Sanford Bismarck’s Internal Medicine Residency Earns Accreditation
Sanford Health, in partnership with UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences, is pleased to announce the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accreditation of a three-year internal medicine residency program in Bismarck.
The first cohort is set to begin in July 2026. This milestone marks a significant step forward in expanding medical education and health care access in central and western North Dakota. The program is designed to train and retain high-quality physicians to serve the region, with a focus on comprehensive, patient-centered care.
"Accreditation is a significant milestone. It has taken a team of dedicated individuals across many organizations that have worked hard to create this robust program,” shares Amir Kichloo, M.D., program director. “Up to this point, many things were theoretical, and while there have been several milestones on our path to develop this program, receiving accreditation is a big one."
The program aims to train four new internal medicine physicians annually, with training held at the Sanford Bismarck Medical Center.
"The enhancement of academic culture and its implications on teaching, education, research and patient service is significant,” said Mubashir Badar, M.D., chief physician of Sanford Bismarck. “Recruiting and retaining highly talented physician workforce to the community is an additional benefit. Residency programs enhance the team-based approach to the highest quality and safe care we pledged to our patients and families in the community."
The addition of this residency program will provide a strong pipeline of internal medicine physicians trained within the Bismarck community, enhancing Sanford Health's ability to deliver high-quality, accessible care. The program will bring lasting benefits to the region by supporting physician recruitment, improving continuity of care, and fostering a culture of academic excellence.
The Sanford Bismarck region provides health care to central and western North Dakota, eastern Montana and northern South Dakota. It includes 26 clinics in Bismarck, Mandan, Minot, Dickinson, Williston and Watford City, as well as a Level II trauma center located in Bismarck.