Franklin Primary Health Center, Inc. will launch a new Family Medicine Residency Program after securing accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

According to a news release, training is set to begin July 1, 2026, in what leaders say is a critical step toward growing Alabama's primary care workforce.

The designation places Franklin among only two Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education programs in Alabama, highlighting the need for expanded physician training in underserved communities. Alabama faces a projected shortage of as many as 600 primary care physicians by 2030, according to national estimates.

"This program will do more than train physicians. By building this pipeline of compassionate family-focused physicians, we are directly addressing the shortage of primary care physicians throughout Alabama," CEO of Franklin Primary Health Center, Inc., Charles White said in the release.

Franklin will enroll 12 residents across three years. Trainees will rotate through community clinics and local hospitals, gaining experience in the full spectrum of family medicine. The curriculum will emphasize patient-centered care, chronic disease management, population health and cultural competency.

"We are honored to become an ACGME-accredited Family Medicine training site," said Dr. Patricia L. Matto, DO, FACOFP, FAAFP, program director. "The core faculty and interdisciplinary team here at Franklin will train physicians to lead with compassion and clinical excellence."

Franklin Primary Health Center is a federally qualified health center that operates 20 locations across six counties. The organization provides comprehensive care to patients regardless of insurance status, supporting uninsured and underinsured residents across southwest Alabama.

The announcement arrives as community health centers nationwide continue to shoulder growing demand for primary care. Teaching Health Center residency programs like Franklin's are designed to train physicians in community settings where they are most needed, and graduates tend to remain in similar practice environments.

For more information, visit www.franklinprimary.org.