New Medical Residents Arrive to Alleviate Doctor Shortage in Madras

Madras, Ore. (KTVZ) – Two new medical residents have joined Madras this summer as part of a program sponsored by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), addressing the region’s shortage of primary care doctors.

Dr. Ben Khalil and Dr. Callie Krewson are the first participants in the inaugural graduate medical education program in Central Oregon. Each resident will care for about 300 to 400 patients, with the program aiming to serve over 900 patients in its first year, an expanding number as more doctors complete their training.

For Dr. Krewson, a native of Bend, returning has been a special experience. “It’s been really great to kind of expand my horizons in a place that I know well, but with a group of people that I don’t know as well,” she said.

The residents began their training at OHSU before moving to Jefferson County for hands-on experience that includes family medicine, emergency care, and hospital medicine. “They’re learning everything they need to provide broad-spectrum care in a rural environment,” said Jinnell Lewis, the Rural Track Program Director.

Encountering a smaller community brings challenges, such as limited access to specialists. “In rural settings, often specialists are much less available,” Krewson explained. “So there’s a different focus on doing as much as you can in this setting and relying on specialists in different ways.”

Overnight schedules have become routine for the residents, who often rest in hospital headquarters during long shifts. “We do sleep in the hospital. Not every night,” Dr. Khalil said. “But there are times that we’re on call for 24 hours.”

Lewis highlighted the urgent need for more physicians across Oregon, particularly in Jefferson County. “In Oregon, we have had a shortage of over 100 primary care physicians,” Lewis noted. “In Jefferson County, our primary care provider ratios to patients are significantly higher than expected.”

This shortage has resulted in patients traveling far for care or using emergency rooms for routine health issues, leading to delays in treatment. Research from the St. Charles Foundation shows that about 55% of physicians stay near their residency locations. This implies that the Three Sisters Rural Track Program could contribute over 20 new doctors to the area in the next decade, aiding 20,000 to 40,000 residents.

Khalil expressed gratitude for the welcoming attitude from the community, stating, “Everyone here has been so excited for us to be here, and that’s made things easy.”

Support for the Three Sisters Rural Track Program can be shown through donations to the St. Charles Foundation.