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Magic Valley Residency


South Central Idaho, commonly known as the “Magic Valley” due to the phenomenal growth of crops, is now also “magic” due to the medical community and the extremely broad training offered here. Residents will become a member of the physician team serving the rural community of Jerome while having the benefit of rotations with specialists in the referral community of Twin Falls, located only 15 miles away. The flexibility and adaptation of this program to both the professional and personal needs of the residents is aimed to achieve the balance necessary to create patient oriented, well-prepared, fulfilled family physicians. Our program offers training in maternity care and medical/surgical procedures.

The Magic Valley Rural Program began in 2009 and is now graduating two residents per year. Residents will complete their three years of training in Magic Valley (about 120 miles east of Boise). All graduates are successfully board certified and our graduates practice in diverse settings, including rural and international settings. Medical students interested in the Magic Valley RTT program must submit an application through ERAS.

Curriculum

PGY-1 Magic Valley (1-2) half days per week, 1st 6 months (2) half days per week, 2nd 6 months 3-6 patients per half day
RotationWeeksLocation
Medicine8/8St. Luke's Magic Valley
Pediatrics12St. Luke's Magic Valley & Treasure Valley
Obstetrics8St. Luke's Magic Valley
Surgery4St. Luke's Magic Valley
AFM/GYN4Office
Geri/Derm2/2Office
NICU/Rural2/2St. Luke's/Twin Falls

PGY-2 Magic Valley (2) half days per week, 8-10 patients per half day
RotationWeeksLocation
Medicine8St. Luke's Magic Valley
Pediatrics4St. Luke's Magic Valley
OB8St. Luke's Magic Valley
Rad/Derm2/2Office
CM/AFM4Office
ER4St. Luke's Magic Valley
Ortho4Office
Card/CCU4St. Luke's Magic Valley
Elective4Office
Surgery4St. Luke's Magic Valley
Rural4Away

PGY-3 Magic Valley (1) half days per week, 10-12 patients per half day
RotationWeeksLocation
Medicine8St. Luke's Magic Valley
Pediatrics4St. Luke's Magic Valley
Obstetrics8St. Luke's Magic Valley
ER4Office
Sports Medicine4Office
ICU4St. Luke's Magic Valley
FM/ENT2/2Office
Uro/Ophtho4Office
Elective12Office
Didactics Noon Conference Schedule

  • Tumor Board: A time spent reviewing current cases with the surgeons, primary doctors, radiologists, pathologists, and oncologists (provides great education in cancer screening, presentation, treatment, monitoring as well as radiology and pathology review).
  • Noon Conferences: Weekly.
  • Journal Club: Monthly.
  • ACGME (Tele-video): Outside medical experts from varying fields are brought in to present the latest information and research on their topic to the entire medical community for continuing medical education.
  • Physician Lectures: Weekly primary care and OB lectures.

Other Didactics

  • Monthly Half Day Conference: Fourth Thursday of every four week block covering OB/Gyn procedures, Sports Medicine, Geriatrics, etc.

Highlighted Curricular Strengths

Coming Soon...

Clinical Locations

St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center

801 Pole Line Road West, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301

SLMVMC is located in Twin Falls, Idaho. It is a 220 bed facility with an active medical staff of 166 physicians specializing in allergy and immunology, anesthesiology, cardiology, dermatology, emergency medicine, family medicine, general and vascular surgery, internal medicine, pulmonology, rheumatology, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, medical and radiation oncology, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, ENT, pathology, pediatrics, plastic surgery, psychiatry, radiology, and urologic surgery.

St. Luke’s Jerome Medical Center

709 North Lincoln, Jerome, Idaho, 83338

St. Benedicts is a mission-driven, non-profit 25 bed critical access hospital with associated physician practices. We specialize in family medicine, emergency medicine, gynecology and obstetrics, cardiology, dental surgery, general surgery, orthopedic surgery, and radiology. Our St. Benedicts professional team provides high quality patient oriented care and is dedicated to caring for the underserved.

St. Luke’s Jerome Family Medicine

132 W. 5th Ave. Ste. 1, Jerome, ID 83338

At St. Luke’s Jerome Family Medicine, we provide personal care for the entire family. Our team of residents and board certified family physicians and our nurse practitioner are here to provide a holistic patient centered medical home. We are the residency family medicine continuity clinic. We pride ourselves on caring for patients as a part of our community family.  We provide care for all ages from newborns to seniors and for most medical conditions as well as pregnancy and delivery. We provide many services to our community including colonoscopy, EGD, C-sections, colposcopy, and vasectomy, as well as frequent smaller surgical procedures.  Resident physicians are treated as colleagues. They have their own practice, deliver their own continuity obstetric patients, and care for their own medical patients. The patient population includes primarily Caucasians with a strong Hispanic population of about 30%. The work force is primarily employed in agriculture and aquaculture and related industries.

St. Luke’s Clinic Physician Center

775 Pole Line Road West, Suite 105, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301

St. Luke’s Clinic Physician Center provides experienced family practice and pediatric health care to people of all ages in the Magic Valley. We have a wide scope of practice, including: Women’s health (non-OB), Vasectomy, Childhood diseases, Diabetes management for children, adolescents, and adults, Pediatric behavioral health care.

Faculty

Ted Epperly, MD

President and CEO

Dr. Ted Epperly is the President and CEO of the Full Circle Health, a large Federally Qualified Teaching Health Center comprised of nine FQHC clinics, four ACGME family medicine residency programs, and five fellowships. He received an undergraduate degree in Biology and Anthropology from Utah State University in 1976. He Graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine in 1980.  Dr. Epperly completed his residency in Family Medicine at Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, Washington in 1983. He completed a faculty development fellowship at the University of North Carolina in 1986 and achieved an additional CAQ in Geriatrics.

Dr. Epperly retired July 2001 as Colonel after serving 21 years in the United States Army.  Dr. Epperly served as the past President and Board Chair of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).  He is a past member of the ACGME Board of Directors that has responsibility of all residency and fellowship training for over 125,000 residents and fellows of all specialties in the United States and currently is the vice-chair of the ACGME Policy Committee.  He currently serves as the Co-Chairman of the Board for the Healthcare Transformation Council of Idaho that is in charge of helping transform healthcare for the State of Idaho.  Dr. Epperly is the Graduate Medical Education Coordinator for the State of Idaho and the author of the State of Idaho’s Ten Year GME Plan to build a vibrant and robust GME system for Idaho.

Dr. Epperly is a member of multiple other Boards of Directors and the President of several non-profit organizations.  He has published over 50 articles and book chapters and he is a staunch supporter of Family Medicine education, research, and both rural and underserved health care. His award-winning book Fractured: America’s Broken Health Care System and What Must Be Done to Heal It provides excellent insight to the U.S healthcare system and can be found on Amazon.com.

He and his wife Lindy celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary in September 2020 and have two sons. Outside of medicine, his interests include golf, skiing, fly-fishing, reading and sports memorabilia.

Joshua Kern, MD

Magic Valley Program Director

Dr. Joshua Kern graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine in 2005. He did his residency training at the Full Circle Health and finished in 2008, where he was one of the chief residents from 2007-2008. His medical interests include chronic disease management, obesity, and procedures including colonoscopy and colposcopies. He became site director in 2012 and did the National Institute for Program Director Development Fellowship in 2012.

Along with his clinical work in Jerome and working with the residents he is the Chief Medical Officer for St. Luke’s Health System, East Region.  In his spare time he spends time with his wife and three children and trains for Spartan races.

Luke Sugden, DO, FAWM

Magic Valley Associate Program Director

Sports Medicine Faculty

Dr. Luke Sugden is an Idaho native. Born and raised in Jerome, Idaho.  He graduated from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2018 and then came back to the Magic Valley where he attended residency at Family Medicine of Idaho – Magic Valley Rural Training Track (now Full Circle Health FMRI – Magic Valley Rural Program), graduating in 2021.  Dr. Sugden then went on to complete a Sports Medicine Fellowship at Montana Family Medicine Residency in Billings, MT, finishing that in 2022.  He has returned back to his hometown of Jerome and now practices as a primary care sports medicine physician at St. Luke’s Clinic – Sports Medicine in Twin Falls.  He specializes in non-surgical orthopedics and musculoskeletal medicine. He has a special interest in endurance and outdoor sports and has additional training in outdoor and wilderness medicine.  

In his spare time, he and his wife enjoy running, hiking, backpacking, road cycling, cross country skiing, and just about any other activity that gets them outdoors.

Catherine Doyle, MD

Family Medicine

Dr. Catherine Doyle is from Goldendale, WA and graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine in 2014.  She attended residency at Family Medicine Residency of Idaho – Magic Valley Rural Training Track (now Full Circle Health FMRI Magic Valley Rural Program) graduating in 2017.  Dr. Doyle and her husband chose to stay in the Magic Valley, where she practices outpatient family medicine at St. Luke’s Jerome Family Medicine in addition to inpatient medicine at St. Luke’s Jerome Medical Center.   Dr. Doyle is a University of Washington clinical instructor and the main medical student preceptor in the Jerome clinic as well as the director of the UW rural continuity medical student program in Jerome.  She also holds the position of site medical director for the St. Luke’s Jerome Clinic. 

She has special interests in prenatal care, pediatrics, diabetes care, and dermatology. 

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband and three beautiful daughters. 

Peter Ferrara, MD

Chief of Staff at St. Luke’s Jerome Medical Center

Dr. Peter Ferrara is from Doylestown, PA and graduated from Pennsylvania State College of Medicine in 2013.  He attended residency at UPMC St. Margaret’s in Pittsburgh, PA, graduating in 2016.  After residency Dr. Ferrara went on to attend OB Fellowship at the University of Tennessee at Memphis, finishing that in 2017.  Dr. Ferrara moved to Jerome in 2017 where he joined St. Luke’s Clinic Jerome Family Medicine to practice outpatient family medicine with OB, inpatient medicine at St. Luke’s Jerome hospital and obstetrics at Magic Valley Hospital.  He currently holds the position of Chief of Staff at St. Luke’s Jerome Medical Center. 

Fun photo of Dr. Ferrara and partner

Dr. Ferrara has special interests in teaching, OB, women’s health, pediatrics, global health, and care of the Spanish-speaking population.  He is proficient in Spanish.  When he is not working, Dr. Ferrara enjoys rock and ice climbing, white water kayaking, skiing and snowboarding, snowmobiling and caring for his goats. 

James Irwin, MD

Clinic Director

Dr. James Irwin graduated from the University of Utah in 1980 and did his residency in Family Medicine at Family Medicine Residency of Idaho – Boise (now Full Circle Health FMRI – Boise).  He has served as faculty with the University of Washington since 1983.  He is currently a Clinical Associate Professor with the University of Washington and Clinic Director for the Full Circle Health FMRI – Magic Valley Rural Program in Jerome, Idaho.  He is a recent recipient of the Full Circle Health Alumni Community Service Award. Dr. Irwin was also Jerome Citizen of the Year for 2010. He was chosen as the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians’ Physician of the Year for 2011.  He was recognized as Health Hero by South Central Public Health District in 2017.  He was also the recipient of the 2022 WRITE Excellence in Teaching Award. In addition to his many recognitions, he also served as medical consultant to the Regional Child Development Center for 29 years.

Dr. Irwin loves the full spectrum of family medicine.  He is especially interested in evidence-based medicine, including alternative therapies to the optimal care of each individual.  Dr. Irwin is actively involved in keeping our environment healthy.  He has been instrumental in organizing cleanup for the Snake River Canyon between Centennial Park and Pillar Falls for the past 35 years.  He has helped numerous Boy Scouts achieve their Eagle Scout award through involvement with cleanup efforts and other projects such as wood duck boxes.  He was recognized in 2022 by Jerome County for countless hours of community service by naming the Carl Nellis and Jim Irwin walking trail, partly in his honor.  He and his wife Lorna have been married for more than 48 years and have 3 children, a profoundly deaf daughter who graduated with a PhD in physiology from Univ of Utah, one son who is a sign language interpreter, and another son who is a high school teacher.  His non-medical interests include hiking, hunting, fly fishing, photography, scuba diving, and playing with his “gorgeous” mules.

Logan Perkins, DO

Family Medicine

Dr. Logan Perkins is from Price, UT and graduated from Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2019.  He attended residency at Full Circle Health – Magic Valley Rural Program, graduating in 2022.  Dr. Perkins and his family chose to stay in the Magic Valley, settling in Twin Falls, where he practices outpatient family medicine at St. Luke’s Clinic Physician Center. He has special interests in orthopedics, lifestyle medicine, and weight loss management.

In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his wife Anna, and their two children Sadie and Sam. 

Current Residents

R3

Anna Fox, MD

Magic Valley Program 2024

University College Dublin

Anna Fox was born and raised on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. Influenced by family travel and witnessing her parents’ rural health care practices, she became resolved to provide medical care to underserved, particularly rurally-located patients.

As an undergraduate, Anna attended the University of Washington, where she developed a passion for medical ethics, and completed degrees in Medical Anthropology and Global Health, and Microbiology. She attended medical school at UCD in Ireland, where a nationalized health care system necessitated emphasis on resource-awareness and the fundamentals of medicine.

Looking at completing two years of general surgery training, Anna began to search for the kind of program that would  provide the breadth of training required of a rural/frontier physician working in under-resourced areas, whether in the US or abroad, and found it in Full Circle Health Magic Valley. Anna anticipates becoming an active member of a rural community and cultivating meaningful patient care relationships with longevity.

Anna enjoys distance running and cycling, sailing, skiing, Russian literature, and peanut butter M&Ms.

R2

Demsie Butler, MD

Magic Valley Program 2025

Demsie Butler showing off her recently caught fish with the lake and mountains in the background.

I was able to grow up on Spring Cove Ranch as a fifth generation ranching Idahoan outside of Bliss, Idaho where I attended high school. Most of my time was spent playing sports or exploring the outdoors. I spent a great deal of time in the Sawtooth National Forest and after high school worked for the Sawtooth Forest Service as a Trail Technician during the summer while attending college. I received a Major in Biology and a Minor in Chemistry from Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. After that I spent time at Bliss High School as a paraprofessional and then transitioned to a High School Science Teacher.

I went to Medical School through the University of Washington School of Medicine as a TRUST Scholar. This stands for Targeted Rural Underserved Track which aims to immerse individuals in rural health care as soon as possible during medical school. During that time, I was able to work in Jerome, Idaho as a medical student and matched in the Magic Valley as a Resident Physician after graduating from medical school. Outside of medicine you can find me helping my family on the Ranch, golfing around Magic Valley, playing with my puppy Jean, gardening, and exploring the wilds of Idaho.  

Alma Iyon-Soud, MD

Magic Valley Program 2025

Alma recently moved to Twin Falls to join her husband who’s also a physician in the Magic Valley. Before she married, she grew up in Dubai and graduated from Dubai Medical College.  Alma then completed one year of internship in Dubai. She learned to provide health care for people from different nationalities, backgrounds, and cultures there.

Alma enjoys providing healthcare for different age groups and believes that family medicine will give her the opportunity to practice what she loves and build long lasting relationships with her patients. After residency, she wishes to complete one year of Surgical Obstetrics fellowship and to pursue her passion for teaching while she continues to serve the community in the Magic Valley.

In her spare time when she isn’t taking care of patients, or her baby boy, Alma enjoys baking desserts. She also loves to grow different flowers such as orchids, and dreams of building her greenhouse together with her husband.

R1

Michael Keller, DO 

Magic Valley Program 2026

Dr. Michael Keller grew up in rural northeast Missouri where his father practiced as a doctor and worked his family farm. Much of his childhood was spent in the fields and outdoors doing activities in the Boy Scouts, hunting and farm related tasks. On many occasions his mother would take him and his siblings on spur of the moment trips to many locations across the country with Utah and Rexburg, ID being common locations due to family ties. As a result of these trips he has been able to visit 49 states minus Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, and 15 European countries. Following his high school education he served as a missionary in the McAllen Texas mission where he learned to speak Spanish and spent a great deal of time within the Hispanic communities. He then went on to study at Utah Valley University where he met his wife Danica and together are the parents of 4 children.

Following his undergraduate education and in seeking to enter the medical field he worked in sterile processing at Utah Valley Hospital then pursued a Master’s degree from Kansas City University. After entering his medical education at Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine he continued to complete his clinical education in the areas surrounding Blackfoot, ID. His interests include camping, hiking and snowboarding, and spending time with his family playing games and watching movies. His goals for his future practice are taking his experiences in rural medicine and as a family physician to care in pediatrics, pregnancy and the elderly.

Nelson Browning, DO

Magic Valley Program 2026

Dr. Nelson Browning had ties to medicine from day one. He was born suddenly and rather unexpectedly–right on the kitchen floor! As a result, he earned the nickname “Chef Browning” by his pediatrician who instilled in him a love of healthcare from a young age. He grew up just outside of Seattle, Washington, where he enjoyed living close to the outdoors. His family routinely traveled to Idaho to visit extended family, and at age 16, they moved to eastern Idaho permanently. Although a rather significant change, Nelson grew to love Idaho and call it home. After graduating from Rigby High School, he served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in San Bernardino, California.

While attending Brigham Young University – Idaho for his undergraduate education, Dr. Browning explored potential career options and skills outside of healthcare, such as accounting, engineering, and secondary education. Ultimately, he continued to be drawn to biological sciences and caring for others. While at BYU – Idaho, he met his wife, Kaylee. An Idaho native from Sugar City, Kaylee is an avid sewer and quilter. She also graduated with an associate degree in art and has her cosmetology license. They moved to Iowa in 2019 where Dr. Browning attended medical school at Des Moines University. Grateful for the opportunity to explore the midwest, but also mildly homesick, he and Kaylee are excited to be back in Idaho and living in the Magic Valley.

In his spare time, Dr. Browning loves to drum and listen to music. He enjoys movies, camping, hiking, biking, and spending time outdoors. He and his wife like to travel and try new restaurants. He loves good barbecue or a classic burger and hopes to someday visit and eat at a local restaurant in every US state.

Resident Life

fmrimagicvalley

When moral is low with Covid, and your senior ...

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Sep 2

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When moral is low with Covid, and your senior wants to make things more fun, what do you do? Make sticker charts of course!

When moral is low with Covid, and your senior wants to make things more fun, what do you do?
Make sticker charts of course! ...

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R2 Tori Talbutt and R1 Jameson Bastow rocking a ...

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Feb 21

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R2 Tori Talbutt and R1 Jameson Bastow rocking a night shift on medicine! After our attending goes to sleep at midnight we run all non-icu admissions and cross-cover calls. We get some good learning and a little fun!

R2 Tori Talbutt and R1 Jameson Bastow rocking a night shift on medicine! After our attending goes to sleep at midnight we run all non-icu admissions and cross-cover calls. We get some good learning and a little fun! ...

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This is a historic time. 2020 and the COVID ...

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Dec 20

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This is a historic time. 2020 and the COVID Pandemic have made residency training a new type of hard. But today we celebrate, as our residents receive the gift of science and medical research. #thisisourshot

This is a historic time. 2020 and the COVID Pandemic have made residency training a new type of hard. But today we celebrate, as our residents receive the gift of science and medical research. #thisisourshot ...

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One of our PGY-3’s exploring Idaho’s early ...

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Dec 9

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One of our PGY-3’s exploring Idaho’s early season backcountry POW!

One of our PGY-3’s exploring Idaho’s early season backcountry POW! ...

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Rural training means doing some self-directed ...

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Oct 6

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Rural training means doing some self-directed learning! Today’s studies: acid-base.

Rural training means doing some self-directed learning! Today’s studies: acid-base. ...

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Good morning from St. Luke’s Magic Valley. I’m...

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Sep 30

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Good morning from St. Luke’s Magic Valley. I’m headed in to get morning report and start my day as a resident on Medicine Service!

Good morning from St. Luke’s Magic Valley. I’m headed in to get morning report and start my day as a resident on Medicine Service! ...

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Stay tuned: R2 Tori Talbutt will be taking over ...

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Sep 30

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Stay tuned: R2 Tori Talbutt will be taking over the account tomorrow to present to you a day in the life on medicine rotation as a magic valley resident! Like and follow to learn more about the life of a resident in the Magic Valley!

Stay tuned: R2 Tori Talbutt will be taking over the account tomorrow to present to you a day in the life on medicine rotation as a magic valley resident! Like and follow to learn more about the life of a resident in the Magic Valley! ...

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One of our R3 residents teaching the 6 dorsal ...

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Sep 4

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One of our R3 residents teaching the 6 dorsal wrist compartments to the crew!

One of our R3 residents teaching the 6 dorsal wrist compartments to the crew! ...

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Tori, one of our rocking 2nd year residents, was ...

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Aug 19

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Tori, one of our rocking 2nd year residents, was the primary surgeon for not one, but TWO c/sections today!

Tori, one of our rocking 2nd year residents, was the primary surgeon for not one, but TWO c/sections today! ...

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A successful half day conference procedural skills...

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Jul 25

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A successful half day conference procedural skills advancement!

A successful half day conference procedural skills advancement! ...

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The team of residents in the Magic Valley RTT definitely live by the “work hard, play harder” mantra.  Historically, all of the residents have lived in Twin Falls, which is where the majority of the clinical hours are spent.

When the residents are not fulfilling clinical duties, you will likely find them outside.  The Snake River Canyon offers paddle boarding/kayaking opportunities, fishing, hiking, spelunking, golfing, zip lining, and many local waterfalls to explore.  For rock climbers, there is an indoor gym for year-round opportunities, with Dierkes Lake twenty minutes outside of Twin Falls and the City of Rocks 1.5 hours from Twin Falls.  While at Dierkes, it is worth the few extra miles to drive to Shoshone Falls, or you can take the Snake River by navigating over Pillar Falls with your flotation device of choice.

The Magic Valley offers many opportunities to visit farmers markets or pick your own produce at the College of Southern Idaho’s fields and many other local orchards. This is a great opportunity to get the family outside, and gain access to fresh and affordable produce.

During the fall and winter months, many residents enjoy hunting, downhill and cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. For snow sports, Magic Mountain is one hour south of Twin Falls, or you can go north two hours to reach Sun Valley. After getting some exercise, nothing beats a nice long soak in some of the local hot springs including Miracle Hot Springs, Banbury Hot Springs, 1000 Springs Resort, and may natural non-commercial hot springs.

Favorite local eateries include Twin Beans for crepes and coffee, The Yellow Brick Café for brunch, The Anchor or Scooters for a local brew and burger, Elevation 486 for the views, Rudy’s for wine and cheese nights or to join the local book club, Cloverleaf Creamery in Buhl for ice-cream, and many other eateries. Twin Falls also is now home to two local breweries, Von Schidt’s and Koto, as well as a yearly BrewFest in City Park for those who enjoy an occasional beer. Residents also commonly gather for backyard barbeques and s’mores.

A lot of effort has recently been made to re-vitalize downtown Twin Falls. New events include the Twin Falls Tonight Summer Concert Series where local artists perform, and the whole community turns out to enjoy yummy food truck grub while their children play in the new Centennial Waterfront Park.

We are always seeking new adventures and hope you visit us to see what the Magic Valley has to offer!

Community

"Magic Valley Idaho" banner video cover image

           

The Magic Valley and Snake River Plain is a place where you can feel the forces of nature. Kayakers can ride the rapids and easily appreciate what it may have been like to see the Bonneville flood smash through the Snake River Canyon 15, 000 years ago. Twin Falls is situated in the scenic area of South Central Idaho, within a 2 hour drive from famous Sun Valley, Boise, and Pocatello. Twin Falls has a population of 35,000 people with a projected annual growth rate of 1.5%.

Jerome is located about 15 miles north of Twin Falls across the Snake River Canyon. It has a population of about 9600 people—and many more cows than people. Economy The economy has a solid base of industry, which is primarily agriculture related. Twin Falls has one large mall as well as major specialty stores. Restaurant services include major chains and many locally owned restaurants.

The College of Southern Idaho’s beautiful campus is located near the Snake River Canyon and hosts a variety of educational opportunities, as well and stimulating and entertaining cultural events. Options include theatre, a wide variety of musical productions, community events, and sports, including a national award-winning basketball team. Training in aquaculture, alternative energy, a LEED certified medical education facility for training in various medical allied fields are also a part of the campus.

Jerome is a rural agricultural based economy with numerous dairies and cheese processing facilities. There is a multitude of farms growing hay, potatoes, corn, sugar beets, and beans, as well as famous Idaho potatoes. Climate The Magic Valley has a four season climate. Daytime highs in July are about 91 degrees F with comfortable overnight lows of 54 F. January temperatures typically range from about 37F in the daytime to 19F overnight. The Valley has relatively little precipitation, receiving about 17 inches of snow and 9 inches of rain each year. Residents enjoy sunny skies 260 days annually, and the air is dry and clear. This is a high desert sage brush plain with canyons, and a beautiful mountain backdrop creating a gorgeous contrast to the lushly green irrigated fields. Recreation South Central Idaho offers unlimited recreational opportunities and scenic beauty. A popular tourist attraction is the Snake River Canyon, which is spanned by the Perrine Bridge. The bridge is 1500 feet long and is 485 feet above the canyon floor. This majestic bridge is a world-famous base jumping venue.

Nearby Shoshone falls has a vertical drop of 212 feet and spans a width of 1,000 feet, making it 52 feet higher than Niagara Falls.

Local country clubs and community golf courses provide a challenge to the most avid golfers. A number of community recreational facilities including large baseball and softball fields, both indoor and outdoor tennis courts, basketball courts, swimming pools, all compliment the opportunities available.

Other tourist attractions nearby include Shoshone Ice Caves, Mammoth Caves, Craters of the Moon National Monument, Balanced Rock, Thousand Springs , and the Sawtooth National Forest Recreational area. World famous Sun Valley, a year-round scenic and recreational resort and ski area, is less than 90 minutes away. Skiers can select from 54 groomed runs, and sixteen high volume chair lifts whisk them 2,300 vertical feet up to Bald Mountain’s 9,200 foot summit. Over 60 international restaurants provide all types of dining and entertainment.

Big game hunting includes antelope, bear, deer, elk, moose, and sheep. Several lakes and rivers, including Salmon Falls Reservoir, Magic Reservoir, Thousand Springs, Billingsly creek, Silver Creek, Copper Basin, and the Snake River, provide popular fishing spots. White water adventure trips, ice skating, camping, hiking, swimming, boating, water skiing, and other recreational opportunities are available at various times of the year. The Middle Fork of the Salmon River in South Central Idaho was rated one of the best white water rafting areas in the United States by the New York Times Travel Section in 1999.

Applicants

TOUR OUR FACILITY:

Get a first glimpse of our Hospital and Clinic areas: WATCH NOW

 

APPLICATION PROCESS:

The application process allows the faculty and residents of the Full Circle Health – Magic Valley Rural Program to thoroughly review each applicant’s credentials prior to extending an invitation to interview. Applications will only be accepted through the ERAS system.  The Magic Valley Rural Program is a separate ERAS application process and match from all other Full Circle Health programs. Interviews will be scheduled during the fall/winter. The interview allows the applicant an opportunity to discuss the program with the faculty and residents; all interviews will be held virtually. Deadline for receiving applications is October 12, 2022. After all applicants have been interviewed, the faculty and residents rank applicants in order of preference and submit the list of names to the National Resident Matching Program.

CRITERIA:

Our ERAS application general review requirements are as follows:

  • Only ERAS applications are accepted
  • Our application deadline is October 12th, but we strongly encourage you to apply as close to September 28th as possible because interview slots fill up quickly!
  • Applicants must have completed USMLE Step 2 or COMLEX Level 2 before the NRMP Rank List due date
  • Applicants must not be more than 2 years out of medical school.
  • Three letters of recommendation are required. One must be a letter from a Family Medicine physician you have worked with
  • International medical graduates must be fluent in both written and oral English. Our Residency Program does not support or sponsor VISA's of any kind
  • International medical grads must have US clinical experienced and have a letter of recommendation from a family physician that you have worked with in the United States.
  • If you are an International medical grad - Please contact the Idaho State Board of Medicine to make sure your medical school is an approved school for licensure in Idaho (208)327-7000. If not approved, we cannot accept your application.

View ACGME Family Leave Policy

SALARY (Starting July 2024)
R1 | $63,440
R2 | $66,040
R3 | $68,640

INTERVIEW DATES: with two scheduling options (all times are Mountain Standard) via Zoom

  • Wednesday – October 26, 2022 : 12:30-3:00 pm OR 3:30-6:00 pm
  • Wednesday – November 2, 2022 : 12:30-3:00 pm OR 3:30-6:00 pm
  • Wednesday – November 9, 2022 : 12:30-3:00 pm OR 3:30-6:00 pm
  • Wednesday – November 16, 2022 : 12:30-3:00 pm OR 3:30-6:00 pm
  • Wednesday – November 30, 2022 : 12:30-3:00 pm OR 3:30-6:00 pm

PROGRAM PRESENTATION BY RESIDENTS AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR (all times are Mountain Standard) via Zoom

There will be three separate sessions to choose from with dates TBD

 

DIRECT INQUIRIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cherri Bingham, MV Residency Coordinator
Full Circle Health / St. Luke's
(208) 814-9855
BinghaCL@slhs.org

Scholarly Activity

“For Patients with Opioid Use Disorder: Is Office Based Treatment with Buprenorphine/Naltrexone as Effective as Traditional Methadone Maintenance for Sustained Remission?”  Evidence-Based Practice, Victoria Kincaid, MD, Logan Perkins, DO, and Peter Ferrara MD.  in editing process 2021

“Does azithromycin increase likelihood of potentially lethal dysrhythmias?”  Evidence-Based Practice, Anthony Markuson, Luke Sugden, and Peter Ferrara.  in editing process 2020

“Is Exercise an Effective Treatment for Osteopenia?”  Evidence-Based Practice, Kena Lackman, Tony Blankers, and Nicole Ruske.  in editing process 2019

WWAMI Network RTT teleconference presentation “Community Orientation in the RTT” J. Kern, MD; 9/19/2018

Waterman S, Henderson, J, Kern JW. Does early integration of palliative care services improve outcomes for patients with advanced cancer over usual care?  Evidence-Based Practice. in editing process 2018

AAFP Program Directors Workshop, Kansas City, MO. Poster: “Update on American with Disabilities Act in Residency Education: A Resident’s Experience” Kern, J. Doyle, C. Stutzman, K. March 2018

Doyle C, Mertz-Hack T, Kern J. Do mental activities such as crossword puzzles and Sudoku reduce risk of developing dementia?  Evidence-Based Practice. September 2017, Volume 20 (9), p 13–14.

Consortium for Longitudinal Integrated Clerkships (CLIC) International Conference, Ashville, NC.  Innovations poster “WRITE and RTT Training at a Unique Rural Site in Idaho”. Presented by co-author, Barinaga, M. October 2015.

Idaho Medical Association Annual Meeting, “Antibiotics: A Historical Perspective and Current Pearls” August 9, 2008

ACMEC lecture, “Current Topics in Antibiotic Use”, March 26, 2008 Molecular Biology of the Cell.  Reconstitution and characterization of budding yeast gamma-tubulin complex. Vinh DB, Kern JW, Hancock WO, et al. 4/2002 Volume 13 Pages 1144-1157

Journal of Biological Chemistry. Yeast Mps1p phosphorylates the spindle

Pole component Spc110p in the N-terminal domain. Friedman DB, Kern JW, Huneycutt BJ, et al. 5/2001 Volume 276 Pages:17958-17967

 

Medical Students

Medical Students & Sub-Internships Full Circle Health (Full Circle Health) Magic Valley Rural Program offers clerkships and sub-internships for medical students in Family Medicine. Students interested in Family Medicine clerkships or sub-internships at Full Circle Health Magic Valley must first meet the criteria below. Medical Student Clerkship Criteria:
  • Full Circle Health Magic Valley will accept third-year clerkship medical students on a space available basis from the University Of Washington School Of Medicine, the University Of Utah School Of Medicine, or the Pacific Northwest University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
  • Full Circle Health Magic Valley will accept fourth-year medical students for Family Medicine sub-internships or out-patient rotations from any U.S. medical school on a space available basis after items 1-3 below have been received, reviewed and approved.
  • Due to hospital credentialing requirements in Idaho, non-University of Washington students applying for a sub-internship rotation must first be approved by Full Circle Health and then apply through the University of Washington visiting student clinical elective program, VSAS. Please check the University of Washington rotation dates before applying. Requested rotation dates should fall within the rotation guidelines, and ideally be four weeks in length. Registration through VSAS should be started at least ten weeks prior to your desired rotation date and the final confirmation of your rotation from the University of Washington received at least four weeks prior to your rotation start date in order to be eligible to start your rotation.
Please send: Please note:  A vehicle is required for this rotation and we cannot guarantee housing for students completing fourth year rotations and non-University of Washington third year students.  Housing and transportation are your responsibility. For additional information or any questions please contact Cherri Bingham at binghacl@slhs.org or 208-814-9855.

Graduates

2022 Class

Logan Perkins, DO

Magic Valley Program 2022

Medical School: Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Lynchburg, Virginia
Current Job: Family Medicine Physician at St. Luke’s Physician Center in Twin Falls, Idaho

Victoria Kincaid, MD

Magic Valley Program 2022

Medical School: University of Washington School of Medicine
Current Job: Family Medicine & Non-Surgical OB Physician at St. Luke’s Clinic Mountain View Medical Center in Boise, Idaho

2021 Class

Anthony Markuson, MD

Magic Valley Program 2021

Medical School: University of Washington School of Medicine
Current Job: Family Medicine and Surgical OB Physician in Bethel, Alaska

Luke Sugden, DO

Magic Valley Program 2021

Medical School: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Current Job: Sports Medicine Physician at St. Luke’s Clinic Sports Medicine in Twin Falls, Idaho

2020 Class

Tony Blankers, MD

Magic Valley Program 2020

Medical School: Mayo Medical School in Rochester, MN
Current Job: Family Medicine and Non-Surgical OB Physician in Aitkin, Minnesota

Kena Lackman, MD

Magic Valley Program 2020

Medical School: University of Washington School of Medicine
Current Job: Family Medicine Inpatient & Outpatient Physician with Surgical OB in Ronan, Montana

2019 Class

Jared Henderson, MD

Magic Valley Program Graduate 2019

Medical School: Ohio State University
Current Job: Primary Care with group in St. Luke’s Magic Valley

Sarah Waterman, MD

Magic Valley Program Graduate 2019

Medical School: Creighton University School of Medicine
Current Job: OB Fellowship in Omaha, NE (2019-2020)

2018 Class

Robert Crouch, DO

Magic Valley Program Graduate 2018

Medical School: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Current Job: Broad spectrum surgical OB faculty member in Nampa, ID

Andrew Schweitzer, MD

Magic Valley Program Graduate 2018

Medical School: University of Washington School of Medicine
Current Job: Broad spectrum surgical OB job in Cottonwood, ID

2017 Class

Catherine Doyle, MD

Magic Valley Program Graduate 2017

Medical school: University of Washington School of Medicine
Current job: Outpatient and inpatient family medicine in Jerome, ID

Tara Mertz-Hack, MD

Magic Valley Program Graduate 2017

Medical school: University of North Dakota
Current job: Outpatient and prenatal care in Oakes, ND. L&D coverage in Fargo, ND