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St. Luke’s Magic Valley welcomes new physicians home for residencies
Each year, St. Luke’s welcomes two residents through the Family Medicine Residency of Idaho (FMRI) program in the Magic Valley.
This year is no exception; it is noteworthy, though.
“It’s our first class of all local residents,” said Dr. Joshua Kern, St. Luke’s, program director for the Magic Valley. “They will be here for the next three years of their training.”
Dr. Lauren Nesbit from Rupert and Dr. Jameson Bastow from Twin Falls joined the residency program June 29. As with other residents in previous years, they will work with St. Luke’s throughout the Magic Valley.
The program in the Magic Valley has graduated a total of 16 residents since it was established in 2009; St. Luke’s has been partnering with FMRI for more than 40 years.
As is true in other rural areas, Idaho experiences physician shortages. The program is one of the ways St. Luke’s and FMRI partner to give new physicians a taste of rural practice and exposure to professional settings they might not otherwise consider.
Here, we interview the new residents.
Dr. Jameson Bastow
Q: Where are you from?
A: I was born and raised in Twin Falls. I graduated from Twin Falls High School in 2008.
Q: What was your favorite part of growing up in the Magic Valley?
A: I have always loved the diversity of the people in the Magic Valley and the diversity of the outdoors. I grew up always getting outdoors with my family and the Boy Scouts. I also worked at Swensen's Market on Addison Ave. for a long while. During my time there, and throughout my schooling, I was able to meet people from all over the world by way of the refugee program. It has prepared me for a lot of my current experiences.
Q: Why did you decide to do your residency here?
A: My wife is from Jerome as well, and we are a busy family with two toddlers. As a resident, I will be spending long hours between St. Luke's in Twin, Boise and Jerome, and knowing that my wife and children have the support of both of our families is a huge relief that enables me to keep learning to become the best Idaho physician I can.
I interviewed at some of the top programs in the country to train rural family physicians, and ultimately, I felt that the Magic Valley residency was the best place for me to get the training I need to be a diverse and competent, rural family doctor. The program is small enough that I can tailor my training to how I envision my future practice and to be able to handle more advanced procedures that rural areas are in need of. Small program, but big-time doctors.
And finally, when I came here to interview and work with the residents that were already here, I noticed they were happy. It's easy for residents to lose themselves, and burnout is real.
Q: What are you most looking forward to during your residency program?
A: I am most looking forward to making connections with patients and other providers. There is nothing better than taking care of individuals and families that become your friends. I also am excited to grow as a physician and person; there is always more learning out there!
Q: What would you like the community to know about you, or about being a resident?
A: I am a fluent Spanish speaker and love seeing Spanish-speaking patients! The large Latino population in the Magic Valley was another major factor in my choice to come back for residency.
I am proud to be a Bruin (Twin Falls High School), a Golden Eagle (College of Southern Idaho), and a Bengal (Idaho State University). I graduated from all three schools.
Q: What are your plans after residency, if you know?
A: Right now, my plans are to seek a fellowship in surgical obstetrics or caesarean sections to prepare myself for rural practice. Throughout medical school, I was on scholarship through the National Health Service Corps to become a rural family doctor. Once all my training is done, I have committed to at least four years of practice in a high-need, rural community. My preference would be somewhere in the Magic Valley or Central Idaho.
Dr. Lauren Nesbit
Q: Where are you from?
A: I'm from outside Rupert, Idaho. My parents still live in the house I grew up in outside of Rupert.
Q: What was your favorite part of growing up in the Magic Valley?
A: What's not to love?! Growing up here, there is a real sense of community and strong agricultural roots. People still wave when driving down the road. I can walk in any café and feel right at home. There is wonderful friendliness here that you can't get in bigger cities.
Q: Why did you decide to do your residency here?
A: It was a no-brainer for me. I love this area. I love rural family medicine. The FMRI Magic Valley program is one of the best family medicine residency programs in the country. I want to practice in the Magic Valley long-term. All the pieces of the puzzle fit together.
Q: What are you most looking forward to during your residency program?
A: Definitely the patients. The people in the Magic Valley are my friends and family. To serve them as their physician is such a privilege.
Q: What would you like the community to know about you, or about being a resident?
A: I raise cattle and horses with my significant other, and we have two dogs. I also have my own small business making “wild rags.” They're a traditional western scarf that a lot of cowboys wear.
Residency is a very intense learning period for physicians, and we really appreciate the community’s support.
Q: What are your plans after residency, if you know?
A: I would like to practice somewhere in the Magic Valley after residency, preferably in a smaller town.
St. Luke’s Residencies
St. Luke’s offers multiple residency programs to support the development of expertise and competency in providing care to a wide variety of patients, and partners with other institutions to offer graduate medical education physician residency programs across three primary disciplines: family medicine, internal medicine and psychiatry.
About The Author
Michelle Bartlome is the public relations manager at St. Luke's Magic Valley.
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