[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 27, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E421]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING 50 YEARS OF FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY SPOKANE

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 27, 2022

  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
50th Anniversary of the Family Medicine Residency Spokane program.
  Serving the Spokane community since 1972, this residency program is 
the oldest family residency program in Washington and graduated the 
first class of three family medicine physicians just two years after 
launching. Over the last 50 years, interest in the program has 
blossomed and residency classes have grown. In 2014, the program grew 
again with the help of the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical 
Education funding program.
  The 365 graduates of this program have gone on to provide primary 
care services in their communities, taken on leadership roles in other 
residency programs, received prestigious national appointments to 
various associations, and some have even returned to the Family 
Medicine Residency Spokane program as faculty to help mentor incoming 
resident physicians.
  During the COVID-19 pandemic, Family Medicine Residency Spokane 
played an integral role in the continuation of care delivery by serving 
as urgent care overflow. Their commitment to care helped ease the 
burden on urgent care facilities and emergency rooms across Spokane. 
They also provided telemedicine care to patients who were unable to 
visit in-person, administered immunizations to community members during 
one of the first vaccine clinics in Spokane, and stood ready to assist 
in our hospitals.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the many 
accomplishments of the Family Medicine Residency Spokane program. They 
are truly frontline heroes, and I wish them the best during this 50th 
year of service and beyond.

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