Family Medicine Clinical Rotations - Allen Hospital
Message from the Central Iowa Family Medicine Residency Program Director
Welcome to the UnityPoint Health – Des Moines Family Medicine Residency Program, now with tracks at Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines and Allen Hospital in Waterloo. Our Iowa Lutheran Hospital track has trained high-achieving family medicine physicians for over 50 years. In July of 2021, we added the Allen Hospital training track to our program and look forward to many years of success in Waterloo. Our program has a history of training residents for a wide range of careers. In the past five years we have had graduates practice in the following settings: rural full-scope family medicine, outpatient clinic, faculty positions, hospitalist medicine, emergency medicine, urgent care and direct primary care. Our graduates are consistently and highly recruited by multiple health systems across the Midwest.
Our Des Moines track trains primarily at Iowa Lutheran Hospital, a 225-bed community-based hospital within UnityPoint Health, the largest hospital system in the state of Iowa. This permits our residents to enjoy a small hospital atmosphere while still reaping the benefits and stability of a large hospital system. In addition to Iowa Lutheran Hospital, our Des Moines track residents benefit by rotating at other UnityPoint Health hospitals without having to leave town. These hospitals include Blank Children's Hospital, a dedicated pediatric center, and Iowa Methodist Medical Center, a level one trauma center and home to Central Iowa's largest birthing center. Our East Des Moines clinic completes over 25,000 patient visits per year and allows for a broad mix of pathology across a diverse patient population. UnityPoint Health – Des Moines currently leads the region in market share for every service line. This allows each resident to tailor his or her education with the assurances that the needed patient experiences and procedural opportunities will be attainable.
Our Waterloo track primarily trains at Allen Hospital. Allen Hospital was founded in 1925 and is now a 204-bed hospital that is recognized as a leading hospital for the Cedar Valley catchment area. For more than 40 years, Allen Hospital has provided training for family medicine residents but in 2021 became the primary site for our Waterloo track. Allen Hospital provides patient care in all service lines and offers the diversity in patients and pathology needed for a successful, well-rounded residency experience. The Waterloo track also includes our new Family Medicine Residency Clinic located at the larger UnityPoint Clinic – Prairie Parkway location. Prairie Parkway is a 90,000 sq. ft., three-story campus located on 20 acres in the growing Pinnacle Prairie area of Cedar Falls. This clinic represents a new care model that offers patients and families a "one-stop shop" for coordinated, comprehensive and patient-centered health care services.
Our two-track system has allowed us to innovate and change the way medical education is delivered. We are now able to share best practices across regions, lean on experts located at each track for lectures and education opportunities and better use health care dollars during these unprecedented times. In addition to being located in two regions, our program is also affiliated with the University of Iowa which gives our residents access to the resources and perks that come with an academic affiliation.
The best part of our program is the people. We have worked over many years to build a collegial atmosphere where everyone can learn in a non-threatening environment. Our faculty will look for ways to improve your medical knowledge and shape your education, all while focusing on wellness.
Please browse our website and reach out with any questions. Thank you for considering entrusting us with your education. Together, we can enhance our program and continue our successful tradition.
Best,
Alexandra Hubbell, DO
Message from the Associate Director – Allen Hospital - Waterloo Track
Welcome to the Allen Hospital Waterloo Track of the UnityPoint Health Central Iowa Family Medicine Residency Program. Family medicine residents have been trained at Allen Hospital for the past 42 years. In 2021, these positions joined the Central Iowa Family Medicine Residency Program in Des Moines. This collaboration allows us to improve continuity and coordination of care, as we aim to encourage family medicine physicians to build their medical practices in local communities. As an unopposed training site, residents have access to the breadth of patients seen at the hospital.
Allen Hospital is a 204-bed, not-for-profit hospital and the busiest in the Cedar Valley. It serves as a referral center for a 10-county service area and is a market share leader in most service lines. Allen Hospital offers the diversity in patients and pathology needed for a successful, well-rounded residency experience.
Located in a growing area of Cedar Falls, Iowa, UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine Residency – Prairie Parkway is minutes away from Allen Hospital. In addition to the residency program, the Prairie Parkway building houses therapy services, a pharmacy and a broad spectrum of primary care clinics including family medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN and an LGTBQ clinic. The proximity of these specialty clinics is optimal for resident rotational experience and convenient for patients.
In addition to training in these state-of-the-art facilities, residents also have the option of rotating at the other hospital and clinic sites affiliated with the Iowa Lutheran branch of the program in Des Moines. This includes Blank Children's Hospital and Iowa Methodist Medical Center. We are affiliated with the University of Iowa, which grants residents access to their Hardin Medical Library and other resources.
We are excited to welcome new residents into the UnityPoint Health family and look forward to learning more about you. We strive to provide a collegial environment that prepares residents for a rewarding career as a family physician. Thank you for taking the time to explore our website; please reach out to us with questions. At UnityPoint Health, we rely on all our team members to provide the best care for our patients. As a resident, we want you to know how much you matter to this world.
Best,
Adam Froyum Roise, MD
About Our Program
The Allen Hospital track of the Central Iowa Family Medicine Residency Program in Waterloo, Iowa, offers an unopposed, community-based environment, with a focus on treating patients and their families. Residents have trained in Allen Hospital for over 40 years, and the Prairie Parkway Residency Clinic was added in 2021 to continue this legacy. We tailor our program to meet your individual needs, while providing a full range of family medicine services. We will help you prepare for the ever-changing, real-world clinical environment.
Interested in knowing what a day in the life of our residents looks like? Watch the video below! We would love for you to join our amazing program and team. Here's proof!
Practice Facilities
UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine Residency – Prairie Parkway is located on the Prairie Parkway campus in Cedar Falls. Constructed in 2017, the building is the clinic and administrative space for the residency program. As one of several primary care clinics under the same roof, the residents are integrated into the environment of practicing family physicians. Here you'll learn how to manage and care for patients in a modern clinic.
Average Time Spent at Clinic
- First-year resident: 5 hours per week
- Second-year resident: 10 hours per week
- Third-year resident: 15-20 hours per week
UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine Residency – Prairie Parkway Includes:
- Clinic space for residents and faculty physicians to work side-by-side
- Ample didactic and resident workspace
- Well-established Epic Electronic Medical Record in use since 2005 (clinic and hospital)
- Workspace for each resident, equipped with a personal computer
- Reference library
- Osteopathic manipulation tables
Co-located at UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine Residency – Prairie Parkway are:
- Full-time clinical pharmacists and pharmacy residents
- On-site outpatient pharmacy
- Physical, occupational and speech therapy for children and adults
- Laboratory and technicians
- Radiology and technicians (including mammography, bone density and ultrasound)
- OB/GYN, endocrinology, pediatric, internal medicine and family medicine colleagues
The hospital has 204 staffed beds and specializes in cardiovascular care, maternity services, emergency and trauma treatment, chemical dependency treatment, behavioral medicine, general surgery, critical care, older adult services and home health care.
Other community clinics and organizations in which our residents participate include:
- Black Hawk Grundy Mental Health Center
- University of Northern Iowa Athletic Department
- Patient care at several area nursing homes
- Home visits
- Substance use treatment, including MAT therapy
- UnityPoint LGBTQ Clinic
- Black Hawk County Public Health Department
Curriculum
- Emergency Medicine (8 weeks)
- Family Medicine Ambulatory (8 weeks)
- Family Medicine Inpatient (8 weeks)
- Night Float (8 weeks)
- Obstetrics (8 weeks)
- Surgery (4 weeks)
- Behavioral Medicine (2 weeks)
- Cardiology (4 weeks)
- Community Medicine (4 weeks)
- Elective (4 weeks)
- Elective - Away (4 weeks)
- Family Medicine - Inpatient (4 weeks)
- Gynecology (4 weeks)
- ICU (4 weeks)
- NICU (2 weeks)
- Night Float (4 weeks)
- Obstetrics (4 weeks)
- Orthopedics (2 weeks)
- Pediatrics (4 weeks)
- Psychiatry (2 weeks)
- Sports Medicine (2 weeks)
- Ultrasound (2 weeks)
- Community-Based Practice (4 weeks)
- Dermatology (2 weeks)
- Electives (12 weeks)
- Electives - Away (4 weeks)
- Family Medicine Inpatient (4 weeks)
- Gastroenterology (2 weeks)
- Nephrology (2 weeks)
- Neurology (2 weeks)
- Night Float (4 weeks)
- Obstetrics (4 weeks)
- Ophthalmology (2 weeks)
- Orthopedics (2 weeks)
- Otolaryngology (2 weeks)
- Pediatrics (4 weeks)
- Pulmonology (2 weeks)
- Urology (2 weeks)
- Allergy
- Casting
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Gynecology
- High Risk OB
- Hospice
- Infectious Disease
- Office Cardiology
- Oncology
- Pain Management
- Palliative Care
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Perinatology
- Pharmacy
- Podiatry
- Rheumatology
- Wound Care
These are a few options available.
Every Wednesday afternoon we have educational conferences that include topics from the following areas:
- Cardiology
- Pediatrics
- Geriatrics
- OB/GYN lectures and conferences
- Practice management/coding specialist presentations
- Psychiatry
- University of Iowa Visiting Professor Lectures
- Electronic medical records
- Pharmacology
- Medical subspecialties
- Ancillary services
- Resident-led Journal Club
- Resident Balint sessions to help us examine the emotional content of the doctor/patient relationship
- Jeopardy™-like board review
Recent break out topics have included community medicine, chronic pain, domestic violence and human sexuality.
Stipend and Benefits
The annual stipends for the respective levels are as follows (Effective Academic Year 2023-2024):
- R1 - $64,203
- R2 - $65,795
- R3 - $67,387
Housing Allowance
$5,200 housing allowance each year. The allowance is added to each resident's paycheck throughout the year.
Transition Allowance
$750 relocation allowance is given to all incoming residents.
Paid Vacation
All residents receive 20 days of PTO per year.
Health Insurance
Residents may choose from two health insurance plans that best suit their individual needs. An annual health insurance bonus that partially funds the cost of a single-coverage health and dental insurance premium is given to each resident.
Life Insurance
The program provides group life insurance equal to the resident's annual stipend at no charge to the resident.
Resident Liability Coverage
General and professional liability coverage is provided for residents enrolled in the residency program through a combination of commercial insurance and self-insured retention. Coverages are no less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and $5,000,000 aggregate per policy year. Liability coverage remains in place permanently for any occurrence that takes place during a resident's training period at UnityPoint Health – Waterloo.
Short and Long-Term Disability Coverage
Short and long-term disability coverage is provided to residents. Short-term disability coverage (STD) is used when the resident is away from work for at least seven (7) days due to a non-work-related illness or injury. STD pays 60% of weekly earnings for a maximum of 26 weeks with no waiting period. Long-term disability insurance coverage ensures that residents will receive a minimum of 60% of their monthly salary if they are disabled due to illness or accident, on or off the job, following a 90-day qualifying period.
Residents are allocated five CME days per year and $2,400 over the three-year period to attend approved medical meetings, purchase textbooks or educational software.
Classes
- Basic Life Support
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support
- Neonatal Resuscitation
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support
- Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics
- STABLE
- Free Parking: All residents may park in a reserved area of the hospital parking facility at no charge.
- Meal Stipends: A meal stipend is provided while on duty
- Paid Licensure: Fees for the Iowa resident license are paid by the program.
- Lab Coats: Free lab coats are provided to all residents.
- Fitness Center on premises
- Employee Assistance Center
- Specialty Society Membership Benefit
Key Faculty
Alexandra Hubbell, DO
Program Director
Adam Froyum Roise, MD
Associate Program Director
Jeremy Cordes, DO, PharmD
Faculty Physician
Brianna Jewell-Newton, DO
Faculty Physician
First Year Residents
Second Year Residents
Third Year Residents
Strengths of Our Program
"One of the main reasons why I chose to attend this program was due to the excellent faculty members. They are great at giving us independence to grow and learn while at the same time remaining available and approachable when we need them." - Madeline Godar
"As a rotating medical student, I found myself captivated by the relationships I observed between residents and faculty members at Iowa Lutheran Hospital. On my first day, I watched as numerous residents and faculty members trickled into the resident lounge over the lunch hour to find any remaining seat (or part of a seat) to eat lunch together (and yes, it was hospital cafeteria food). This simple routine spoke volumes about the program culture at Iowa Lutheran Hospital, one of both mutual respect and comradery among faculty and residents alike. As a resident, I have been fortunate enough to count myself among those lucky enough to learn from such an outstanding group of intelligent, supportive, approachable and fun faculty physicians." - April Forsyth
"One of the reasons I was excited about this program was how the faculty and residents get along. Some of our faculty are graduates from the program, so they have literally been in our shoes. They often stop by the lounge to chat, eat lunch or just check in on us. They remember being an intern calling a specialist for the first time, running their first code, etc. That means they have lots of tips and tricks for us! We have a similar comradery in the clinic. They really make us feel like equals; for example, we all sit at the same workspace while seeing patients. They are always available for a question or to give their advice on a complicated patient, and on rare occasion, they may even need our help!" - Eric Neill
"Being a new intern, I was incredibly nervous about making medical decisions on my own and learning how to function efficiently in my new role. So far, I have had incredible support from my fellow residents, attending faculty, nursing staff and electronic record support staff. I always feel comfortable asking my senior or attendings for help. Everyone is willing to teach and answer questions, no matter how trivial they may seem. Nurses have been helpful in orienting us to different policies on the floors, and EMR staff have been available during clinic hours to help with outpatient charting. I am so glad I chose to come to Lutheran because the welcoming, collaborative environment has made the transition from student to resident much easier!" - Julia Farruggia
"The work environment was one of the main reasons I wanted to complete my training at Iowa Lutheran Hospital. Our program has such an amazing group of people – both co-residents and faculty. I have never once been afraid to ask senior residents or faculty for help. We genuinely enjoy spending time together – as evidenced by the nearly constant lunchtime cribbage games that happen, as well as frequent gatherings outside of work which both residents and faculty attend, such as our intramural softball and volleyball teams. I find that spending time together at work (while not working) and outside of work made it much easier to approach seniors and faculty to ask questions and while staffing patients. The friendly and supportive environment makes it very easy to look forward to coming to work each day and lets us focus on learning and taking excellent care of patients instead of being nervous about interacting with each other or our faculty." - Eric Jones
"As an intern, it can feel both exciting and nerve racking to go from being a student to making medical decisions and learning how to function efficiently in my new role. So far, I have had incredible support from my fellow residents, attending faculty, nursing staff and other health care workers. I always feel comfortable asking my senior or attendings for help. Everyone is willing to teach and answer questions, no matter how trivial they may seem. No matter what role an individual may play in the healthcare system, there is always something to learn from them. I am so glad I chose to come to Iowa Lutheran Hospital because the welcoming, collaborative environment has made the transition from student to resident much easier!" - Jeals Brines
"The biggest strength of our program is the amazing group of people we work with. We have a very supportive group of residents and faculty who get along great at work and outside of work. We have many formal and informal outings where residents, faculty and family members can get together. Coming to work is a lot of fun when you are surrounded by an amazing group of doctors who are not only your colleagues but become good friends!" - Sasha Kloos
"It's very exciting to work at a community-based hospital in a large metropolitan area. Lutheran Hospital is truly a unique gem on the East Side of Des Moines. You will get to know everyone who works at Lutheran - nurses, housekeepers, cafeteria workers, respiratory therapists, etc. Residents spend intern year becoming very familiar with the hospital as we rotate through the family medicine inpatient service, emergency department and ICU." - Madeline Godar
"There is an incredibly wide spectrum of learning that comes with an unopposed residency. At Iowa Lutheran, we work up patients in the ER, admit patients from the ER, run an inpatient service and respond to MET calls and Code Blues. Being the only residents, we have the opportunity and responsibility to be involved in all different areas of the hospital. This truly is what makes Family Medicine so unique, and being an unopposed program really allows us to experience that at its finest!" - Julia Farruggia
"I chose Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines because while I was rotating here as a medical student, it was clear to me how much the residents and faculty enjoyed it here and enjoyed working together. The culture was something I knew I would fit in well with and enjoy being a part of for three years. Additionally, I knew after I completed my residency, I would be prepared for my future career in rural Iowa." - Demi Eble
"Two things stuck out the most to me when I chose Iowa Lutheran Hospital for my residency, the culture and the education. Being from Iowa, I knew I wanted to stay in Des Moines but when it came to choosing between the programs, I ultimately chose Iowa Lutheran Hospital. I think our culture exemplifies comradery between the residents, faculty and clinic staff. I found outside of work we truly care about one another and would describe each other as friends in addition to colleagues. Residency is such a hard time; you might as well be doing it with your best friends. The other aspect is an obvious one. The education at Iowa Lutheran Hospital is outstanding. As an affiliate program of the University of Iowa, we have access to all the resources and education of a university/academic institution while being in a community-based program. We spend the majority of time at Iowa Lutheran Hospital for our inpatient service. We are unopposed, get interesting patients, have access to procedures and are the code team (opportunities we may not get at another hospital). I think Iowa Lutheran Hospital was the best fit for me and hope it is for you too!" - Hannah Hartman
"In my training at Iowa Lutheran Hospital Family Medicine Residency, I've had the opportunity and privilege to work with medical specialists and experts who not only benefit the lives of my patients but who also take time and effort to improve my skills and knowledge. The relationships that we learn to cultivate throughout our three years at Iowa Lutheran Hospital begin with the network provided to us by our hospital system and afforded to us by the connections already built by our faculty members to UnityPoint Health's medical specialists. In this way, when we call for a consult or go on rotation to a specialist clinic site, we are not only there for our patients' health and well-being, our own learning and development, but to continue to foster a community of learners and support between specialty and primary care. I know anytime that a specialist makes a request of our service or whenever we need to reach out for a consult, it's with this confidence that I can approach the conversation and help UnityPoint Health's patients together." - Austin Pillon
Application Process
Residents are selected through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS®), a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Applications to our residency programs are only accepted through ERAS.
To be considered eligible for application to the Central Iowa Family Medicine Residency Program, the candidate must meet all academic criteria established below. The program director has the prerogative of presenting an applicant who would not otherwise be eligible but whose qualifications are felt to merit consideration.
The selection committee reviews all material and interviews a select group of qualified applicants. Interviews to fill the available positions will be conducted in October.
Applicants with one of the following qualifications are eligible for appointment to accredited residency programs:
- Graduate of medical schools in the U.S. and Canada accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
- Graduate of medical schools in the U.S. and Canada accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
- Graduate of medical schools outside the U.S. and Canada who meet one of the following qualifications:
- Have received a currently valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
- Have a full unrestricted license to practice medicine in a U.S. licensing jurisdiction.
- Graduates of medical schools outside the U.S. who have completed a Fifth Pathway program provided by an LCME accredited medical school.
To be eligible for a resident license, an applicant shall meet all the following requirements as found in Chapter 10 of the Administrative Rules of the Iowa Board of Medical Examiners:
- Fulfill the application requirements.
- Be at least 20 years of age.
- Hold a medical degree from an educational institution approved by The Board at the time the applicant graduated and was awarded the degree.
- Educational institutions approved by The Board shall be fully accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the board as schools of instruction in medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery and empowered to grant academic degrees in medicine.
- The accrediting bodies currently recognized by the board are:
- LCME for the educational institutions granting degrees in medicine and surgery; and
- AOA for educational institutions granting degrees in osteopathic medicine and surgery.
- If the applicant holds a medical degree from an educational institution not approved by the board at the time the applicant graduated and was awarded the degree, the applicant must hold a valid certificate issued by ECFMG or have successfully completed a fifth pathway program established in accordance with AMA criteria.
Must meet all of the following:
- Preference given to those with recent training:
- Currently attending medical school training and eligible for graduation by the start of the residency year, or be a recent medical school graduate.
-or- - Been in training in an accredited internship or residency program within the past year.
- Currently attending medical school training and eligible for graduation by the start of the residency year, or be a recent medical school graduate.
- Must have received passing scores on USMLE or NBOME Step 1 and be eligible for the Step 2 exams.
- Must be fluent in written and verbal English language.
ERAS® Application
Applications are only accepted through the Electronic Application Service (ERAS®), a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Learn More About Our Residency Program
We invite you to learn more about the Allen Hospital track of the Central Iowa Family Medicine Residency Program. Here, you can grow in a program with a strong academic center, a pleasant and flexible working environment and a diverse patient population. If you have any questions about our program, please contact us at (319) 222-2762 or reach out to Breann.Minikus@unitypoint.org.
Family Medicine Residency Program - Waterloo Track
5100 Prairie Parkway, Suite 205
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Hospitals and Clinics in the Cedar Valley
Allen Hospital
Allen Hospital is a 204-bed, not-for-profit community hospital serving Iowa's Cedar Valley. Allen Hospital is an affiliate hospital of UnityPoint Health, which cares for one of every three patients in Iowa.Henry and Mary Allen settled in Waterloo in the early 1860s. They prospered here for 40 years before moving to California in 1900, but they never forgot their friends and neighbors back home.
After Mary died in 1913, Henry resolved to do something lasting in her memory. Henry promised the citizens of Waterloo 80 acres of prime land and $200,000 to found a non-sectarian hospital open to all, regardless of circumstance. Allen Hospital was dedicated on Mary's birthday in November 1924 and opened in February 1925.
Today, Allen Hospital is the busiest hospital in the Cedar Valley and cares for more inpatients, outpatients, emergency patients and cardiac patients than any other hospital in its 10-county service area.
UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine Residency - Prairie Parkway
UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine Residency – Prairie Parkway is the continuity clinic for the Allen track of the residency program. The clinic provides full scope primary care and family medicine services to patients in all stages of life – newborns to pediatrics, pre-natal care and obstetrics, all the way to geriatrics.Here, residents learn how to manage and care for office patients in a productive and efficiently managed clinic. The 10 exam rooms provide ample space for residents and full-time family physicians to practice. Several community family physicians also staff the clinic on a regular basis, providing more diversified training to residents.
The average time spent in the clinic by a first-year resident is five hours per week. Second year residents spend an average of 10 hours per week in the clinic, and third year residents average 15 to 20 hours per week. Each resident has a workspace and is provided with a laptop computer. We have fully implemented Epic as our web-based electronic medical record.
Conveniently located on 20 acres in Pinnacle Prairie, the area's fastest-growing retail center, the Prairie Parkway campus provides patient-centered, coordinated, comprehensive care in one location. The facility offers a full range of services in a 90,000-square-foot anchor building. Prairie Parkway also houses a laboratory and lab technicians, occupational, physical and speech therapy for children and adults, a retail pharmacy and radiology services, including bone density, mammography and ultrasound.
Life in the Cedar Valley
Family Medicine Residents will love living in the Cedar Valley!
The Cedar Valley area in Northeast Iowa includes a total population of about 250,000. The area is home to one of three Iowa Board of Regents universities, a four-year private college, innovative public and private Pre-K and K-12 schools and nationally recognized historic downtown districts.Life in the Cedar Valley is enhanced by an extensive system of recreational trails and bicycle paths, numerous municipal and state parks, golf courses, a variety of museums, music and cultural festivals and a state-of-the-art performing arts center. The Cedar Valley is within a day's drive of all major Midwest markets, with direct commercial flights to and from Chicago.