Working with Great Tradition and People

The training program in Family Medicine was established in 1974 under the direction of Dr. Robert Smith who is still on faculty as Emeritus Professor in Family Medicine. For the first 20 years the program was based at University Hospital with a large family practice center located on campus. In 1994 the program, still sponsored by University Hospital, moved to a small community hospital, Providence Hospital, and was located there for 10 years. In July, 2003 the program moved to the Christ Hospital and is now sponsored by this excellent institution.

The Program has had outstanding program directors. Andy Filak, MD was the program director from 1985-1991. In his current role as the Associate Dean of Medical Education at the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Filak continues to provide oversight and mentoring to the program. Dr. Jeffrey Heck was program director from 1991 to 1999 and created the international health track and led the program to national prominence in this area. Dr. Heck is now Director, Division of Family Medicine Mountain Area Health Education Consortium and Professor, University of North Carolina, and continues to serve as consultant and advisor to the program. Dr. Diller has been the program director since 1999 and has helped to refine and expand the international health and care of underserved populations into a longitudinal curriculum. Dr. Diller has an interest in the history of medicine and has created a model to better teach the art of medicine to residents and students. All three of these program directors have been selected by the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians as Educators of the Year. In 2006 Dr. Diller was selected by the American Academy of Family Physicians as the Full-time Exemplary Educator of the Year.

Having strong leadership attracts outstanding faculty and this has been the case since 1985. The current residency faculty are enthusiastic and committed individuals who continually seek to improve the quality of the program. We believe it is the people in the program --faculty and residents who create a culture of learning--that makes a program. We invite you to come and meet us.