Franklin Primary Health Center Earns ACGME Accreditation to launch a new Family Medicine Residency Program

Mobile, AL – Franklin Primary Health Center, Inc. is proud to announce that it has received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to launch a new Family Medicine Residency Program, beginning July 1, 2026.

This milestone marks a significant achievement in Franklin’s ongoing mission to expand access to care and build a sustainable healthcare workforce in the communities that need it most. This accomplishment makes Franklin one of only two Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Programs in the state of Alabama.

“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,” said Charles White, CEO of Franklin Primary Health Center, Inc.

The ACGME-accredited Family Medicine Residency Program will enroll 12 residents over the next three years. Residents will be trained in our community-based settings and local hospitals, gaining hands-on experience in the full scope of family medicine. The program will emphasize culturally competent care, chronic disease management, population health, and the principles of patient-centered medical homes.

“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.”
 
According to national projections, Alabama will need up to 600 additional primary care physicians by 2030 to meet the need and demand for primary care services across the state.
 
Franklin Primary Health Center is a federally qualified health center (FQHC) with 20 service locations across six Alabama counties. Franklin delivers comprehensive healthcare services to all individuals, regardless of insurance status, ensuring access to quality care for the uninsured and underinsured.