North Olympic Healthcare Network announced last week that Dr. Kristin Puhl and Dr. Mira Nelson are joining the staff as second-year resident physicians as of June 25.

Resident physicians begin their second year of residency with NOHN after completing their first year at Swedish Cherry Hill via the Rural Training Track — a joint venture between NOHN, Olympic Medical Center and Swedish Cherry Hill Family Medicine Residency in Seattle. The program is designed to train physicians in rural communities and increase the physician workforce in communities with inadequate primary care access. About 60 percent who train in rural settings remain for their career.

Resident physicians spend three years of post-graduate training to learn family-centered care. They receive training their first year in Seattle at Swedish Cherry Hill, their second and third years of training are in Port Angeles, continuing inpatient training at OMC, and medical specialty rotations with Olympic Medical Physicians group.

NOHN provides the resident physicians their home continuity ambulatory care clinic. They provide a full spectrum of care — from childbirth to chronic conditions often affecting senior citizens.

Resident physicians are supervised by board-certified physicians at NOHN. A thorough review of patient’s health concerns are completed by the resident and the supervising physician.

For more information about NOHN’s Rural Training Track program, contact RTT Site Director Dr. Rob Epstein at repstein@nohn-pa.org, or visit nohn-pa.org/about-us/rtt-residencymedical-education.