Impact Statements
The Riggs Community Health Center Residency Program:
- Supports nurse practitioners as they transition from academic training to clinical practice
- Provides hands-on learning, mentorship, and collaborative team-based care experiences
- Each resident cohort serves more than 2,000 patients annually, serving over 20,000 patients since the program’s launch
- Graduates practice in rural and underserved communities, expanding access to high-quality, patient-centered care where it is needed most
- Mentors play a critical role in developing confident, compassionate providers, and the statements below highlight the impact and value of the residency program.
Will Asare
Serving as a preceptor and Mentor within the Riggs’ NP residency for the past 5yrs, has strengthened my own clinical practice by encouraging intentional reflection, evidence-based decision-making, and continual learning. Teaching residents requires me to clearly articulate clinical reasoning, stay current with guidelines, and model best practices in patient-centered care. The residents help increase patient appointment availability, reduce wait times, and enhance continuity of care. Having this program here at Riggs has positively affected the community by expanding access to high-quality, especially in underserved population.
Dec 29, 2025
Susan Foster
Serving as a preceptor and mentor to nurse practitioner residents in their first year of practice is a meaningful way to support both the profession and the communities we serve. In our FQHC, residents receive structured, year-long support while gradually increasing their clinical responsibilities, allowing them to develop confidence, sound clinical judgment, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by patients in rural and underserved areas. By precepting, I am able to give back to the NP profession while helping prepare compassionate, well-trained providers who are committed to delivering high-quality, accessible care to communities that need it most.
Jan 26, 2026
Jeffery Tessman
The Residency Program continues to improve annually--challenging preceptors to remain up to date in terms of evidence-based practice and allowing residents a safe place to learn, making the transition from novice to experienced provider much more smooth. The program allows Riggs further ability to impact the community and improve outcomes via wider access to patients and improved knowledge base of providers.
Dec 24, 2025
David Beine
Serving as a preceptor for nurse practitioner residents is a deeply rewarding experience. It provides the opportunity to mentor emerging clinicians as they develop clinical confi dence and a commitment to patient-centered care in the underserved community. Watching residents progress to independent providers reinforces the value of continual learning and collaboration in clinical practice by both residents and preceptors alike. Precepting not only supports the growth of the next generation of nurse practitioners but also strengthens us as preceptors and mentors as well as improves care delivery through shared experiences, refl ection, and continuous improvement.
Jan 5, 2026
Qiaorong Liu
As a mentor and provider in the Riggs Nurse Practitioner Residency Program, I've seen firsthand how this experience can transform both new practitioners and the communities we serve. Guiding residents as they develop their skills has not only deepened my own understanding of patient care, but it's also been inspiring to water them grow into confident, compassionate providers. Each resident brings fresh incessant energy, which enriches our team and ultimately benefits our patients. This program doesn't just foster individual growth; it strengthens our community by ensuring that more people have access to empathetic healthcare.
Dec 23, 2025