MercyOne Northeast Iowa Family Medicine Residency
Northeast Iowa Family Medicine Residency has been teaching family medicine residents in the Cedar Valley for nearly 50 years. Our faculty physicians have many years of combined clinical experience and clinical appointments with the University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine. Being affiliated with the University of Iowa, we also have access to their Hardin Medical Library and the visiting professor's program participating in our didactics sessions.
We pride ourselves in working to provide residents with the best education, while also focusing on your personal growth and wellness. We are a 5-5-5 program which means we have fifteen residents, welcoming five new residents and graduating five residents annually.
Five faculty physicians support our family medicine residency program: one nurse practitioner, one PharmD, one LISW and an LMSW on staff to support you. MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center offers an established, embedded clinical research program.
Around 40% of our residents have stayed in the area to serve as local family medicine physicians, CMOs, board members for local organizations, hospitalists and emergency department physicians.
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls area represents what is good about life and what is great about Iowa. The Cedar Valley is large enough to offer you the education, culture and diversified economy of a major metropolitan area, but small enough that you feel safe and part of the community. You'll see school information, water and theme park links, and educational opportunities for your kids and spouse here. You'll also find 80 miles of bike paths, kayaking and tubing opportunities and night life.
A note from our Program Director
Hello and welcome!
I'm Mariam Gallagher, DO, a family medicine physician at MercyOne and the Program Director of the Northeast Iowa Family Medicine Residency Program.
As family medicine physicians, we are privileged to play multiple critical roles in the lives of our patients – serving not only as their healthcare providers but also as mentors, advocates, and sometimes even trusted friends. We are often the first point of contact in the healthcare system, and we walk alongside our patients through every stage of life. This unique position gives us the opportunity – and the responsibility – to build lasting relationships, provide compassionate and comprehensive care, and support our patients in living their healthiest, most fulfilling lives.
With this privilege comes the deep responsibility of preparing the next generation of family medicine physicians. Our program is grounded in the belief that exceptional training leads to exceptional care. We are committed to equipping our residents with the knowledge, skills and compassion needed to meet the evolving needs of our communities. Through rigorous clinical experiences, strong mentorship, and a supportive learning environment, we aim to foster both personal and professional growth.
Our residency program is built around providing you with a strong foundation in both outpatient and inpatient medicine. You’ll develop confidence in treating chronic conditions in the clinic while also gaining hands-on experience with emergency and acute care by covering our inpatient service. One of our greatest strengths is continuity – you’ll follow your patients in clinic and see them through their health journeys. We also offer a wide range of elective rotations, giving you the flexibility to explore subspecialty interests and tailor your training to your future goals. Whether you’re drawn to rural medicine, women’s health, sports medicine or any other area, we support you in finding your path.
Our program is a place where you’ll feel supported, challenged, and truly prepared for your future in medicine as someone who is skilled, compassionate, adaptable and committed to lifelong learning.
We are excited to support your journey and help shape your path as a future leader in family medicine.
Warm regards,
Mariam Gallagher, D.O.
Program Director, Northeast Iowa Family Medicine Residency
MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center
