AdventHealth Ocala set to welcome family medicine residents

From left, Fran Crunk (AdventHealth Ocala CFO), Donoffa Nelson, DO, (DipABLM, to AdventHealth Medical Group Family Medicine), Dr. Klive Forde, MD (AdventHealth Ocala Family Medicine Residency Program Director), Erika Skula (AdventHealth Ocala President and CEO), Karen Edge (practice manager at AdventHealth Family Medicine GME Ocala), Dr. Janice Bedford, MD (AdventHealth Medical Group Family Medicine) and Cynthia Perez-Patterson (AdventHealth Family Medicine Residency Coordinator. [Photo courtesy AdventHealth]

Eight new physicians are joining AdventHealth Ocala’s team to take their next steps to become fully licensed, board-certified family physicians. 

Before Match Day, which took place on March 21, the applicants interviewed at residency programs in the specialty of their choice and ranked their preferences. The residency programs also rank their preferences of applicants. The rank lists were then matched through the National Residency Match Program. On Match Day, the prospective residents found out where they are going to continue the next chapter of their medical careers.  

AdventHealth Ocala filled all of the eight open spots for its family medicine program and will welcome the new residents to Ocala in July.

“Graduate medical education is the final phase of medical training that equips physicians to become independent physicians in their specialty. We in AdventHealth also intend to train physicians to provide compassionate, whole-person care,” said Dr. Klive Forde, the Family Medicine Residency Program Director at AdventHealth Ocala in the news release.

“We are thrilled to welcome our new resident physician colleagues to AdventHealth. We look forward to helping nurture these talented and dedicated family medicine residents into compassionate and clinically outstanding physician leaders, who will work diligently to enhance healthcare in our community,” Forde continued. 

AdventHealth Ocala’s Clinic First residency curriculum emphasizes the importance of the family medicine outpatient practice as the primary site for clinical training. Residents will have the opportunity to work closely with attending physicians across all specialties and immerse themselves in AdventHealth’s whole-person care model, with residents guiding patients toward total wellness—mind, body, and spirit, noted the release.

“We are delighted to welcome these extraordinarily talented physicians to our AdventHealth family,” AdventHealth Ocala President and CEO Erika Skula said in the release. “Our incredible team is deeply committed to supporting them with their journey to become the next generation of healers and we are grateful to have them help care for our community.” 

“We are deeply committed to serving our community and ensuring health equity for all. Our program emphasizes providing care to underserved populations and working to eliminate health disparities. You will be part of a team dedicated to making a meaningful impact on the lives of those who need it most,” Forde stated on the program website.

AdventHealth Medical Group Family Medicine is located on the hospital campus at 221 SW 11th St., Ocala. Primary clinical rotations will occur mainly at the hospital.

To learn more, go to adventhealth.com/adventhealth-graduate-medical-education/family-medicine-residency-ocala