[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 152 (Thursday, September 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4974-S4975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY 
                                PROGRAMS

  Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I rise today in celebration of the 
50th anniversary of the University of Wyoming Family Medicine Residency 
Programs.
  On Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Wyoming Primary Care Symposium, 
the Wyoming medical community will gather to celebrate this significant 
milestone. The UW Family Medicine Residency Programs are tailored to 
Wyoming and our unique healthcare needs. With two separate residencies 
in Casper and Cheyenne, these graduate medical education programs 
ensure residents are well-prepared to treat patients with 
professionalism, skill, and compassion.
  In the 1970s, the Wyoming Legislature, the University of Wyoming, and 
other stakeholders recognized the need for additional physicians. After 
exploring options to expand medical education in the State, in 1976, 
the Wyoming Legislature founded the UW Family Medicine Residency 
Programs. The programs, affiliated with the University of Wyoming's 
then College of Human Medicine, were intended to meet the needs of 
underserved communities and provide quality medical education for the 
next generation of Wyoming doctors.
  Wyoming physicians John Corbett, MD; Charlie Huff, MD; David 
Driggers, MD; and Arnold Krause, MD, were instrumental in launching the 
residency programs. As the chair of the Wyoming State Health Care 
Coordinating Council, Dr. Corbett championed the cause of graduate 
medical education in the State. As the residency program got off the 
ground, he served as the acting dean of the UW College of Human 
Medicine. Dr. Huff advocated for a Wyoming-focused solution as the 
director of the Office of Rural and Community Health. Dr. Driggers went 
on to serve as the associate professor, acting program director, and 
associate dean of the residency program. Dr. Krause served as the 
Cheyenne residency program director, recruiting faculty and physicians 
as the site grew.
  In crafting the family medicine residencies, Wyoming took a unique 
approach. The programs were 100 percent State-funded when they were 
established. The Casper program was established in 1976, received its 
provisional accreditation in 1977, and graduated its first residents in 
1979. The Cheyenne program followed, earning provisional accreditation 
in 1979, accepting its first residents in 1980, and receiving full 
accreditation in 1982.
  True to the goal of providing quality medical access to the State, 
the UW Family Medicine Residency in Casper is a 3-year program, with 8 
recent medical school graduates accepted each year. Residents perform 
clinical rotations in a wide range of specialties, including 
orthopaedic surgery, behavioral medicine, pediatrics, emergency 
medicine, geriatrics and advanced family medicine. The program offers 
five specialty tracks, including a rural and underserved global health 
track, a hospitalist track, and an osteopathic-focused track. 
Physicians who are interested in exploring the complexities of aging 
may pursue the program's geriatric fellowship.
  The UW Family Medicine Residency in Cheyenne accepts six residents 
each year. These residents rotate in general surgery, community 
medicine, and women's health. Over the 3-year program, their 
opportunities include working with local patients in pediatric, 
dermatology, and sports medicine disciplines. The Cheyenne faculty 
prioritize experiences with rural medicine and treatment of patients of 
all ages and backgrounds. Residents also serve the local community at 
Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. Many program graduates go on to 
practice in Cheyenne and across Wyoming.
  Both the Cheyenne and Casper Residency Programs offer a supportive, 
wellness-focused environment offering future doctors a comprehensive 
training program tailored with rural and frontier communities in mind. 
Staying true to the original goal of increasing the physician pipeline 
in Wyoming, there are approximately 100 UW Family Medicine Residency 
Program graduates practicing in the State.
  The leadership of the UW Family Medicine Residency Programs embodies 
the values of professionalism, education, service, and excellence. They 
equip residents to provide comprehensive care to all, including the 
underserved.
  The Casper program is led by:

       Program Director Brian Veauthier, MD
       Associate Program Director Blaine Levy, DO

[[Page S4975]]

       Designated Institutional Officer Beth Robitaille, MD
       Director of Osteopathic Education Caroline Kirsch, DO
       Geriatric Fellowship Director Tabitha Thrasher, DO

  In Cheyenne, residents work closely with the leadership team of:

       Program Director Evan Norby, DO
       Associate Program Director Jody Cousins, MD
       Associate Program Director James Eggert, MD
       Residency Coordinator Pamela MacMillan

  It is my honor to recognize the incredible University of Wyoming 
Family Medicine Residency Programs. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
celebrating their investment in the people of Wyoming.

                          ____________________