The Family Medicine Residency of Western Montana (FMRWM) and the College of Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences (CHPBS) are partnering with Tribal Health of The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to provide cultural humility training for resident physicians and students, clinical learning opportunities through Tribal Health, education for current rural healthcare practitioners, and work toward developing new healthcare services at Tribal Health clinics. The program will train resident physicians and students of other health professions to be better prepared to work within interdisciplinary teams to provide the highest quality care for American Indian populations after graduation. The program will also allow for new models of care to be developed that utilize the resources of FMRWM and CHPBS to bring services to Tribal Health clinics, which previously have not been available. The goal is for these care models to be replicable in order to expand and provide improved access and care for other undeserved populations. The project is funded by a two-year grant from the Montana Healthcare Foundation. 

"This is an exciting and unique opportunity for residents and students to learn from and develop greater interest in working with American Indian populations after graduation. The chance to work together in interdisciplinary teams and provide enormous benefit for both the learners as well as the people they work with," said Darin Bell, MD, Assistant Director of Rural Education at the Family Medicine Residency Western Montana.