Coffee Regional Medical Center (CRMC) is proud to announce the official approval of its Internal Medicine Residency Program by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). This milestone marks a significant step in advancing medical education and expanding access to high-quality healthcare in our community.
The program will be led by Lora Denton, MD, MACP, who brings more than three decades of teaching experience to her role as Program Director. Under her leadership, the residency program has been carefully designed from the ground up, integrating best practices, evidence-based medicine, and a dedication to developing physicians who are not only clinically skilled but also compassionate, thoughtful, and community-focused.
“From day one, with the help of several of our practicing physicians at CRMC, our vision has been to create a residency program that truly reflects the heart of Coffee Regional Medical Center—providing exceptional medical education while fostering a culture of kindness and service,” said Dr. Denton.
CRMC will welcome its first class of five internal medicine residents in July 2026. The program will continue to expand by accepting five residents each year for the following two years, building to a total of 15 residents by the Class of 2028.
“This residency program is an exciting milestone not just for Coffee Regional Medical Center, but for the community we serve,” said Vicki Lewis, President & CEO of Coffee Regional Medical Center. “By training physicians here in Douglas, we are investing in the future of healthcare for our region and strengthening our commitment to ensuring that patients have access to excellent care close to home.”
Residents will benefit from instruction across a broad spectrum of specialties, including:
- Hospice and Palliative Care
- Ambulatory Medicine
- Hospital Medicine
- Geriatric Medicine
- Nephrology
- Emergency Medicine
- Hematology & Oncology
- Rheumatology
- Pulmonology
- Population Health
- Infectious Disease
- Psychiatry & Addiction Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Cardiology
- Critical Care
- Neurology
Through CRMC’s academic affiliation with Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM), all residents will also enjoy full access to MUSM’s library and academic resources.
“This type of program provides a significant opportunity to address local healthcare needs and physician shortages by preparing future physicians for practice in rural and underserved settings,” added Dr. Denton. “Our goal is to build a program, enriched by a supportive community, that inspires many of these young physicians to make Douglas & Coffee County their home. Nationally, nearly 50% of physicians remain in the community where they train, and we are committed to making Douglas and Coffee Regional Medical Center a place where they want to build their careers.”
Details on curriculum, faculty, and program requirements are available online at www.CoffeeRegional.org/internal-medicine-residency/.
Coffee Regional Medical Center looks forward to welcoming its first class of internal medicine residents in July 2026 and continuing its mission: To Serve. To Heal. To Save.