About the Program
Training the Next Generation of Family Physicians in Lowell
The Lowell Community Health Center | Tufts Medicine | Family Medicine Residency Program is an ACGME-accredited, 3-year program developed to expand access to care and strengthen the primary care workforce in Greater Lowell. The program prepares residents to lead the future of family medicine—through real-world training and deep connection to the people they serve.
For more than 55 years, Lowell CHC has been a trusted healthcare home, now serving more than 41-thousand patients. This program builds on that legacy, training family physicians to care for patients across a wide range of needs, ages, and life experiences. With our first class of six residents beginning in July 2026, this is more than a new residency—it is an investment in a healthier future for our community.
Residents care for a medically and socially complex patient population in a high-volume setting, developing the clinical skills and adaptability required to serve people with a wide range of health needs and life experiences. The program offers a uniquely collaborative learning environment where behavioral health, substance use treatment, infectious disease care, and trauma-informed care are integrated under one roof. This model equips residents with the tools to provide comprehensive, team-based care that meets patients where they are.
Why Train at Lowell CHC?
This residency offers hands-on, mission-driven training shaped by trusted affiliations and real-world experience:
- Academic Excellence: Our program is developed in partnership with Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medicine. Lowell Community Health Center residency faculty hold academic appointments at the Tufts University School of Medicine, providing strong academic grounding and high-quality teaching.
- Hospital-Based Training: Residents complete inpatient rotations at Tufts Medicine Lowell General Hospital, gaining experience in acute care, hospital medicine, and specialty services.
- Health Center-Based Learning: Residents train in outpatient care at Lowell CHC, where integrated services such as primary care, behavioral health, substance use treatment, and HIV care are available under one roof.
- Rooted in Community Health: Residents care for people from all backgrounds, gaining experience in team-based, collaborative care. Our curriculum prepares them to respond to the complex health needs of real patients in real communities.
Residents graduate equipped with the clinical skill, adaptability, and confidence to serve wherever their careers take them—whether in community health, academic medicine, or beyond.
Program Philosophy
A Program Designed for Future Physicians
Our goal is simple: to train exceptional family physicians who are ready to care for individuals and families across every stage of life — and to do it well.
What You’ll Learn
Residents in the program will:
- Build broad-spectrum skills through robust inpatient and outpatient training.
- Gain experience caring for patients with complex medical needs.
- Learn to deliver personalized, evidence-based care that prioritizes access and continuity.
- Develop leadership skills to help shape the future of care — one patient, one community at a time.
What You’ll Experience
- You’ll train in a supportive, cross-disciplinary environment that reflects the realities of modern primary care.
- You’ll learn to adapt to the evolving needs of the community.
- And you’ll be part of a growing network of family physicians who are improving health outcomes every day.
A Real-World Impact
This program is designed not only to train excellent doctors — but to expand access to care. In just its first three years, the residency will increase care capacity for more than 5,000 people in Greater Lowell.
Leadership Message
Dear Lowell Community Health Center | Tufts Medicine | Family Medicine Residency Program applicants,
Greetings from Lowell! We are thrilled to have initial accreditation for our community health center-based Family Medicine Residency, supported by our strong academic partnership with Tufts University School of Medicine. We will welcome our first class in 2026.
For more than five decades, Lowell Community Health Center has partnered with the people of Greater Lowell and grassroots organizations to strengthen community health, adjusting and adapting as needs change. We’re building on that experience to train broad-spectrum family physicians who are ready to meet the needs of their patients and communities throughout their careers.
With strong inpatient training at our local hospital, Tufts Medicine Lowell General Hospital, outpatient specialty rotations throughout Greater Lowell, a home base at Lowell Community Health Center for continuity and procedural clinics, and many other outpatient experiences – our residents will be deeply connected to our community from the start.
Lowell’s nickname is “Mill City,” named for the textile mills that defined the city in the 19th century. Since then, people from around the world have come here seeking opportunities and a better life for themselves and their families. That tradition continues today, with a patient population whose experiences reflect a wide range of journeys. They shape a city that’s full of energy—where you’ll find food from every corner of the globe, active community organizations, and vibrant festivals throughout the year. With UMass Lowell creating energy and new ideas, and Boston less than 40 minutes away, Lowell is a wonderful place to live with something for everyone.
I’ve spent my career in family medicine education, and it’s truly magical to be part of the journey as residents grow—starting out eager, uncertain, and sometimes overwhelmed, and becoming confident, accomplished family doctors. Our graduates will carry with them a strong foundation in family medicine and a deep commitment to their patients, ready to launch careers that make a lasting impact.
If you’re looking for a close-knit residency with strong community roots – and a training experience that prepares you to deliver compassionate, whole-person care across the lifespan, I can’t wait to learn more about your vision and goals in family medicine.
Cara Marshall, MD (she/her)
Program Director, Family Medicine Residency at Lowell Community Health Center
Clinical Associate Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine
