ISU Family Medicine Residency welcomes eight physicians, one to be inaugural member of Rexburg Rural Training Track
The Idaho State University Family Medicine Residency Program welcomes this week a new class of resident physicians - seven in Pocatello and one who will eventually fill the brand new Rexburg Rural Training Track seat. The group of physicians will begin their residency internships in June.
All eight residents will begin their specialized family medicine training at ISU's base program, located in Pocatello. One of the residents, Dr. Colby Brower, will move to Fall River Family Medicine and Urgent Care after his first year, and then complete two years of training there. The ISU residency programs received approval and partial funding to expand with one residency slot in Rexburg in October 2018, and hopes to add another slot in the coming years.
Dr. Austin Gillette, the site director in Rexburg, is an ISU alumni, as is Dr. Kelly Dustin, one of the core faculty. Rachel Gillette is the site-coordinator in Rexburg, all three individuals were hired specifically for this endeavor.
JJ Bennett is from Tulane University School of Medicine. He hails from Maple Grove, Minnesota. JJ has come to ISU FMR to train as a rural family physician. He currently volunteers at a medical clinic with a focus on the homeless, undocumented, and underprivileged. He has a love of the outdoors, which blends well with his rural focused ambition. He enjoys woodworking, camping, reading, and kayaking, having completed a 6-week solo journey from Seattle to Alaska.
Buck Courtney is from the University Of New Mexico School Of Medicine. Buck hails from Las Cruces, New Mexico. He comes to ISU FMR to full-spectrum family medicine training for underserved populations. He would also like his future practice to include wilderness medicine, search & rescue, and disaster relief. Buck enjoys adventure photography, cross-country skiing, and boxing, having been a former Golden Gloves boxer.
Logan Jones comes to ISU from Campbell University School of Medicine. Logan hails from a cattle ranch in Rigby, Idaho. He has drawn inspiration to practice family medicine from Rigby’s own physician, who cared for three generations of its citizens. Medicine is a second career for Logan, having been a contractor for many years. Logan enjoys outdoor recreation, architecture, building and woodworking, as well as traveling to new places with this family.
James Marble comes to ISU from Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. James hails from Layton, Utah. His interest in training in family medicine comes from the inspiration he receives from working with patients and their families, wanting to support them throughout their lives. James has a passion for cooking, providing extravagant meals for his friends & family, and is competitive board gamer.
Jessica Martin comes from the University of Washington School of Medicine in the Targeted Rural and Underserved Track (TRUST) program, which helps to prepare medical students for working in underserved rural areas and small cities throughout Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. Jessica hails from Lewiston, Idaho. Jessica enjoys the company of good friends and her family, and she has a love for theater, including performing, set design, and especially directing.
Tyson Torgersen comes from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Tyson hails from Escalante, Utah. Escalante is a 75-minute drive from the nearest hospital and was without their medical clinic for 2 to 3 years (due to fire), so Tyson has a unique perspective and direct experience of what an underserved, rural community can at times endure without local medical care. Tyson enjoys a variety of hobbies, including woodworking, rebuilding small engines and motorcycles, outdoor recreation, and long-range rifle shooting.
Marcos Valdez is from the University of Utah School of Medicine. Marcos hails from Sandy, Utah. He comes to ISU FMR to train for full-spectrum, underserved, rural family medicine. He has a heart for free clinics, caring for and meeting the needs of those with little or no resources. “He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything” encapsulates the spirit of one such clinic in which he has volunteered. Marcos enjoys outdoor recreation, bike polo, and road rallying (cars).
Colby Brower is our first resident to match into our Rexburg Rural Training Track, which means he will spend his first year in Pocatello, and his second and third years in Rexburg. He comes to us from the University of Washington School of Medicine and is also in the TRUST program, which helps to prepare medical students for working in underserved rural areas and small cities throughout Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. Colby hails from Saint Anthony, Idaho. Colby enjoys outdoor recreating, team roping, baking, and good movies.
Since its creation 25 years ago, the ISU Family Medicine Residency has graduated 130 physicians, half of whom are now practicing in Idaho. These graduates provide care for 120,000 Idahoans.
