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TriState Health is proud to announce its plans to begin development of a new Family Medicine Rural Residency Program, in partnership with Washington State University’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. Led by Dr. Carson Seeber, of TriState Family Practice & Internal Medicine, this program is designed to address the growing shortage of primary care providers in rural and underserved areas, and to shape the future of compassionate, community-minded medical professional’s right here in the Lewis Clark Valley.

The United States faces a critical and widening healthcare gap. Over the next decade an estimated 180,400 additional physicians will be needed to meet the growing demand for care in rural and underserved areas. In fact, Asotin County itself has been designated a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) with a score of 18 out of 25, signaling significant challenges in access to primary care.

Compounding this issue is a concerning national trend in medical education. In 2025, a total of 805 family medicine residency positions across the country went unfilled – a startling number in a time of growing demand. Only 7.9% of medical students nationwide chose to match into family medicine, despite it being the backbone of preventive care services.

This is why launching a Family Medicine Residency Program, locally, is so essential. Studies show that roughly 60% of physicians stay and practice within 100 miles of where they complete their residency. By providing high-quality training opportunities in our region, Tristate Health is investing in the access to healthcare.

Once established, TriState will become the fourth Critical Access Hospital in the nation to offer a stand-alone residency program, and the second
in Washington State, following Pullman Regional Medical Center. This reflects TriState’s unwavering commitment to innovation and the long-term health of our community.

“Our goal is to create a program that not only trains excellent physicians, but inspires them to make the LC Valley their permanent home,” says Dr. Seeber. “We’re investing in healthcare leaders who understand and care about the people of this region.”

The vision surrounding the residency program is to involve as many healthcare associated entities in our community as possible. Proposed collaborators include St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, Lewis-Clark State College, Nimiipuu Health Clinic, and the Lewiston Veterans Affair Clinic. “It is challenging to pull so many pieces together on a project like this, but there is at least preliminary interest from just about every local healthcare associated entity we have talked to over the last year or so,” adds Dr. Seeber. “A residency program will impact everyone in our area, and that’s a good thing!”

While launching a residency program requires significant investment, particularly in personnel, training resources, and clinic operations, the long-term benefits to the community are invaluable. By training and retaining more physicians locally, TriState Health is creating a sustainable and healthier future. TriState is also actively exploring funding opportunities for this important program, including grants, philanthropy, partnerships with organizations, and federal programs such as Medicare’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) funding.

TriState Health is working with regional, state, and national partners to secure funding, obtain program accreditation, and develop the clinic space needed for the residency program. While the program won’t officially launch for a couple of years, these important early steps are laying the groundwork for a sustainable and successful training opportunity right here in our community. The first group of residents is projected to begin training as soon as program development, funding, and accreditation are complete, bringing fresh talent, diverse perspectives, and new energy to the healthcare landscape.

This residency program marks a meaningful milestone in TriState Health’s ongoing commitment to improve health access, foster rural healthcare leadership, and create a healthier community.