Dear Prospective Colleague,
Welcome to UPMC Altoona Family Physicians. I am pleased to introduce myself as the Program Director of our Family Medicine Residency and to welcome you as you explore our program. I am a graduate of the Altoona Family Physicians residency and completed a surgical obstetric fellowship, experiences that continue to shape my commitment to comprehensive, patient-centered family medicine education.
As Program Director, my focus is on maintaining a culture of excellence, innovation, and support. Our faculty are dedicated educators who prioritize resident development and wellbeing while continuously evaluating and improving our curriculum. Resident feedback is central to our decision-making and helps ensure our training remains responsive and relevant.
Our Program has a long-standing impact on the region, with many graduates choosing to practice locally or pursue fellowship training in areas such as Sports Medicine, Obstetrics, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. I am proud of the physicians our program produces and the community we serve.
In my free time, I enjoy traveling the world and learning about new communities and what makes them unique. I am often asked what makes AFP special, and I point to our program's strong emphasis on continuity of care - from following patients in the clinic, hospital, and emergency room, delivering their baby, and supporting families through end-of-life care. We intentionally prioritize continuity as a foundation for your learning. Beyond this, the people in our program - from support staff and nurses to faculty and beyond - create a welcoming environment that makes every new resident feel like part of the family.
Thank you for your interest in Altoona Family Physicians. I look forward to the opportunity to meet you and to share more about what makes our residency program exceptional.
Sincerely,
Kathleen E. Woods, D.O. FAAFP
Program Director
UPMC Altoona Family Physicians Family Medicine Residency