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Each year, United Family Medicine (UFM) residents look forward to the opportunity to share their stories and the collective impact of their Community-Oriented Primary Care (COPC) projects with the community. Residents develop a project in the first year of their training that allows them to embrace a specific area of interest, learn about the communities’ health needs and partner with community agencies. Each project is fostered over three years with active engagement, management and analysis by the residents.

COPC is a core focus of the United Family Medicine Residency Program (UFMRP). Established in 1993 and sponsored by Allina Health, the UFMRP trains family practice residents to work in underserved communities with a socioeconomically and culturally diverse patient population. COPC projects empower residents to identify environmental and social causes of ill health and develop an approach for addressing them to promote greater health in a designated community group.

Projects Presented By Third-Year Residents

Increasing Youth Cycling in West 7th

Christine Ripp, MD

A program focused on access, education and bike safety. Families receive instructed guidance on bike and helmet safety at the annual UFM Block Party. Participating children receive a free helmet and enter to win one of 20 bicycles.

Tena Today

Bisrat Fekadu, MD

A group intervention for Ethiopian youth in St. Paul designed to increase health literacy specific to mental and sexual health, and promote interest in pursuing a college and medical education within this community.

STRIDE Squad

Shannon Fleming, MD 

Dane Nimako, MD

A group weight loss program for individuals living with serious mental illness. Residents partnered with RADIAS Health, monitoring weight, activity, sleep, and diet, and fielding surveys to assess quality of life and knowledge of healthy lifestyle choices.

From the Prison System to a Healthier Life

Kate Howard, MD

Rebecca Zimmerman, MD

A program to assess the healthcare needs of formerly incarcerated individuals and identify barriers to seeking medical services. A partnership with RS EDEN’s community residential program that houses men recently released from a correctional facility.

SNAP to Salud: Improving Health through Nutrition

Jeff Sachs, MD

A partnership with the University of Minnesota’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) offering cooking courses for Spanish-speaking community members. Courses focus on culturally-relevant nutritional information, food access and preparation options to improve health in the local Latino community.

Projects Presented By Second-Year Residents

The Ladder, Jenny Zhang, MD, Matt Haugen, MD

Eliminating Food Insecurities, Adrianne Chesser, MD, PhD

Where is Care, Carrie Wojick, MD

Healthcare Advocacy, Sarah Carlson, MD

Mile in My Shoes, Ngoc Pham, MD

Want to learn more or support our programs?

Contact Riley Karbon in Advancement at 651-241-1103 or rkarbon@unitedfamilymedicine.org. Or Katherine Guthrie, MD, UFMRP faculty at 651-241-1006 or kguthrie@unitedfamilymedicine.org.

United Family Medicine

United Family Medicine