Community

Recreation

Outdoor recreation is an important part of the Boise lifestyle. The Boise River courses through the heart of the city and is bordered by the Greenbelt bike and walking path that runs from Lucky Peak Reservoir to Eagle Island State Park. Boise was voted the “#1 mountain biking town” by Bike and Mountain Bike magazines. The Ridge to Rivers Trail System boasts over 85 miles of maintained trails for walking and riding. Excellent nordic and downhill skiing can be experienced at Bogus Basin, just 18 miles from the center of town and very popular with the locals for its inexpensive season pass (under $250). Additional skiing at Brundage Mountain, Tamarack Resort, and Sun Valley is less than three hours away. Hiking, camping, and backcountry skiing are popular in the nearby Sawtooth, White Cloud, Smoky, and Boulder Mountains

Kayaking, rafting and fishing opportunities also abound with the city in close proximity to the Boise, Payette, Salmon, and Snake Rivers. Idaho in general has many premier whitewater rafting and kayaking river systems, with the Payette River system less than one hour from town. The Payette offers everything from beginner runs to Class 5 whitewater. The several forks of world famous Salmon River and the Hell’s Canyon section of the Snake River are popular for multi-day trips, as are the stunning desert gorges of the Bruneau, Jarbridge and Owyhee Rivers south of Boise.

Rock-climbing enthusiasts can easily access the local basalt crag known as the Black Cliffs just east of town. Amazing granite routes in the City of Rocks and the Sawtooth Mountains are both less than four hours by car. Mountaineering opportunities also abound in the state, with many excellent routes in the Seven Devils, Sawtooths, White Clouds, Boulders, and Lost River ranges, to name a few.

But you don’t need to leave town to find something fun to do. Boise has a vital city center that offers musical entertainment, theatre, opera, good food and shopping. Tubing the cool Boise River during the hot summer months is a popular pastime. The extensive park system, including the Boise Greenbelt, is home to multiple city sports leagues and festivals. The parks and river provide refuge without ever leaving the city.

Resident Life

The program is run by Family Medicine residents under the guidance and support of their faculty; please note that our Pharmacy Resident will be included into all the professional and social activities that are offered. A committee will be elected who act as a liaison between the FM residents and faculty as a whole. There is also dedicated funding and didactic time provided by the residency.

PSYCHOLOGICAL

• Employee Assistance Program
• ACMS Programs: Physician Vitality Program, free confidential counseling services, several free hosted events throughout the year
• Free wellness and career coaching with Dr. Schneider leader of St. Luke’s Physician Wellness Program
• Narrative medicine: longitudinal didactic and extracurricular experiences supporting resident reflection on stories of illness and the training process
• Memorial Service: offered annually at the end of the academic year to honor deaths within our community and space to grieve

SOCIAL

• Mentoring: all residents are paired with a faculty member throughout residency for professional guidance and to help with the transition into residency and a new city.
• Retreats: There is an annual retreat in August to McCall, Idaho which includes the entire residency. Additionally, protected time each year is provided for individual class retreats.
• Events: several organized family friendly social events throughout the year, often paired with ACMS. Regular book club gatherings. Multiple informal gatherings (mountain bike lessons, cross country ski lessons, trivia nights, relay teams, rec sports teams).
• Opportunities to connect with local medical advocacy groups.
• Cultural offerings at large in Boise: Boise Art Museum, Music (Knitting Factory, Neurolux, Treefort Music Fest) Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Ballet Idaho, Boise Philharmonic, The Morrison Center, Idaho Steelheads Hockey team, Boise State college athletics, grab a pint at one of the many breweries or sip at one of the many local wineries, and enjoy more dining, shopping, and art in Downtown Boise.

PHYSICAL

• Funding for $75.00 per resident, per year, for purchase of wellness equipment (skis, shoes, dinner, childcare, etc.)
• FMREI: An ever-expanding collection of rentable gear that Full Circle Health owns that is free to all residents (snowshoes, paddleboards, tubes, yard games, coolers, etc.).
• Protected time for medical, behavioral, and dental appointments
• Outdoor recreation is an important part of the Boise lifestyle. The Boise River courses through the heart of town, bordered by the Greenbelt path. The Ridge to Rivers Trail System boasts over 85 miles of maintained trails for biking/hiking/running. Excellent nordic and downhill skiing can be experienced at Bogus Basin, just 18 miles from town. Additional skiing at Brundage Mountain, Tamarack Resort, and Sun Valley is less than three hours away. Hiking, camping, and backcountry skiing are popular in the nearby Sawtooth, White Cloud, Smoky, and Boulder Mountains. Kayaking, rafting and fishing opportunities also abound with the city in close proximity to the Boise, Payette, Salmon, and Snake Rivers. Rock-climbing and mountaineering opportunities await at the City of Rocks and Sawtooths.