St. Francis Medical Center launches new residency programs to address physician shortage

Photo courtesy St. Francis Medical Center

LYNWOOD — St. Francis Medical Center has announced the launch of new medical residency programs in internal medicine and psychiatry, marking a major step toward addressing the growing physician shortage in Southeast Los Angeles and beyond.

The programs, which began this month, are part of the Prime West Consortium, affiliated with the California University of Science and Medicine in Colton. The initiative comes as the nation faces a projected shortfall of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, according to the American Medical Association. Shortages are expected to be most severe in primary care and mental health specialties.

“Southeast Los Angeles is already a designated Health Professional Shortage Area,” said St. Francis CEO Clay Farell. “We only have 56 primary care doctors per 100,000 people, when the ideal is 80. These new Graduate Medical Education programs are a long-term investment in the health of our community.”

The internal medicine program is led by Dr. Anantjit Singh, a longtime cardiologist at St. Francis who emphasized the hands-on, service-oriented nature of the training. “Our residents will treat a population with a high rate of chronic disease, economic challenges, and limited access to care,” Singh said. “We’re preparing them to deliver evidence-based, cost-effective, and compassionate care in the real world.”

Meanwhile, the psychiatry residency is headed by Dr. Anil Sharma, who noted the importance of balance and flexibility in medical training. “We encourage professional autonomy while providing appropriate supervision,” Sharma said. “This prepares residents to succeed as clinical psychiatrists in today’s complex healthcare environment.”

Residents are already treating patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings under the supervision of experienced physicians. Clinical training is integrated with educational seminars, procedural workshops, and interdisciplinary coordination at the hospital, which serves as the program’s primary site.

The residency programs aim not only to prepare physicians for certification exams, but also to develop well-rounded doctors committed to lifelong learning, diversity, and community service. Hospital leaders hope many graduates will choose to remain in the region after completing their training.

Founded in 1945, St. Francis Medical Center is a key healthcare provider in Southeast Los Angeles, offering a wide range of specialties including cardiology, trauma, maternal-child health, behavioral health, and orthopedics. It operates a busy emergency department and is designated as a STEMI and Stroke Receiving Center, as well as a Level II Trauma Center.