AdventHealth Sebring celebrates 14 residency graduates, strengthening the future of local care

SEBRING, Fla. - AdventHealth Sebring recently celebrated 14 graduating resident physicians from its Internal Medicine and Family Medicine residency programs, highlighting the hospital's investment in medical education and the important contribution local patients and caregivers make in helping shape the next generation of physicians.

The graduating class, who completed three years of training, marks the second group of Internal Medicine residents and the third group of Family Medicine residents to complete the program, a milestone that continues to strengthen access to care across Highlands and Hardee counties.

Graduate medical education programs play a vital role in addressing physician shortages, particularly in rural communities. By training physicians locally, AdventHealth Sebring is helping expand access to care where it is needed most.

Thomas Shimshak, MD, program director of the AdventHealth Sebring Internal Medicine Residency Clinic, said the program is helping expand access to care while bringing new ideas that strengthen how care is delivered across the community.

"These talented residents are helping us meet real needs in our community, from expanding care to introducing new ideas that improve how we serve patients," Dr. Shimshak said. "We're so grateful to have these residents and this program here in the Heartland region, which is helping to make sure more families have access to high-quality, whole-person care close to home."

As one class graduates, a new group of 23 residents -- 15 in Internal Medicine and eight in Family Medicine -- has begun training at AdventHealth Sebring, continuing the cycle of learning, collaboration and innovation.

Dr. Shimshak said that having resident doctors as part of the hospital team benefits both patients and providers.

"Residents bring a great desire to learn and innovate, which strengthens care for our patients every day," he said. "By working together on research and new approaches to care, our teams are continually finding ways to improve outcomes and better serve our community."

According to the Florida Hospital Association, the state is projected to face a shortage of 36,000 physicians by 2035. Programs like those at AdventHealth Sebring are designed to help grow the physician workforce and ensure communities have access to timely, high-quality care.

Pamela Knickerbocker, DO, program director of the AdventHealth Sebring Family Medicine Residency Clinic, said the program is an investment in the future health of the region.

"Every resident who trains here contributes to the future of care in our community," Dr. Knickerbocker said. "Over the next several years, we will continue graduating physicians who understand the unique needs of this region and are prepared to care for patients close to where they live."

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