LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — “Build it and they will come,” and they have. The Mercy Health St Rita’s Graduate Medical Education Center is attracting residents from across the country — and keeping many of them in the region.
Program officials say about 30% of their medical residents remain in the area after completing their degree, helping to fill much-needed physician positions that have gone unfilled in recent years. Dr. JJ Sreenan, program director of community medicine for the MD Track at Ohio State College of Medicine, said the program is expanding health services across the region.
“We've expanded our physician services and family medicine throughout the area. We have several staying here in the hospitalist service not just at St. Rita's either. Some of them are in the region and at some of the other local hospitals as well.”
Mercy Health Saint Rita’s is the only hospital working in conjunction with the Ohio State College of Medicine to educate students interested in pursuing community and rural health medicine, a field facing persistent staffing shortages nationwide.
