Family Medicine Residency

Rural Track at Mariposa Community Health Center

Rural and underserved communities across Arizona and the Southwest face significant healthcare access challenges. Our Rural Track Program prepares physicians to meet those needs through immersive clinical training, community partnerships, and longitudinal experiences in rural clinics, hospitals, and community settings.

Rather than rotating through disconnected experiences, residents build lasting relationships with patients, faculty, and communities while developing the skills, confidence, and adaptability needed to practice the full scope of family medicine and make a meaningful impact where they are needed most.

At Mariposa, you’ll gain the breadth of a rural family medicine residency within a close‑knit, mission‑driven community.

With just two residents per class, you’ll receive personalized mentorship, extensive hands‑on experience, and meaningful continuity with patients, faculty, and staff. You’ll care for patients across the lifespan, perform procedures, manage complex conditions, and serve diverse rural and border communities.

By graduation, you’ll have the confidence, clinical versatility, and leadership skills to thrive in settings with limited resources and become the physician our community needs.

Curriculum

At Mariposa, you will train for full scope of medicine including:

• Primary care for infants, children, adults, and seniors
• Women’s health services, including contraception, prenatal care, and gynecologic procedures
• Obstetric care, including labor and delivery
• Newborn and pediatric care
• Hospital medicine and inpatient care
• Emergency and urgent care
• Chronic disease management (diabetes, hypertension, COPD, etc.)
• Preventive care and population health initiatives
• Behavioral health screening and treatment
• Sports medicine and musculoskeletal care
• Minor surgical and office procedures such as skin biopsies, vasectomies, joint injections, laceration repairs, and colposcopy
• Community leadership and advocacy to address local health needs
• And more!

Additional training sites:

• Holy Cross Hospital – Critical Access Hospital in Nogales, AZ for Inpatient, L&D, Newborn, Surgery, & ED
• Valleywise Health Medical Center – Teaching hospital in Phoenix, AZ for Trauma & Inpatient
• St. Joseph’s Hospital – ICU + Barrow Neurological Institue in Phoenix for Neurology
• Tucson Medical Center for Children – Children’s hospital in Tucson, AZ for Pediatric Inpatient & Pediatric Pulmonology
• Specialty Clinics in Tucson, AZ for various electives like: Nephrology, ENT, Opthalmology, Podiatry and more!

Life In Santa Cruz County

Nestled between rolling grasslands, mountain ranges, and the U.S.-Mexico border, Santa Cruz County offers a unique blend of small‑town charm, natural beauty, and rich cultural heritage. Residents enjoy family‑friendly communities, a relaxed pace of life, and easy access to outdoor adventure, historic landmarks, and vibrant local events. Whether you’re exploring scenic trails, attending a community festival, or spending the weekend in Tucson, Phoenix, or on the beaches of Sonora, Santa Cruz County provides an exceptional quality of life.

Why You’ll Love Living Here

• Safe, family‑friendly communities with welcoming neighborhoods and a strong sense of community.
• Outdoor recreation year‑round, including hiking, cycling, birdwatching, camping, kayaking, fishing at Patagonia Lake.
• Rich history and culture, with destinations such as Tumacácori National Historical Park, Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, and the missions and ranching heritage of the region.
• Unique local events including the Tubac Festival of the Arts, Santa Cruz County Fair & Rodeo, wine festivals in Sonoita and Elgin, and community celebrations that showcase the area’s binational culture.
• Arizona wine country at your doorstep, with award‑winning wineries and tasting rooms throughout the Sonoita‑Elgin region.
• Convenient location, just minutes from the international border, about an hour from Tucson, approximately 2.5 hours from Phoenix, and within driving distance of the beautiful beaches of Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point), Mexico.
• A close‑knit community lifestyle where it’s easy to build lasting relationships and enjoy a meaningful work‑life balance.

Live where adventure, culture, and community come together. Santa Cruz County offers the opportunity to enjoy rural living without sacrificing access to the amenities, attractions, and destinations that make Southern Arizona truly special.

Contact & Social Media

Cynthia Covarrubias, Family Medicine Residency Program Administrator ccovarrubias@mariposachc.net
IG: @mariposafmresidency