Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton's (NHCP) Family Medicine Residency program produces some of Navy Medicine's best family medicine doctors.

The residency program was recognized earlier this month, by the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences as one of the top three clerkship sites in the nation for teaching medical students.

Last year, graduating residents earned a 100 percent passing rate on the initial board certification exam. This year, the residency program exceeded the national average on the annual family medicine clinical knowledge exam. The overall score placed the Camp Pendleton program in the 83rd percentile nationally.

The program was established in 1971 and currently has 39 residents. As one of only three naval hospitals with a training program for family medicine doctors, NHCP takes in several residents per year to train them to give Marines, Sailors and their families the best care possible.

"This residency program attracts some of the best medical students in the nation," said Capt. Jones, NHCP's residency program director. "The purpose of our program is to produce the highest quality family physicians that are capable of providing the full spectrum of care to our patients in any location or environment that the Navy may need us."

All new Navy doctors arriving at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton participate in a one-year internship, where upon completion they either continue training for two more years as a resident or go out into the fleet as a general medicine officer.

Lt. Cmdr. Brendan McCluney, a second year resident who has been at NHCP since July 2015, says that the program is challenging in all the right ways.

"[This program] pushes us to be smarter, more well-rounded and more efficient physicians," he said. "My biggest takeaway, thus far, is the command's motto of 'serving those who serve.' It puts the difficult days into perspective and it makes the great days better because we know we're contributing to the mission."

Residents who graduate from the program are immediately detailed by the Navy to serve in a variety of areas throughout the world.

Most recently graduates have been assigned to commands in Guam, Korea, Japan, the USS Makin Island in San Diego, California and the 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division here on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

"My favorite aspect of doing a military residency is the patient population," said McCluney. "Active duty, reservists, retirees, and their family members are the people I want to care for and help to thrive. Our warfighters, young and old alike, deserve the very best healthcare this country has to offer, and I'm blessed to be part of that care."

For more information on Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton and its Family Medicine Residency Program, visit http://www.cpen.med.navy.mil.

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For more news from Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, visit www.navy.mil/.