South Carolina’s rural physician pipeline
Train here.
Belong here.
Serve here.
The SCMA GME Consortium is a statewide collaboration led by the South Carolina Medical Association and Integral Leaders in Health, building a new pipeline of family physicians who are medically trained, socially prepared and ready to build lasting careers in the state’s rural communities.
The first Rural Training Track is being developed in Newberry — through a collaboration of physicians, hospitals, educators, community leaders and philanthropic partners.
Program at a glance
Rigorous training. Deep community roots. Independent practice.
- Year 1 with an urban tertiary hospital partner
- Years 2 & 3 with a rural partner hospital and community practices
- Training in obstetrics, psychiatry, pediatrics, general surgery and emergency medicine
- Full-spectrum family medicine — including practicing as an independent physician
Why start in Newberry
The first community in a statewide vision.
Newberry is the launching point for the Consortium’s rural training model. It brings together the essential ingredients: experienced physicians, a community hospital, committed partners and a community willing to invest in its own future.
The lessons, relationships and infrastructure developed in Newberry will establish a foundation for the Consortium’s broader work. The goal is not a program only for Newberry — but a model that can strengthen the physician pipeline for rural communities across South Carolina.
How the residency works
A three-year path — from broad clinical foundation to rural practice.
Year 1
Build a strong clinical foundation
Residents begin with an urban tertiary hospital partner, gaining broad clinical experience, confidence and exposure to complex care.
Years 2 & 3
Become part of rural practice
Training shifts to the rural partner hospital and community practices. Residents build continuity with patients and experience the full scope of community-based family medicine.
Beyond graduation
Stay, lead and serve
Graduates understand the clinical, business and community dimensions of rural practice — prepared to care for patients, lead teams, advocate and sustain independent or community-based practices.
From first class to permanent pipeline
A durable cycle of care, teaching and physician leadership.
At maturity, the program can graduate three rural-ready family physicians every year. Each graduate may care for approximately 2,000–2,500 patients — a sustainable cycle of care, teaching and leadership.
Join the work
Future residents and future faculty.
Future residents — train with purpose.
Learn full-spectrum family medicine, build meaningful patient relationships and develop the clinical, leadership and practice skills to thrive in rural care. The first class is anticipated to begin in 2028.
Future faculty — teach what matters.
Mentor the next generation, help shape a community-centered curriculum and pass along the practical judgment that comes from real practice — through clinical teaching, specialty rotations, practice-leadership education, curriculum development and mentorship.
Program Policy Manual link to be added before launch.
Help shape the future of South Carolina
There is a place for you in this work.
Whether you’re considering a career in rural family medicine, interested in teaching, exploring a partnership or looking to make a philanthropic investment — let’s talk.