Family Medicine Residency Program Director

About Thundermist Health Center
Our Mission: To improve the health of our patients and communities by delivering exceptional health care, removing barriers to that care, and advancing healthy lifestyles. As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), we are committed to providing comprehensive, patient-centered care to diverse populations across Rhode Island. We are now embarking on an exciting new chapter—launching an ACGME-accredited Family Medicine residency program.

About the Position
Thundermist Health Center seeks a Family Medicine physician leader to serve as the founding Program Director for our new ACGME-accredited residency program. This is a rare opportunity to build a Teaching Health Center residency program from the ground up. With resident matriculation scheduled for June 2027, the Program Director will lead all aspects of program development, accreditation preparation, curriculum design, faculty recruitment, and resident selection. This dual-role position combines visionary educational leadership with ongoing clinical practice, requiring a physician leader who is equally committed to teaching excellence and patient care in the community health center setting. The Program Director will report directly to the Chief Medical Officer and supervise four positions with dual reporting responsibilities, including two physicians, one behavioral health faculty member, and one additional faculty member. The position includes a faculty appointment with our academic affiliate.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership and Strategic Development
As the founding Program Director, you will lead and direct all aspects of the residency training program, ensuring accountability for its outcomes and compliance with ACGME accreditation standards. In the initial phase prior to resident matriculation, you will develop the program's mission and vision in collaboration with Thundermist leadership, lead competency-based curricular design, and complete the accreditation application. This foundational work also includes participating in budget formulation, assisting with the physical design of the Family Medicine practice space, engaging with our academic partner, planning resident recruitment strategies, and participating in accreditation site visits and processes. As the program matures, you will maintain ACGME accreditation, adapt to changes in healthcare delivery and medical education, and ensure the program meets the highest standards of excellence. You will collaborate with clinical partners to establish and maintain resident rotations, advocate for necessary resources, and serve as a key member of departmental and organizational leadership.

Curriculum Design and Implementation
You will develop, implement, and evaluate both the clinical and didactic curriculum, ensuring it meets ACGME competency requirements while reflecting Thundermist's commitment to community-oriented, patient-centered care. This includes:
• Designing assessment tools and conducting routine resident evaluations
• Collaborating with rotation directors across clinical sites
• Continuously evaluating and improving curricula based on outcomes and feedback
• Ensuring exceptional training in the Patient-Centered Medical Home model, health equity, and “beyond the walls” community medicine

Resident Recruitment, Education, and Mentorship
Beginning one year prior to the first resident class, you will oversee all aspects of resident recruitment and selection, including ERAS application review and the NRMP Match process. You will be instrumental in recruiting a diverse resident cohort that reflects the patient population we serve, demonstrating a commitment to health equity in action. Once residents matriculate, you will provide education, mentorship, supervision, and guidance for their professional development, directly supervising residents in clinical settings and serving as a role model for community-engaged family medicine practice. Your leadership approach should create a supportive, unified environment for residents built on empathy, active listening, and collaborative problem-solving.

Faculty Recruitment and Development
You will recruit, supervise, and mentor program faculty, ensuring their professional development and success as educators. This includes:
• Planning and supporting ongoing faculty development activities
• Fostering a culture of teaching excellence
• Building a cohesive team committed to the program's mission
• Directly supervising four positions with dual reporting responsibilities: two physicians, one behavioral health faculty member, and one additional faculty member

Clinical Practice and Patient Care
This position requires maintaining an active clinical practice at Thundermist's Woonsocket site, with eight hours per week dedicated to direct patient care and an additional eight hours per week to precepting residents in two 4‑hour blocks. You will demonstrate clinical excellence using the eClinicalWorks electronic medical record system (training provided) and serve as a role model for high-quality, patient-centered care in the FQHC setting. You will also participate in call and coverage on a departmental rotation basis.

Administrative Oversight
You will supervise program administration and operations, including budget management, regulatory compliance, personnel supervision, and strategic planning. Four hours per week are allocated to administrative duties, and you will report directly to the Chief Medical Officer while serving as a key voice in organizational leadership decisions.

Required Qualifications

Education and Board Certification
• MD or DO degree
• Board certification by the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM)
• Board certification must specifically be in Family Medicine—no other specialties will be considered

Licensure and Appointments
• Active medical licensure in Rhode Island (or eligibility)
• Clinical appointment in good standing at Thundermist Health Center (or eligibility)
• Faculty appointment in good standing with our academic affiliate (or eligibility)

Clinical Experience
• Minimum 3-5 years of post-residency clinical experience (realistically 7-10 years to meet qualification criteria)
• FQHC clinical experience essential
• Willingness to maintain active clinical practice at our Woonsocket site

Educational Leadership
• Minimum 3 years of medical education experience, preferably in GME
• Documented experience training medical students or residents
• Thorough knowledge of ACGME requirements or ability to learn these quickly

Faculty Development
• CORE faculty training completed (strongly preferred)
• OR willingness to complete CORE faculty training upon assuming the role

Core Competencies
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Proven leadership abilities
• Skill in managing complex relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Ability to recruit diverse candidates and build inclusive programs

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience starting or developing programs from the ground up
• Engagement with professional organizations such as STFM
• Academic presentations, publications, or teaching awards
• Strong alignment with Community Health Center and Teaching Health Center models
• Demonstrated commitment to health equity and community medicine
• Collaborative leadership, conflict resolution skills
• Advocacy experience (e.g., legislative testimony)
• Technical skills with EMRs (eClinicalWorks) and LMS
• Spanish or multilingual fluency highly valued

Work Schedule and Time Allocation
• 20 hours: Program Director duties
• 8 hours: Precepting (two 4‑hour blocks)
• 8 hours: Direct patient care
• 4 hours: Administrative duties
• Participation in departmental call/coverage rotation
This is a full-time, on-site, 40-hour/week role based in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

Travel Requirements
Regular in-state and out-of-state travel required.

Compensation and Benefits
• Competitive salary
• $10,000 sign‑on bonus (paid in two installments)
• Faculty appointment with academic affiliate
• Comprehensive benefits package
• On-site parking
• Professional development support

Confidentiality
All employees must comply with HIPAA and state/federal confidentiality requirements.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Thundermist Health Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce.