Cabarrus Family Medicine Residency Rural Track

About The Program

The Cabarrus Family Medicine Rural Track offers true rural immersion with full-spectrum family medicine training, embedded in the community and supported by a large health system. Residents train across outpatient, inpatient, and obstetric settings, building the breadth and autonomy needed for real-world rural practice. The track is part of Cabarrus Family Medicine Residency, with a complementary larger community-based campus approximately 45 minutes away providing access to subspecialty rotations not available in rural settings. For the rural track residents, continuity clinics and more than 50% of clinical training take place in Albemarle and surrounding Stanly County. Faculty provide close, one-on-one mentorship and expertise in community-based rural care, agromedicine, integrative health, menopause care, and medication-assisted treatment. Our rural track also offers strong Family Medicine Obstetrics (FMOB) training led by fellowship-trained FMOB faculty. This site serves a three-county underserved region with significant shortages in obstetric care and substance use treatment, giving residents meaningful experience caring for patients with complex rural health needs. Our program prepares physicians to deliver comprehensive, relationship-centered care and to become leaders who improve the health of rural communities.

Why Us

The Cabarrus Family Medicine Rural Track is rooted in the charm and connection of Albemarle and surrounding Stanly County, where residents experience what it truly means to live and practice in a rural community. Nestled near Morrow Mountain State Park and the Uwharrie National Forest, and just minutes from Lake Tillery and Badin Lake, the area offers a high quality of life with easy access to hiking, water, and outdoor recreation. Residents benefit from a slower pace of life, meaningful relationships with patients and colleagues, and the opportunity to be known and valued within the community while still maintaining access to the resources and support of a large health system.

Education Program

Each PG Year has an interleaved curriculum of mostly 1-week blocks (*some longer).

Greater than 50% of these rotations will be in Stanly County.

Longitudinal Curricula

Community Medicine & Population Health, Evidence-Based Medicine, Cultural Competency, Behavioral Medicine, Patient Safety & Quality Improvement, Management of Health Systems, Lifestyle Medicine & Health Promotion, Laboratory Medicine, Research & Scholarly Activities are taught through a mix of experiential, didactic and research activities over the 3 years. 

Program Leadership

Program Director: R. Aaron Lambert, MD

Associate Program Director: Dawn Caviness, MD

Faculty: Tara Burgher, DO, Clea Moore, MD, Elizabeth Davis, MD

How to Apply

Applications to the Cabarrus Family Medicine Residency Program will be accepted only from participants in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Apply here.

A completed application should include a personal statement, curriculum vitae, MSPE, USMLE or Comlex Transcript, and three letters of recommendation. Invitations for personal interviews will be based upon the completed application materials.