Clinton, NC – Dr. Jeremy Joy is proud to practice medicine in the county he grew up in. After attending University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he went to Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans for a change of pace.

“I realized while I was in medical school that I really wanted to come back home and serve the community that I grew up in. So, when I was looking at residency programs, Sampson Regional Medical Center offered the best way for me to learn different specialties of medicine,” said Dr. Joy.

He was accepted into Sampson Regional Medical Center’s Family Medicine Residency Program, a three-year residency program in a rural county, one of North Carolina’s largest.

Designed to be a comprehensive program, residents receive clinical, procedural and didactic education in inpatient and outpatient settings. As an unopposed residency program, residents become community physicians. Dr. Joy is one of four residents in his class, allowing for more direct mentorship and instruction from hospital staff and partner institution, Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine.

“We learned cardiology, endocrinology, OBGYN…I really enjoyed the idea of medicine where I can learn about the heart, learn about diabetes, learn about the kidneys, and I wanted a specialty that allowed me to wear different hats and gain the knowledge of different aspects of the human body because I felt like I could treat someone holistically if I knew a little bit about everything,” said Dr. Joy.

Through this partnership, residents have access to an online medical library, support for resident research, access to the simulation center and procedure center, and opportunities to learn new skills from faculty. Dr. Joy says having Campbell University’s support has been beneficial.

“Having Campbell supporting us has been very helpful in terms of honing our skills, being that Campbell’s only an hour away. It’s nice for them to be relatively close so we can take advantage of their state-of-the-art equipment and their instructors who are very knowledgeable in point of care ultrasound, delivery techniques, IV techniques, and line techniques,” says Dr. Joy.

Programs and partnerships like this one are creating more skilled care professionals in rural communities where physician shortages are felt strongly. According to the National Rural Health Association, rural areas have approximately 30 physicians or specialists per 100,000 people, compared to 263 physicians or specialists per 100,000 people in urban areas. This often leads to patients delaying when they seek care.

“When you practice medicine in rural communities, a lot of the patients you see are farmers and people who generally don’t see the doctor very often, but they’re the salt of the earth, some of the kindest and most generous people. They’re very grateful for the service you give. When they do reach out for help, it’s very important that you show them empathy and really work with them to help improve their health.”

The community connection is what drew Dr. Joy to Sampson Regional Medical Center, and the most rewarding part of his work is seeing the progress of his neighbors. As he finishes his third year in the program, he hopes to continue serving in rural communities. To learn more about the Sampson Regional Medical Center Family Medicine Residency, click here.