selected individual will also be responsible for rounding on area nursing homes, so candidates with strong skills in geriatrics will get priority consideration. This program has 30 residents enrolled at any given time, but only a few at a time will rotate through this location. Teaching responsibilities will include precepting residents, conducting and supervising procedures, obstetrics, etc..

If you have a strong desire to teach, this could be a perfect opportunity for you!

The Maine-Dartmouth Family Practice Residency Program was first approved in 1973, making it the oldest family practice residency in New England. According to a recent study of residency graduates over a six year period, this program was ranked #1 in the country for placing residents in rural practice (46 out of 61) and 14th nationwide for percentage (75%) of graduates who “go rural� (out of over 450 accredited family practice residencies in the United States). Yes, this program is affiliated with Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. If you truly care about rural medicine, this is a WONDERFUL place where you can really make a difference!

The incoming faculty member will spend 20% of their time teaching, and 80% in clinical practice. This is a full time position with a 4-½ day/week schedule. Call is shared on the following basis: 1 weeknight per week, 1:8 weekends (and holidays), and inpatient/hospitalist duties on a 1:3 weeks rotation. This practice typically has an inpatient population of just 3-5 people at any given time, so rounds usually take approximately 1 hour/day in the morning before your regular day’s schedule. Physicians in this group also follow their own patients via phone call.

This practice is located in facilities that were brand new just three years ago. The office books patients using an Open Access Style. Just 30% of appointments are scheduled in advance, while the remainders are patients booked within 48 hours or less of calling. Recent patient satisfactions surveys show that 95% of the patients are satisfied with the care they receive here!

The selected physician will be presented with a competitive compensation package including a substantial base salary appropriate to the background of the candidate, plus a range of benefits that may include assistance with student loan debt.

The MaineGeneral Medical Center is a hospital with two campuses, one in Augusta and one in Waterville, about twenty minutes apart when using I-95, Maine’s major freeway. Combined, the two facilities have nearly 300 beds. MaineGeneral provides a wide range of high-quality acute care, emergency room, medical/surgical care, maternal and child health, inpatient and outpatient diagnostic services and programs. Together, the two campuses serve a population of more than 130,000 people, and they combine to treat over 300,000 outpatients annually.

Waterville is a mid-sized college town located in lower-central Maine. With its outlying suburbs and surrounding rural communities, hospitals in Waterville estimate that their service area exceeds 65,000 people. This family-friendly community offers seemingly endless recreational opportunities, superior public schools, affordable real estate, and great shopping facilities. It’s a wonderful place to call home!

Centrally located, Waterville is less then an hour from Maine’s coast. This area encompasses a number of lakes and rivers, so Waterville offers excellent opportunities for water lovers. You can enjoy all types of boating here, from canoeing and kayaking and sailing and nearby whitewater rafting. For those who prefer dry land, you can enjoy Maine’s warmer seasons by going hiking, biking or backpacking on many nearby trails, or perhaps camping, fishing or hunting.

In the wintertime, enjoy the snow! Visit one of Maine’s many dynamic downhill slopes, such as the famed Sugarloaf Ski Resort, located just 90 minutes from Waterville. You could also take pleasure in snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling or ice fishing. If you prefer activities that are a bit more tame, try antiquing, bird watching, or nature photography! There is truly something for everyone to enjoy in every Maine season.

Since Waterville is just 20 minutes north of Augusta, Maine’s capitol city, its easy to benefit from all the services, shopping, dining, and other amenities you would expect to find in a community that serves hundreds of government employees and their families. Augusta is home to three museums: two will introduce you to Maine’s interesting history (The Maine State Museum and Old Fort Western Museum), and one makes an outstanding day trip for kids (The Children’s Discovery Museum).

Many exciting festivals are held annually in Waterville. If you like impressive art, then you will want to attend the Waterville In-Town Art Fest, held annually since 1969, making it one of the oldest outdoor art shows in Maine. If food tickles your fancy, participate in The Greater Taste of Waterville. This event has celebrated local cuisine since 1992, and encourages you taste-test selections from all your favorite area restaurants and dining establishments while you enjoy magnificent entertainment. Are you a film buff? The Maine International Film Fest is a Waterville celebration hosted by Friends of Art and Film in Central Maine, dedicated to supporting the arts. You’ll have a great time in Waterville no matter which events you choose to attend!

Maine is recognized as one of the best and safest places in the US to raise a family, partly because of the first-rate education available here. Excellent schools are great source of Waterville pride! With two public and two parochial elementary schools, parents can choose the academic career they want for their youngsters. Older students continue their educations in the Waterville public middle school and public high school. Some high school students choose to attend the Mid-Maine Technical Center, in conjunction with their regular high school curriculum, to prepare themselves to go straight into the workplace. Its an excellent option available right in your neighborhood.

Waterville is truly a college town, and the home of three very fine schools: Colby College, a highly respected private liberal arts college; Thomas College, a private business college; and Kennebec Valley Community College, a comprehensive, public 2-year institution that provides a quality education in a range of fields.

Those settling in the Waterville area will enjoy a range of residential choices. You can live right in the city, or in one of several suburban areas, or you can enjoy Maine’s openness by acquiring some acreage in any of the quiet communities surrounding the city, where affordable real estate is plentiful, and waterfront living is an option on one of the area’s lakes, rivers or streams. Great schools, affordable real estate and excellent recreational opportunities make this a highly desirable community in which to live and work! If you seek a high quality of life for your family, this could be the place for you!

Contact: Cal Weaver

Email: cweaver@themha.org