Internal Medicine Residents Join the Missouri Baptist Care Team

Addressing Primary Care Physician Shortages in the St. Louis Area

The inaugural class of residents will see patients at the new clinic, steps away from MoBap’s main entrance.

In 2021, the federal government established funding to develop additional medical residency training opportunities. Recognizing the shortage of primary care physicians (PCPs) in the St. Louis region, BJC HealthCare, in collaboration with WashU Medicine, selected Missouri Baptist Medical Center as the site for a new internal medicine residency program.

Program donors Mike and Carolyn Rayner state, “We support the residency program because it will bring in young doctors from around the world and give them the opportunity to learn from experienced mentors about the exceptional medicine and compassionate care at MoBap. We believe the doctors will come to love the St. Louis area and will ultimately want to live, work and play here.”

The Rayners also see the program as a solution to help alleviate long wait times in area emergency departments (ED). “Currently, 25% of patients in the ED do not have primary care physicians. This project is not just an economic tool but one that will benefit families and the medical community in metro St. Louis,” they add.

Hands-On Training for Future Internists

The program, which starts July 1 with 29 residents for its inaugural class, will train future internists in a community setting, providing hands-on experience and practical knowledge from leading
community internists.

Ranked the No. 2 hospital in both the St. Louis region and Missouri by U.S. News & World Report for 2024-2025, MoBap has high standards that create a strong educational foundation. The collegial relationship between physician and non-physician staff fosters a collaborative learning environment where residents will be treated as valued future colleagues.

WashU Medicine, one of the premier medical schools in the country, is the program’s academic partner. The residency program has also been formed as a member of the Washington University School of Medicine–Barnes Jewish Hospital–St. Louis Children’s Hospital Graduate Medical Education Consortium, further enhancing the resources available to residents.

Building a State-of-the-Art Residency Clinic

While the federal government is funding the residents’ salaries and benefits, the Missouri Baptist Healthcare Foundation is raising money for a new residency clinic on MoBap’s campus where patients will be treated.

Donations will also be used to fund technology, such as medical simulation manikins that allow residents to practice procedures in realistic clinical scenarios, as well as curriculum development, research and teaching.

“By year three, our residents will be able to support the community by seeing 12,000 appointments annually. This program is designed to bring accessible care to patients and prepare compassionate, well trained physicians who understand the needs of our community and are committed to making a lasting impact on local health.” Nitin Anand, MD

Dedicated Leadership and Expert Guidance

Left to right: Vinay Kamat, MD, Associate Program Director, Daniel Goodenberger, MD, Program Director, Rebecca Wiesehan, MD, Associate Program Director

The residency program is led by Daniel Goodenberger, MD (program director), Rebecca Wiesehan, MD, and Vinay Kamat, MD (associate program directors) and Margaret Kendrick, MHA (program coordinator).

Residents will work alongside other health care providers, adding an extra layer of care for patients seen at MoBap and enhancing the patient experience. They will also work on any patient floors where hospitalists currently round, and in ICUs and the ED, ordering tests, performing consultations and completing minor procedures.

In the Residency Clinic, residents will work closely with experienced physicians from BJC Medical Group and WashU Medicine to provide thoughtful, high-quality care for adults of all ages.

Call 314-996-7520 to make an appointment or click here to learn more about this new care team and their availability for same-day care.