The Sutter Amador Rural Training Track will combine the best of both worlds with the first year spent training in our “flagship” medical center in Sacramento, CA and the second and third year spent in our state-of-the art hospital in rural Jackson, CA.

Residents of all three tracks care for a culturally and economically diverse patient population that exposes the learner to a wide variety of disease processes. During the inpatient rotations, residents are actively involved in every aspect of the patient’s care. They perform necessary procedures and work closely with hospitalists, Family Medicine attendings, and a comprehensive network of consulting specialists who enjoy teaching. Residents participate with various ancillary resources in a multi-disciplinary approach to maximize patient care.

While working in Sacramento, resident physicians enjoy the rich diversity and culture of California’s capital and benefit from the breadth and quality of training offered by a tertiary medical center.

After completing core rotations in Sacramento during their first year, physicians choosing the Davis track continue their training in the small town setting of Davis. There, Davis residents are part of a newly renovated outpatient/inpatient primary care facility within the vibrant community of a large public university and the smaller agricultural communities that surround it.

Physicians choosing the Amador track will be part of a new Rural Track program in beautiful Amador County. They will work in state-of-the-art 52 bed Sutter Amador Hospital (just 75 minutes from Sacramento) and the newly remodeled Family Medicine Continuity Clinic.

Residents in all tracks remain closely integrated for all three years through shared outpatient rotation sites, weekly didactic sessions, and frequent social events. Residents become proficient in inpatient and outpatient procedures including obstetrical and gynecologic procedures, vasectomies, circumcisions, dermatologic procedures, as well as orthopedic injections and splinting. Our curriculum includes numerous unique training opportunities.

Our residents have the opportunity to participate in several moonlighting experiences, which provides a nice supplement to the already competitive salaries of Sutter residents. Furthermore, residents are involved with schools in the community where they perform sports physicals, and with community clinics where they volunteer time to care for the local uninsured population. Through these various experiences, residents are able to serve as mentors and attendings for medical students.

Photography: Courtesy of David Lee, former 2018 Chief Resident

Sacramento is California's capital city. The Sacramento metropolitan area is home to over 1.5 million people in environments that range from rural to suburban to decidedly urban, in a climate that many describe as "ideal." Sacramento offers a dynamic downtown center with opportunities to enjoy the arts, music, theater, dance and sports. Sacramento is home to the NBA Kings, and the River Cats minor league baseball team. Just a stone’s throw away from Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, history buffs can enjoy Sutter's Fort—home to the 1849 Gold Rush. Old Sacramento is a favorite hotspot for dining, riverboat cruises, and seasonal festivals.

Sacramento encourages its residents to enjoy the outdoors. The climate boasts ample sunshine most of the year. Greenbelts, jogging paths, and bike trails run throughout the city. The 23-mile American River Parkway is one of the largest urban recreational parks in the country, and provides opportunities for biking, rafting, wildlife viewing, fishing, golf, and picnicking. Day trips to the Sierra Nevada mountains satisfies the occasional ski or snowboard itch during the winter, or the craving for hiking, mountain biking, or rock climbing during the warm summers.

Photography: Courtesy of David Lee, former 2018 Chief Resident

Davis, located 20 miles from Sacramento, is the setting for those who choose a less urban environment for their training. Davis is home to the University of California, and is located in a rich agricultural area. Davis offers a stimulating intellectual environment with the feel of a small community. Probably most known as the city with more bicycles per capita than any other in the nation, it is—like Sacramento—a gateway to all outdoor activities. Environmental and social activism are important values in this college town.

Photograph: Larry Angier, Image West Photography

Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Jackson is the county seat of Amador County, California. It is conveniently located an hour from Sacramento and two hours from Lake Tahoe. Amador County is rich in Miwok and Old West history and boasts world-class recreation, award-winning wineries and picturesque small towns.

In the Family Medicine Centers, residents participate in innovative practice models and work alongside physicians who are helping to shape modern day medicine. Each resident works with assigned medical assistants, nurses and office staff dedicated to make clinics run smoothly. Residents care for a panel of patients assigned to them throughout their residency. It is not uncommon for a resident to take care of three generations within a single family. Residents spend 1-2 half-days per week in the Family Medicine Center in their first year, 2-3 half-days in their second year, and 3-4 half-days in their third year.

All sites operate with state-of-the-art electronic health records (EPIC), resulting in near paperless offices. Each resident has their own dedicated workspace complete with computer and telephone. Our behavioral scientist is available to consult with residents about challenging patient-physician interactions and helps residents explore the biopsychosocial aspects of patient care.

All residents take turns participating in weekly gynecology clinics treating uninsured patients, biweekly dermatology clinics, and geriatric assessment clinics. Vasectomies, circumcisions, colposcopy, skin procedures, nasopharyngoscopies, joint injections, casting, and numerous other procedures are performed regularly in the on-site procedure rooms.

The Sacramento clinic is located near downtown Sacramento, and serves an urban population diverse in ethnicity, education, income, culture, language, and age. The clinic has 15 residents, several core faculty members, an incredible support staff, and several associate faculty members who enjoy precepting and teaching. Specialists from many disciplines are readily available for advice.

The Sutter Davis clinic is located in the college/agricultural town of Davis, about 20 minutes west of Sacramento. Here, residents and faculty work closely together to care for a diverse patient population, from farmers to university professors. Our clinic has 6 residents, several core faculty members, adjunct faculty preceptors and community FM physicians whose doors are always open for consults. We have the unique opportunity to learn in-patient medicine at a small community hospital (while keeping the support of the tertiary care consultants a phone call away). Plus, our community is full of parks and greenbelts and hosts a phenomenal Farmer's market.

The Amador Clinic is located in the small town of Jackson, a little over an hour from Sacramento. Residents and faculty will care for a diverse population and will work cooperatively on the many issues unique to rural areas. Our clinic will have 4 residents and a full complement of core faculty and community faculty preceptors. The nearby Sutter Amador Hospital facilities will also support the clinic.