Altru Family Medicine Residency has proudly served the community of Grand Forks and the surrounding region since 1976. The residency educates family medicine physicians to practice full scope comprehensive medicine across the spectrum of health care. This is achieved with a commitment to provide the skills and background to care for patients in all settings, including the unique challenge of rural medicine.
The residency program has a collegial-supportive group of people who work cooperatively to educate young minds and provide care for our patients. Our curriculum has a solid foundation in hospital-based and ambulatory care, obstetrics, sports medicine, addressing social determinants of health, and point-of-care ultrasound. We offer a fellowship in surgical obstetrics to improve resident education and provide additional training opportunities beyond completion of residency.
Curriculum Highlights
Strong Inpatient Care
Residents work alongside Altru's family medicine inpatient call team to care for hospitalized patients. Each resident will complete at least 7 months of inpatient training and will spend a minimum of two weeks in a night float system each academic year. Inpatient rotations cover a broad range of topics relevant to family medicine and provide great learning opportunities.
High Volume Obstetrical Care
Residents are required to complete a minimum of five months of inpatient obstetrics with the opportunity to complete more as elective rotations. Residents cover the labor and delivery floor and work alongside OB/GYN physicians and the OB fellows to deliver routine and high-risk pregnancy care. Residents rountinely finish residency with more than 100 deliveries and average 10 continuity OB patients.
Focus on Rural Care
Rotations and moonlighting opportunities available in smaller communities throughout eastern North Dakota and northern Minnesota. All residents in their third year of training complete a required four-week rotation working in the clinic and emergency room setting in Devils Lake, ND and Grafton, ND.
Population and Community Health
Residents step outside the traditional clinic to better understand how community, environment, access to care, and social factors influence health. Experiences include community-based organizations such as MyAlly Health, correctional health at the Grand Forks County Correctional Center, and home-based care, providing firsthand experience caring for patients across diverse settings and circumstances.
Advanced Ultrasound Technology
Build confidence in point-of-care ultrasound through hands-on training throughout residency. Our program features several state-of-the-art cart-based ultrasound systems, and every resident receives a handheld Butterfly IQ+ ultrasound device for use during training. Residents learn alongside faculty with expertise in diagnostic ultrasound and ultrasound-guided procedures, developing practical skills they can carry into any future practice setting.
Share Knowledge, Build Connections
Residents will step into the teaching role when working with medical, pharmacy, and athletic training students- developing your leadership and mentorship skills.
Learn about acting internships with our program
Resident Wellness
Altru FMR prioritizes the well-being of our residents. Throughout the year, activities are planned for the residents to promote a healthy work-life balance. Residents engage in a variety of activities from, yoga, UND Hockey games, curling, grabbing a treat, holiday parties, and of course- dog parties!
Resident Education
Once a month, the residents have a designated learning time to focus on hands-on learning centered on a specific clinical skill related to Family Medicine. These workshops provide time to practice procedures in a supportive, educational environment.
Skills covered include:
• Casting and splitting
• IUD Placement
• Ultrasound guided injections
• Perineal Repairs
• Toenail removal /knot typing
• FAST/RUSH/IVC Ultrasound
• Vasectomy
• Colposcopy
Contact Us
If you have questions about the program or admission requirements, please contact Dr. Travis Waswick, Program Director, or Kelsey Huttunen, Residency Supervisor at:
Dr. Travis Waswick
Program Director
travis.waswick@altru.org
Kelsey Huttunen
Residency Supervisor
khuttunen@altru.org
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