Pullman Regional Hospital ribbon cutting

PULLMAN – Pullman Regional Hospital held a ribbon cutting Thursday, Sept. 22 to celebrate the collaborative efforts of the Hospital and Washington State University to create a Family Medicine Residency program.

The Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Family Medicine Residency Program has designated clinical space for learning and patient care, located inside Pullman Regional Hospital. In the summer of 2023 the three-year family medicine program will welcome its first physician residents, practicing doctors who have graduated from medical school and are completing their training in their chosen specialty. Physician residents will see and treat patients in the Residency Center.

Members of the community gathered to celebrate and attend the ribbon cutting. There were 18 people who cut the ribbon. Attendees also were able to have a tour of the Family Medicine Residency Center and the hospital's Orthopedic Center of Excellence, the first since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pullman Regional Hospital CEO, Scott Adams, gave welcoming remarks as well as Washington State University President, Kirk Schulz.

The Residency's Program Director and longtime local family medicine physician, Dr. Stephen Hall, also spoke, reiterating his statement from a press release sent out on Sept. 20, "It is common for residents to stay and practice in the same communities of their residency program," Hall said. "Residency programs support more access to primary care today, and they create a recruitment and retention opportunity for our future. Rural communities, like ours, struggle with having enough primary care doctors. This program solves both current needs and future needs to provide better access to primary care."

The Family Medicine Residency Center construction was funded through philanthropy. There will continue to be fundraising to support the program through a collaborative fundraising agreement with WSU and the hospital, providing program supporters with dual recognition. Part of a $7.6 million fundraising campaign, The Next Era of Excellence, managed by the Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation and volunteer campaign cabinet numbers.

Also present was co-chair of the campaign, Glenn Johnson, and Mayor of Pullman, Wayne Druffel, a fourth generation farmer.

In addition to funding the Residency Center, funds also supported the Pullman Regional Hospital Orthopedic Center of Excellence with state-of-the-art imaging equipment, expansion of orthopedic patient care space, and support for the hospital's Regional High School Athletic Training Program.