A new family medicine residency program that kicked off this month may be innovative and groundbreaking, but at its core is the concept of doctors knowing and caring for their community through generations.

“In family medicine, we are taking care of a community. We understand the environment, the struggles people face,” said Dr. Lisa Casey, who will be leading the residency program from a state-of-the-art clinic in North Covington. “We take care of mom, dad, kids, grandparents. It’s the mindset of a family doctor in a small town with a new avenue of innovation.”

The St. Tammany Health System/Ochsner Family Medicine Residency Program is the first residency program in the Florida Parishes region. The clinic opened in April, and Casey welcomed in her team of residents July 1.

Casey, a New Orleans native, said thanks to the program, Louisiana medical school graduates who are seeking to stay local for their residencies and beyond now have that option.

It’s a path she personally followed when she graduated from Dominican High School; then attended medical school at Louisiana State University in New Orleans; completed her family medicine residency at East Jefferson Hospital, where she worked as family medicine director before joining Ochsner.

Mary Payton Grimmett, one of the new residents, said those chosen for the program who are moving to Covington from outside of St. Tammany or even Louisiana also will reap the benefits.

“While it is truly an amazing experience taking care of patients in an area you grew up in, or similar to, I do not think it is crucial to good patient care. Trust is the key to a good patient-doctor relationship. I believe a good provider can gain the trust of their patients in any city with time, honesty and compassion,” she said.

Grimmett grew up in Monterey, a small town east of Alexandria, near Natchez, Mississippi, and attended William Carey College of Osteopathic Medicine in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

As part of the new program, Casey will oversee the residents during classwork work, clinic visits and collaboration with other family medicine programs throughout the state, all from under the same roof.

The St. Tammany Physicians Network North Covington Clinic is an 18,000-square-foot, purpose-built facility that includes on-site X-ray, lab draws, physical therapy capabilities, an on-site psychologist, a technology-based classroom and lounges for residents and full-time staff.

Casey is also implementing a lifestyle medicine component that focuses on wellness including diet, exercise and other healthy living choices, the first of its kind in the state.

“As family medicine physicians we care for their wellness just as much as we care for their illness. We do this by focusing on ‘whole-person’ care and creating strong and continuous relationships with patients and families,” she said.

That enthusiasm is contagious, said Grimmett. “I could feel the excitement each faculty member had for the program during my interview,” she said. “I have felt an overwhelming excitement from all faculty and staff at the hospital. They have been beyond welcoming and have expressed their dedication to helping us become the best physicians we can be.”

The residency program will benefit the Western St. Tammany community and beyond, Grimmett said. “Residency training brings a culture of learning into a hospital, that keeps attendings, nurses, and staff on their toes. When everyone is working to improve their skills and knowledge, the system runs more efficiently. Having graduate medical education in St. Tammany will bring in some of the brightest minds to teach and train.”

“This isn’t just another health care clinic,” St. Tammany Health System Chief Medical Officer Patrick J. Torcson said. “Family medicine is the Swiss Army knife of medical disciplines, and its practitioners boast expertise in a variety of fields to effectively and compassionately care for the whole family, from newborns to seniors. The opportunity to better our community by bringing this level of expertise into it is as exciting as it is important.”

The program’s overall mission is to increase the physician workforce in St. Tammany Parish, and thus improve access to care, he said.

In a 2024 report, the Association of American Medical Colleges projected that physician demand will grow faster than supply, leading to a projected total shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036. Without growing programs like this one, Louisiana is projected to rank third nationally for a shortage of physicians by 2030, according to a Human Resources for Health analysis.

“The St. Tammany Health System/Ochsner Family Medicine Residency Program is giving local families in our community access to high-quality, compassionate health care, by providing an integrated and holistic approach to their care,” said Dr. Timothy Riddell, Chief Executive Officer of Ochsner Health Northshore and Mississippi Gulf Coast Region (NSMGC). “As a family physician, I know firsthand that it is critical that we address the state’s physician shortage by training the next generation of clinicians in areas needed most.”

Along with Grimmett, residents are Dr. Meghan Castillo, Dr. Marlie Giardina, Dr. Ashlin Hinojosa, Dr. Mohamed Hussein and Dr. Madison Lambert Dronet.

To learn more about the St. Tammany Health System/Ochsner Family Medicine Residency Program, visit www.sttammany.health/medresidency.