ECU Health Medical Center is expanding its Graduate Medical Education rural residency tracks in Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Obstetrics-Gynecology and Pediatrics, supported by funding from the University of North Carolina System. 

“This expansion enables ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University to launch and grow rural training programs in high‑need specialties, strengthening the physician pipeline for communities across the region,” ECU Health said. “Eastern North Carolina faces some of the most significant provider shortages in the state, with many rural counties lacking adequate access to primary care, specialty care and essential surgical services.” 

ECU Health’s expansion of rural residency programs directly targets these gaps by training physicians within the very communities that need them most. The initiative responds to a persistent national imbalance: although 20 percent of Americans live in rural areas, only about 10 percent of physicians choose to practice there. “By embedding medical training in rural settings, ECU Health aims to build a sustainable workforce pipeline and strengthen care access across the region.”

“This expansion represents a transformational step forward for Graduate Medical Education at the Brody School of Medicine and ECU Health,” said Dr. Mary Catherine Brake Turner, associate dean for Graduate Medical Education at the Brody School of Medicine and ECU Health Medical Center. “By embedding residency training within rural hospitals and clinics, we are strengthening the educational experience, preparing physicians to meet the needs of rural communities and building a sustainable pipeline of clinicians committed to serving rural areas.”

ECU Health’s newest rural residency tracks are modeled on the success of the ECU Health Rural Family Medicine Residency Program, launched in 2021. 

The Rural Family Medicine Program has already demonstrated strong early outcomes, with graduates choosing to remain in the communities where they trained, reinforcing the effectiveness of immersive rural training and providing a proven model for the new rural residency tracks.

Building on this foundation, ECU Health will launch the rural track for Internal Medicine in July, followed by Surgery, Obstetrics-Gynecology and Pediatrics rural tracks in July 2027.

Internal Medicine

The Internal Medicine residency rural track will welcome its first rural track resident in July. Residents will spend approximately 50 percent of their training in the rural setting as they rotate at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital, ECU Health Chowan Hospital, ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital and ECU Health Duplin Hospital, gaining experience in inpatient medicine, emergency care, subspecialty clinics and community engagement activities.

General Surgery

The General Surgery residency rural track will begin training resident physicians once it welcomes its first cohort in July 2027, building upon the program’s long standing rural rotations. Resident physicians will complete foundational training at ECU Health Medical Center before rotating at ECU Health Community Hospitals and UNC Health Lenoir Hospital. These rotations will provide immersive experience in community hospital settings, increasing exposure to a range of surgical cases.

Obstetrics and Gynecology

The Obstetrics-Gynecology residency rural track will begin training resident physicians once it welcomes its first cohort in July 2027. Resident physicians will spend approximately 30 percent of their training at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital. The rural track will provide resident physicians with ambulatory and inpatient Obstetrics-Gynecology experience while maintaining access to subspecialty training at ECU Health Medical Center.

Pediatrics

The new Pediatric residency rural track will start welcoming resident physicians in July 2027. Resident physicians will spend approximately 30 percent of their training in the rural setting. This track will build on ECU Health’s longstanding commitment to improving child health outcomes across the region and will leverage existing partnerships with ECU Health Community hospitals and expand partnerships with rural clinics.

“Rural residency programs are one of the most effective ways to reduce longstanding health care disparities, build a strong local health care workforce and increase the likelihood that physicians will continue practicing in the region,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health and dean of the Brody School of Medicine. “Expanding our rural residency programs is a direct investment in meeting ECU Health’s mission to improve the health and well‑being of eastern North Carolina. We are grateful for the UNC System’s investment in our Graduate Medical Education programs and are excited to bring more physicians to the region.”