MultiCare Tacoma Family Medicine Residency

There's been a chill in the air in Tacoma. Time for a little **Hocus Pocus** No spell books or talking cats involved, just the magic of point of care ultrasound (POCUS). Residents had their latest POCUS skills workshop this past Thursday. After an afternoon of ultrasound tricks, some of the R2s went out for treats!

We are lucky at Tacoma Family Medicine to have faculty who are excited about POCUS as a valuable tool in clinic and the hospital. We use a mix of online modules through Core Ultrasound and in-person workshops to learn this valuable skill. Additionally, residents have access to portable ultrasounds to take home or around the wards to practice.

Dr. Nkinsi (MD - PGY2) enjoying the mountain views with her partner. At Tacoma Family Medicine, we are lucky to have one of the most beautiful national parks our country has to offer (Mt. Ranier National Park) just about an hour away. Even better, there are numerous other ways to enjoy the beauty of the Pacific North West right within city limits!

TFM presents America's Next Top Intern

Join us over the next 10 days as we introduce the newest faces making their debut strutting down the halls of Tacoma General. Of the many who applied, only 10 were selected to compete for the role of America's Next Top Intern. Who will come out on top?

*spoiler alert* they are ALL winners 😉

So brat. So fierce.

Dr. Schumacher leading by example by completing her civic duty and voting in the WA primaries. You want to be iconic? Click the link to find a ballot dropbox near you. Ballots must be dropped off by 8pm August 6th OR postmarked by August 6th. If you're not in WA state, be sure to look up your state's primary date and vote!

So brat. So fierce.

Dr. Schumacher leading by example by completing her civic duty and voting in the WA primaries. You want to be iconic? Copy the link below to find a ballot dropbox near you. Ballots must be dropped off by 8pm August 6th OR postmarked by August 6th. If you're not in WA state, be sure to look up your state's primary date and vote!

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=13M_ZTb_zVszBZRjsNm5UvOfhmBU&ll=47.17413419874129%2C-122.47633723144537&z=10

A VERY important person from our TFM family is retiring soon, so a big celebration is in order! We welcome all past and present TFM friends. Please join to celebrate Dr. Watrin if you are free. ✨

Tacoma Family Medicine takes AAFP! Come check us out to learn more about our program and life in Washington!!!!

Casting workshop was a huge success!🦴

Dr. Julian & Dr. Schumacher learning lots at the 2024 Lead Resident Conference with our WWAMI colleagues!

Congratulations to the class of 2023! We are so proud of you!!!!!

Congrats to our ~*~fabulous~*~ R3 residents on completing their FPIN presentations today! Every year at TFM all third year residents complete a year long Family Physicians Inquiries Network (FPIN) research project, which eventually get published! Below are the project titles from this year-

Statins and Primary Prevention of Dementia - Dr. Laurisa Rodrigues, MD, MPH

Pelvic Floor Exercises to Improve Stress Incontinence in Women - Dr. Jessica Lancaster, DO

Prenatal Perineal Massage to Prevent Perineal Tearing at Time of Delivery - Dr. Collena Butler, DO

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Following Delivery to Reduce Urinary Incontinence - Dr. Ashley Millette-Cote

Safety of Medical Abortions Performed at Home - Rachel Shober, MD

Oral versus Intravaginal Antifungals for Treatment of Uncomplicated Vulvovaginal Candidiasis - Dr. Erin Steele, MD

To***co Cessation: Pharmacological and Behavioral Interventions for Improving Outcomes - Dr. Joel Alvarez, MD

Importance of Mental Health in Heart Disease - Dr. Konstantin Tachan, DO

Our interns had a great retreat in Quilcene, WA! Each class gets a designated retreat weekend each year in addition to the all-residency retreat ✨

WELCOME to our 2 brand new Omak rural training track interns!!!! Can’t wait to meet you in June🎉

WELCOME TFM CLASS OF 2026 !!!!!!!!!🍀🍀🍀 We are so excited to meet you!

Resident retreat weekend off to a great start!✨

Happy holidays from Tacoma Family Medicine! Last week we had our annual gingerbread competition—who do you think won?? 👀 (spoiler- judges deemed R2s the champs!)

Happy Friendsgiving! Our potluck was too delicious to last for the photo 🦃🥧 Wishing everyone time with good friends, good food, and good dogs!

We’re so lucky to get to gather every year at Dr. Watrin’s beautiful house for his annual Halloween party 👻 , complete with pumpkin carving 🎃 and a bonfire 🔥! Hope everyone had a very happy Halloween!

We made it to Kansas City!! Come visit us at booth 1838, next to our wonderful WWAMI colleagues. We can’t wait to meet you all!!

And just like that they are all grown up 🥲 We are so proud of our graduating 3rd year residents!! Going to miss them all so much.

Intern spotlight! 🔦
Dr. Max Castanera

Hometown: Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii
Med school: University of Hawaii 🌺

Outside clinic can be found: spending time with his wife, finding the best food spots, adventuring in the outdoors (hiking, snowboarding 🏂, camping), cooking Hawaiian food, traveling, and being in the sun ☀️ (when there is any).

Favorite spot in Tacoma: Anywhere with a view of Mt. Tahoma 🗻 (Point Ruston is pretty nice)

Why TFM? For its diverse patient population including working very closely with indigenous people, exceptional full-spectrum training including robust OB and peds 👼, amazing faculty/peers who share a love for medicine and teaching, and located in one of the coolest cities in PNW.

Intern spotlight! 🔦
Dr. Mary Buswell

Hometown: Shoreline, WA ☔️
Med school: University of Rochester

Outside clinic can be found: biking 🚴🏻‍♀️ to Point Defiance, hosting game nights with co-interns, looking for deals at Grocery Outlet, drinking coffee ☕️ at Bluebeard, planning weekend adventures

Favorite spot in Tacoma: The Grand Cinema 🎥

Why TFM? Residency training that will make me confident and competent in full-scope practice, colleagues who are genuinely invested in their community and providing care for marginalized patient populations

Intern spotlight! 🔦
Dr. Carolyn Windler

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA ☀️
Med school: University of Pittsburgh

Outside clinic can be found: Eating a at the Proctor Farmers Market 🥯, buying something weird at the Grocery Outlet, or sharing tots with co-residents at Hanks!

Favorite spot in Tacoma: Charlotte’s Blueberry Park 🫐 in the summer

Why TFM? Really strong pediatrics & OB training, academically rigorous, supportive community, and a wonderful city!

🔥 Intern Retreat 🔥fun times were had 🎉 bball was played 🏀 when it rained it poured 🌧 seals were spotted 🦭 and it was the absolute best 💕 MVP of the weekend goes to and for making us all an incredible Hawaiian feast 🍍

Planting some flowers in the name of wellness during didactics this afternoon 👩‍🌾🧑‍🌾🪴🌷🌿🌸🌱

Future PTHA and TFM chiefs at the WWAMI Chief Residency conference in Seattle! 🤓

Patiently waiting for the sun to come back out … ☀️🌞 Some action shots from our outdoor wellness didactics a couple weeks ago !

Just some adorable TFM faculty at a MultiCare wellness team sponsored RAFT (reflection and fellowship together) dinner at Indochine 💛💛💛 We are looking forward to more opportunities to connect and build community as COVID cases decline in our area!

More retreat weekend fun—we had a blast BOWLING !! Thank you to our wonderful residency coordinator Leigh, our program directory Dr. Nunes, and TFM 3rd year Courtney Horton for organizing such a fun day 🎳

Spring was in the air at our retreat this weekend! We had a Tacoma scavenger hunt in the morning and enjoyed the sunshine with our families at Wright Park💛🌸🌼