Family Medicine Residency program honors graduate

This article appeared in the August 2022 edition of the Chickasaw Times

ADA, Okla. - The Chickasaw Nation Family Medicine Residency Program and Oklahoma State University Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma honored a graduate of the program during a June 23 ceremony at East Central University.

Chief Resident Dr. Ying Tang, D.O., completed his three-year residency program at the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center.

“Dr. Tang has led the residency program through the COVID-19 pandemic,” Chickasaw Nation Under Secretary of Medical Staff/Quality Dr. John Krueger said. “He has also led during a period of intense transition and growth. He has helped establish the residency program as a leading program in southern Oklahoma.”

Governor Bill Anoatubby presented Dr. Tang with his diploma, along with presenting other awards to residents and attending physicians. Dr. Tang is one of nine residents who studied at the Medical Center during the 2021-2022 academic year.

A first-generation U.S. citizen, Dr. Tang is from Hangzhou, China. He immigrated to America with his parents when he was 11. He graduated medical school at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York. Dr. Tang accepted a Hospital Medicine Fellowship at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana.

“It has been a privilege to serve the Chickasaw people, to serve First American people,” Dr. Tang said. “It is an underserved population. I think physicians should be in areas where they are needed most.”

Dr. Tang began his residency at the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center in 2019, just prior to onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. COVID-19 had a dramatic effect on all the residents honing their craft at the Medical Center.

“The COVID experience was a different level,” Dr. Tang said. “COVID changed health care. We had a significant increase in patient loads.”

Dr. Tang was seeing more patients than average, and the way he saw them was unique. Medical professionals relied on technology and telemedicine to see patients and help prevent the spread of the virus.

The Chickasaw Nation Family Medicine Residency Program provides opportunities for residents to grow professionally and personally in a hospital setting, and prepares residents for careers as family practitioners.

“I interviewed at a couple of residency programs,” Dr. Tang said. “The main reason I chose (the Chickasaw Nation) is because of the beautiful hospital with the newly-renovated operating room and surgical departments. This is a family medicine program. This means I am fully engaged. I am expected to do rotations in every department and specialty (clinic) within the hospital.”

According to Family Residency program director Dr. Marilyn Hines, this residency program is tailored for family medicine.

“Family practitioners take care of patients of any age,” Dr. Hines said. “They manage most issues, but sometimes a specialist is called in. People usually receive the bulk of their care from family practitioners.”

The residency program is divided into yearlong sections, which is further divided into smaller “blocks.” First-year blocks typically include training in emergency room care, the intensive care unit and pediatrics, among other medical areas.

“The first year of residency is the most difficult,” Dr. Tang said. “Everything is new. The stress level is high.

“The second year was easiest. By then, I knew the faculty and attending (doctors). I had also learned my way around town to do personal things. I was able to select two electives that interested me. The third year was tough. I was chief resident of the program. Third-year residents help first-and second-year residents. Administrative work is a big part of third year for all residents.”

The residency program has both economic and social benefits for the community. Graduates of medical residency programs tend to establish a practice or become active providers where they train. It also promotes the high standard of health care already established at the Medical Center.

“Chickasaw Nation Family Medicine Residency Program began with the vision of Governor Anoatubby,” Dr. Hines said. “He has faith in this project. He has supported the residency program for the last four years. It continues to grow and be recognized as a great residency program.”

Space in the Chickasaw Nation Family Medicine Residency Program is limited to 12 residents. No more than four incoming residents are selected to participate each year. This ensures quality instruction is provided to each resident. Doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) and medicine (M.D.) are represented in the program.
After launching in 2018, the OSU and Chickasaw Nation Family Medicine Residency Program has maintained a reputation of offering compassionate and quality health care at the Medical Center. It joined the Chickasaw Nation Pharmacy Residency Program, which began in 2008, in bringing talented new groups of doctors and pharmacists to assist with medical needs in the Chickasaw Nation.

“We worked closely with pharmacy residents,” Dr. Tang said. “They gave us presentations every week on different drugs and what they are used for. We did rotations with them. They were available to answer questions about drugs we needed to prescribe to patients.”

About the Chickasaw Nation Family Medicine Residency Program

The Chickasaw Nation Medical Center’s unique state-of-the-art facility and experienced medical staff provide the environment, skills and knowledge necessary for residents’ success. The Medical Center provides residents with excellent opportunities to grow, both professionally and personally, through “hands-on” learning and evidenced-based medicine.

Talented staff, curriculum and strong commitment allow residents to serve the First American population while gaining a unique education. The Chickasaw Nation Family Medicine Residency Program trains competent and compassionate family physicians. The program’s philosophy is that family medicine is the foundation of all medical care.

“The residency programs has many strengths,” Dr. Tang said. “It is expanding at a rapid rate. This year, we recruited a full load of residents. We have strong faculty and attendings (doctors) from top medical schools from across the nation. They are building a new room just for the residents.”

The Medical Center’s residency program provides a wide array of medical conditions. It is built upon core knowledge and skills derived from traditional medical principles and surgical models. The program’s approach is designed to consistently deliver quality care that is patient-centered, personal and comprehensive.

Seasoned doctors who guide residents provide training that emphasizes fundamental principles of family medicine. This includes comprehensive and holistic service, cultural sensitivity and care of the highest quality.

“When I started, we had three days of orientation,” Dr. Tang said. “This included a trip to the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur. We learned about the Chickasaw Nation and the history of the Chickasaw people. Elders are important to Chickasaw families. Family is important to First Americans. This is similar in Asian culture.”
The program provides an environment for residents to learn in the hospital, ambulatory and community settings. By doing this, residents master the ability to provide a full scope of care for their patients during residency and during their career after graduation.

Doctors interested in fulfilling their residency within the expanding number of health facilities, programs and services of the Chickasaw Nation can visit Chickasaw.net/CNFMR.

From this webpage, visitors will find links to criteria and applications, as well as information regarding curriculum, facilities, faculty and staff, salary, benefits, and the community surrounding the Medical Center.