With a spirit of innovation, community engagement, and advocacy, we are shaping the next generation of family physicians—leaders who are ready to drive change, close health gaps, and redefine what’s possible in rural medicine.
The Learning Environment
Our residents gain unparalleled experience across a variety of training sites, from a leading academic medical center to a dedicated community hospital and longitudinal rural clinics. This diverse training prepares our residents to navigate the full spectrum of family medicine with confidence and adaptability. Our curriculum emphasizes cutting-edge, team-based care and a strong commitment to longitudinal patient relationships, ensuring our graduates are not only exceptional clinicians but also trusted lifelong partners in their patients' health.
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to_learn_more.pdfSelective Service Registration
All male applicants (as determined by gender assigned at birth for purposes of this requirement) who are US citizens or immigrants must have registered with the Selective Service System within 30 days of their 18th birthday, or arrival date into the USA. Individuals are eligible to register until the age of 26. Failure to register is a violation of federal law, and can face significant penalties, including loss of eligibility for citizenship for immigrants. Individuals who have not registered are not eligible for a variety of benefits including federal student aid, federal job training, and any job in the Executive Branch of the government (e.g. VA, Medicare, federal prisons), and are not allowed to work in federal facilities even as a resident or fellow.
Most Duke GME programs require rotations at federal facilities such as VA hospitals or prisons. All trainees in those programs must be eligible to work at those facilities. All applicants should ensure that they have registered for the Selective Service System if appropriate. If they have not registered, they should discuss this with their potential program director. Additional details can be found at https://www.sss.gov.
Curriculum
Home Base: Duke Primary Care Oxford
From Day 1, residents build lasting patient relationships and grow their patient panels in Oxford, NC—a diverse, charming, close-knit community of 8,500, approximately 30 miles northeast of Durham, NC. Duke Primary Care Oxford has served families for decades, offering high-quality care and a supportive learning environment. New residents kick off their PGY1 year with a full month in clinic, working alongside experienced clinical staff and family medicine providers, while immersing themselves in the community. Our program prioritizes outpatient continuity and protected clinic time, far surpassing ACGME requirements. Residents gain real-world experience in office-based procedures, population health, home call, peer review and quality improvement.
Clinic culture thrives with potlucks, wellness initiatives, and holiday celebrations—Mardi Gras is a favorite! We’re also excited to expand training with Duke Primary Care Henderson, just 7 miles away, enhancing outpatient experience and access to care for the Henderson community.
PGY1: Strong Foundational Training Based in Durham
PGY1 residents spend most of their hospital-based rotations at Duke Regional Hospital and Duke University Hospital—gaining hands-on experience in cutting-edge, high-quality care. Working alongside Duke Family Medicine residents and specialty trainees, they build expertise in complex cases while forging strong bonds within the Duke medical community. This rigorous, well-supported training lays a solid foundation for the years ahead.
PGY2 & 3: Enhanced Autonomous Training in the Community
In PGY2 and PGY3, residents transition to Maria Parham Health(link), a 205-bed Duke LifePoint hospital serving Oxford and Henderson. They work one-on-one with expert community physicians, gaining greater autonomy and decision-making experience. This individualized experience builds confidence, sharpens clinical skills, and fosters a growth mindset.
Didactic Curriculum
Clinical learning is supplemented with a robust didactic curriculum held on Tuesday afternoons. These sessions alternate between shared lectures with the Duke Family Medicine Residency Program based in Durham and rural-focused talks based in Oxford. Thursday mornings offer quick, high-yield 30-minute clinical teaching sessions—ensuring continuous, impactful learning.
Areas of Ongoing Curricular Development
Our faculty continually seek to enhance and revise our residency curriculum. Current efforts include launching a comprehensive office-based POCUS curriculum, competency-based medical education practices, and formative daily feedback.