International Community Health Services - ICHS | Seattle

International Community Health Services' residency program provides new Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants/Associates post-graduate education to become expert providers.

The ICHS Family Nurse Practitioner residency was founded in 2014 and was the first to be accredited in the U.S.

New in 2023, the program will now expand to include Physician Assistants/Associates, and is now called the ICHS Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Residency Program.

Its mission is to educate and retain well-rounded, highly autonomous, effective, and culturally-competent APPs, who will serve as primary care providers in community health settings. The program aims to prepare residents to:

• Serve as a primary care provider to patients in a complex community health setting
• Improve cultural competency
• Develop the tools needed to maximize career satisfaction and growth - encouraging work-life balance and avoiding burnout
• Assume leadership roles in community health settings and in driving social change

A five-part curriculum, delivered from top-notch clinicians and educators, includes a ramp up schedule, continual education with weekly didactics, and exposure to several clinical specialties. 

The residency is a full-time salaried position with benefits. Residents commit to 13 months of employment at ICHS from September 11, 2023 through October 12, 2024. The program is 12 months of residency curriculum followed by one month transition to independent practice, overlapping with the incoming residency class. Four residency positions are available.

Thuy-Chau Le, ARNP, 2021-2022 cohort resident

You learn so much and you consistently feel supported, which is what you may not feel if you're brand new right off the bat, going into a field where your training might be a month or two before you're expected to be on your own. And so definitely for those who want to join a residency, I would recommend it, but realize it's not going to be easy.

Thuy-Chau Le, ARNP, 2021-2022 cohort resident

Eligibility

Successful applicants will be:

• Recent MSN, DNP, or PAC graduates from an accredited institution
• FNP or PA board certified by the start of the program
• Licensed to practice in Washington state
• Committed to a community health center career and/or practice within a safety net setting
• Experienced in health care and/or working with community health center patients (2+ years is preferred but not required)
• Bilingual (preferred but not required)

To Apply

Required materials:

• Three letters of recommendation
  • a letter from an academic source
  • a letter from an employer
  • a third letter of your choice
• CV
• Official transcript
• Personal statement
  • Please write a brief (2 pages or less) personal statement addressing the following questions. 
    • 1) Why did you choose to do a residency at International Community Health Services? 
    • 2) What are your experiences working with underserved and vulnerable populations? 
    • 3)What are your career goals?

Applications for the 2023-2024 class are now closed. 

Interviews will take place from February to March 2023. Offers will be extended by Monday, April 10, 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions

I don’t graduate until August, just a few months before the start of the residency. Can I still apply?

Yes, but you must have your WA state medical license by August 1st. Contact us to see if we can make any exceptions.

Do you accept pediatric or adult/ geriatric nurse practitioners into your residency program?

No. The residency is limited to Family Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants/Associates at this time.

Do you require official academic transcripts? How should I submit the transcript?

We accept unofficial academic transcripts, submitted electronically (scanned) with the online application. We may request an official academic transcript mailed at a later date.

I graduated last year. Can I still apply to the residency?

Maybe. The APP residency is designed for new graduates. Applicants who graduated more than 1 year ago will be considered at the discretion of the application review team.

Please contact APP Residency Director Megan Wilbert, FNP.

For more information

Please contact ARNP Residency Director Megan Wilbert, FNP.

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