HRSA’s Teaching Health Center Planning and Development Program awards CCI nearly $500,000 in funding to establish a family medicine program in response to health care challenges in the county.

SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND, November 29, 2021 – CCI Health & Wellness Services has been awarded a grant totaling nearly $500,000 by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to fund a physician residency program in Prince George’s County. As a result, CCI will officially become the first Teaching Health Center in Maryland.

The Teaching Health Center Planning and Development Program supports the development of new and accredited primary care residency programs to directly address physician shortages and other health care access challenges in underserved communities. Designated Teaching Health Centers such as CCI help ensure that the primary care field continues to grow and thrive for physicians and patients alike.

In recent years, Prince George’s County has demonstrated a critical need for primary care clinicians in the region and improved health outcomes among the population. The current distribution of clinicians is uneven and disproportionately favors some areas over others. There is also a shortage of culturally competent and bilingual clinicians, further deterring access among underserved populations.

“Right now, there are simply not enough medical clinicians to meet Prince George’s County’s growing need,” said Dr. Melissa Clark, CCI’s Chief Medical Officer. “But by partnering with HRSA to develop a Teaching Health Center at CCI, we can change that. In a few short years, we expect to see greater health access and signs of a healthier, more empowered Prince George’s County.”

CCI’s primary care residency program will begin in 2024 in partnership with Adventist HealthCare Fort Washington Medical Center. Residents will split their time between the Greenway and Greenbelt health centers to gain experience with the organization’s comprehensive health services, including primary care, family planning, pediatrics, HIV/ID, nutrition, refugee health, and more. The program’s duration will be three years and comprise 12 actively enrolled residents.

“This grant will be a gamechanger in Prince George’s County, neighbors we know and love,” said President and CEO Dr. Sonya Bruton. “From the community-focused, culturally competent training physicians will receive, to the expanded workforce pipeline within the county, many doors are about to open in the pursuit of health equity. I am grateful to HRSA for their trust in CCI’s approach to community health.

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CCI Health & Wellness Services: Founded in 1972, CCI Health & Wellness Services is a 501©3 nonprofit organization providing quality, affordable health care to patients in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. In addition, CCI empowers underserved populations and advocates for a more equitable health care system.