Mary Washington Healthcare celebrates first residency graduates, expands physician training programs

Fredericksburg, Virginia (June 9, 2026) – Mary Washington Healthcare is celebrating a major milestone with the graduation of its first class of 22 medical residents, including 15 in Internal Medicine, 6 in Family Medicine, and 1 in Family Medicine Obstetrics, marking significant progress in its commitment to strengthening access to care through locally based physician training.

Launched three years ago, Mary Washington Healthcare’s Graduate Medical Education programs began with Internal Medicine and Family Medicine residencies and have since expanded rapidly to address regional provider shortages and evolving community health needs. Additional programs now include General Surgery, Anesthesiology, and a Transitional Year residency, as well as a Family Medicine Obstetrics fellowship.

“This first graduating class reflects our long-term vision of building a sustainable physician workforce rooted in the community,” said Stephanie Goldberg, MD, FACS, Designated Institutional Official for Graduate Medical Education at Mary Washington Healthcare. “Training physicians here improves access to care today and helps ensure our patients will continue to receive high-quality care close to home for years to come.”

“Training at Mary Washington Healthcare has been an incredibly meaningful experience,” said Amanda Herbert, MD, upcoming graduate of the Family Medicine Residency Program. “We have had the opportunity to care for patients while building lasting connections in the community, and I feel well-prepared to continue serving patients with confidence and compassion. I am excited to stay in the area and keep caring for this community.”

Graduates from the inaugural residency class are already contributing to healthcare across the region. Several Family Medicine graduates will remain in the area or serve rural and underserved communities throughout Virginia. Internal Medicine graduates are pursuing a range of paths, including continuing their careers at Mary Washington Healthcare, practicing in rural hospitals, or advancing into subspecialty training.

Both the Internal Medicine and Family Medicine programs include dedicated outpatient primary care clinics that provide team-based care focused on prevention, chronic disease management, and patient engagement. These clinics also serve as hands-on learning environments where residents work alongside experienced faculty, supported by integrated behavioral health and pharmacy services.

Family Medicine at Mary Washington Healthcare provides comprehensive, lifespan-based care from pregnancy and infancy through adulthood and older age. The addition of the Family Medicine Obstetrics track has further strengthened access to maternal and women’s health services in a region where such care remains limited.

This summer, Mary Washington Healthcare will expand specialty training with the launch of Gastroenterology and Cardiology fellowships. Additional approved programs including Psychiatry, Neurology, and a Pulmonary Critical Care fellowship are expected to begin next year, further aligning physician training with community health priorities such as behavioral health access and complex chronic care.

The health system currently supports dozens of residents and fellows across multiple specialties, with steady growth anticipated over the next several years.

With the addition of these new physicians to the local workforce, patients can expect increased appointment availability and improved access to care across the region. Patients interested in establishing care can learn more or request an appointment at practices.mwhc.com.

Mary Washington Healthcare will recognize graduates through program-specific celebrations honoring residents, faculty, and care teams who supported their training.

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About Mary Washington Healthcare

Mary Washington Healthcare is a fully integrated, regional healthcare system that provides inpatient and outpatient care at more than 80 facilities including Mary Washington Hospital, a 471-bed tertiary hospital; Stafford Hospital, a 100-bed community hospital; four emergency departments, and a multi-specialty graduate medical education program. Mary Washington Healthcare is a non-profit health system with a longstanding commitment to providing care regardless of patients’ ability to pay. For more information about our services and facilities, visit mwhc.com.