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The family medicine residency program was approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) in 1988 and has recently grown to 4 residents in each year of training. The program received initial accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) on 04/01/2018 and initial recognition for Osteopathic Recognition effective 07/01/2019.
This dually accredited program currently leads eligible candidates to certification by both the Osteopathic and Allopathic boards.
The mission of the program is to train residents in a small-town and rural environment to become exceptional Family Physicians and to meet the needs of the communities of Mercer and Lawrence Counties while customizing the residency experience for each resident to meet their respective career goals. We provide quality, patient-centered care across all ages and in any clinical setting. Our program features direct, one-on-one interaction with specialists as well as a strong team of experienced, passionate family medicine faculty. Our graduates serve rural to urban communities in Western Pennsylvania and throughout the United States in fields ranging from traditional primary care, all outpatient, hospitalist, ER, and urgent care. Patient care and resident education are equal partners in the mission of the residency.
Beginning in July 2018, the Family Medicine Residency Practice moved to a new, larger office behind the UPMC Horizon — Shenango Valley campus, called Shenango Valley Family Medicine. The new office allows the residents and faculty to better meet the needs of the local community by improving access to primary care and providing a comprehensive medical home.
The first year provides incoming residents with solid introduction to the breadth and diversity of family medicine. It includes a series of inpatient rotations at UPMC Horizon (internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics, and emergency medicine), one month of inpatient pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Call during the intern year is dependent upon the rotation. On inpatient medicine, interns take in-house call during the daytime every other weekend. In the last six months of the year, you will be asked to cover one weekend in eight on the inpatient service. During the OB month, interns may take call up to once a week. All other rotations do not have assigned call.
Residents also spend one half-day session, per week, at our American Osteopathic Association (AOA)-approved Continuity of Care Family Medicine Clinic.
The second and third-year curriculum offers a broader array of experiences, along with the required rotations by the AOA, in order to achieve a greater educational experience in medicine and surgery.
Second year residents spend 3 half-day sessions, on average, per week in the office and third year residents spend 3-4 half-day sessions, depending upon the rotation.
Call in the second and third years is dependent upon the rotation. Senior residents will cover every other weekend, daytime only, while they are on the inpatient medicine rotation. Daytime weekend coverage will be one in eight when not on the rotation.
Senior residents will also take in-home call averaging 1:8 for the practice and for obstetric continuity patients.
The continuity training experience, within the continuity of care family practice clinic, provides the resident with a training environment equivalent to that of a private practice.
The continuity training experience will develop those skills and experiences necessary to give the resident the competence and confidence to provide exceptional patient care.
The goals of the continuity training experience are to provide:
Residents are often recruited to the local community to continue the compassionate and comprehensive care they have been taught.
Martin G. Johns, MD
Residency Program Director
Originally from Pittsburgh, Dr. Johns graduated from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. He completed his residency in Greenwood, SC in a small-town environment like the Shenango Valley. He then worked as a hospitalist for 2 years affiliated with his family medicine residency before moving back to Western Pennsylvania. For the last several years, Dr. Johns was the Associate Program Director at the UPMC McKeesport Family Medicine Residency where he was also the Director of Inpatient Training and Medical Student education and the Co-director of Maternity Care. Along with being the Residency Program Director, he is the Medical Director of the University of Pittsburgh’s Physician Assistant Program. Dr. Johns has faculty appointments at the University of Pittsburgh, LECOM, and OU-HCOM. His areas of interest include inpatient medicine, sports medicine, office-based procedures, women’s health, and global health. Dr. Johns is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.
Kary Schroyer, DO
Associate Program Director and Medical Director of Shenango Valley Family Medicine
Originally from Western Pennsylvania, Dr. Schroyer received his degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at UPMC Horizon in 2000. He accepted the position of family medicine residency practice program assistant director in July 2001. Dr. Schroyer has previously served in several leadership roles at UPMC Horizon including Chief of Staff, Chairman of the Department of Family and Community Services, Chairman of the OMT Committee, and as a member of the Medical Records Committee. In addition, he has provided care to Westminster College students as their college physician. Dr. Schroyer was the co-owner of a private family practice in New Wilmington for 17 years before founding and joining Shenango Valley Family Medicine UPMC in October 2017. Dr. Schroyer sees patients in the areas of pediatrics, adolescents, adult medicine, and geriatrics. His areas of interest include practice management and sleep medicine.
Dr. Schroyer is a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserves and has completed several tours of duty, including detainee care in Iraq in 2008 and is board certified by the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians.
Benjamin Shipton, DO
Dr. Shipton provides family medicine services at Primary Health Network (PHN) Mercer Primary Care. He has been affiliated with PHN since July 2000 and serves as PHN's associate medical director. Dr. Shipton earned his medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed a family medicine residency at Mercy Health System, Pittsburgh. He is certified by the American Board of Family Practice and has medical staff privileges at UPMC Horizon.
Timothy Fullerton, DO
Dr. Fullerton is a graduate of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his family medicine residency at UPMC St. Margaret in 2012. He joined Primary Health Network (PHN) Mercer Primary Care in 2012 and has been working with the residency program ever since. Dr. Fullerton is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and has medical staff privileges at UPMC Horizon.
200 Lothrop Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-647-8762
800-533-8762
