College of MedicineNewsAnnouncements & NoticesTriState Health Receives $1 Million for New WSU Family Medicine Residency Program

TriState Health Receives $1 Million for New WSU Family Medicine Residency Program

Exterior view of the TriState Health building under a clear blue sky. The entrance features a covered drop-off area with a sign reading “TriState Health P1FCU Inpatient Wing.” An American flag is mounted on a tall pole near the entrance, and landscaped plants line the walkway in front of the building.

TriState Health will receive $1,000,000 in federal support for a new Family Medicine Residency Program with the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine following the passage of Continuing Resolution H.R. 5371 on November 12.

The funding was secured under the Agriculture Appropriations Bill and sponsored by Congressman Michael Baumgartner through the FY26 Congressionally Directed Spending process, with strong support from Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell.

TriState Health is partnering with the WSU College of Medicine to launch a Family Medicine Residency Program in Clarkston dedicated to addressing the region’s growing need for trained primary care physicians, especially in rural areas where shortages continue to worsen nationwide.

“As health care demands continue to grow, establishing residency training creates a vital pathway for physicians dedicated to delivering quality care to rural communities across this side of the state and beyond,” said Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs Jeff Haney, MD.

The critical investment represents a significant milestone in TriState Health’s work to expand access to primary care and strengthen the rural health care workforce in southeast Washington.

“Family physicians are the backbone of community health, and this investment helps ensure people in our region can access high-quality, local care,” said Kym Clift, TriState Health CEO. “We are grateful to our congressional partners for recognizing the urgency of strengthening the rural health care workforce.”

Continued community support remains essential to develop and sustain the residency program fully. TriState Health will continue working closely with partners, donors, and regional stakeholders to bring this program to completion.

The new residency program will expand the WSU College of Medicine’s graduate medical education offerings, which currently include a family medicine residency in Pullman as well as programs in Spokane and Everett.

The College of Medicine and Samaritan Healthcare were also awarded a $750,000 federal grant earlier this year to establish a family medicine residency in Moses Lake, further advancing advancing the college’s goal to improve health care access and outcomes for rural communities. 

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Media Contacts

  • Stephanie Engle, WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Communications and Marketing
    509-368-6937 | stephanie.engle@wsu.edu