Street Medicine in the La Maestra Curriculum

Street medicine in the La Maestra Curriculum

At La Maestra Family Medicine Residency Program, understanding and addressing social drivers is a core part of our training. Our curriculum goes beyond the clinic walls, preparing residents to care for patients in the real-world contexts that shape their health. Our mobile health clinic, school-based programs, homeless outreach, sober living initiatives, and re-entry services give residents hands-on experience delivering compassionate, patient-centered care to populations that are often overlooked.

Street medicine and outreach are more than temporary electives—they are integrated learning experiences that teach residents how to navigate health and wellness needs such as housing instability, food insecurity, mental health challenges, and limited access to health care. By engaging directly with patients in their environments, residents develop practical skills in support efforts, resource navigation, and context-aware care, reinforcing the connection between social factors and overall health and wellness. These experiences equip all residents to provide holistic care, improve access to resources, and become leaders in family medicine.

Focusing on Resident Wellness at La Maestra

Focusing on resident wellness at La Maestra 

At La Maestra Family Medicine Residency, supporting the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of our residents and fellows has always been a priority. We are now building on that foundation with new energy and ideas.

• Wellness didactics: Each block, residents come together for structured sessions on stress management, mental resilience, coping strategies, and work-life balance—tools that go beyond clinical skills and help them thrive personally and professionally. Our Behavioral Health WSS Clinic, Roxanne Aguirre, PA, recently spoke to residents about burnout screening, not only for their patients but also for themselves, and discussed when and how to seek support.
  
  
  
• Ongoing wellness activities: La Maestra wants to bring even more focus to improving overall resident wellness. From meditation apps to nutritious team lunches and exercise practices, we’re making it easier for residents to prioritize mental health and recharge throughout the year. This year, residents voted for a meditation app on their smartphones to reset and practice breathwork whenever they need to. Other suggestions included workouts, collective outings in nature, and healthy team lunches.
  
  
  
• Work hour limits & rest: Strict limits on clinical and educational work hours, along with guaranteed time for restful sleep, healthful meals, and personal activities remain a cornerstone of preventing burnout.
  
  
  

We are excited to continue expanding wellness initiatives and to create a culture where residents feel supported, balanced, and energized—both inside and outside the clinic.

Meet the PGY-1 Residents

Shawn Putrus, DO, PGY-1

As a first-year resident and a member of the inaugural class at the La Maestra Family Medicine Residency Program, I have quickly come to appreciate how meaningful my experience has been. From my first day, I have been supported by faculty and colleagues who are genuinely invested in my growth as both a clinician and a community supporter. Growing up in El Cajon as a first-generation Chaldean, I witnessed many loved ones struggle to access quality care and to feel understood within the medical system. These experiences align deeply with La Maestra’s mission to serve economically challenged individuals and families with compassion and humility. Training in a Federally Qualified Health Center allows me to care for patients from a wide variety of  personal histories and to better understand the social and cultural factors that shape their health. Every day at La Maestra reminds me why I chose Family Medicine: to connect, to listen, and to make a lasting difference. If you share my passion for healthcare, building meaningful relationships, and caring for your community, then La Maestra is where you belong.

José González Rosado, MD, PGY-1

Before joining the La Maestra Family Medicine Residency Program, I spent two years training in Emergency Medicine in Miami. While I valued the intensity and immediacy of emergency care, I found myself wanting something more—continuity, connection, and the ability to build lasting relationships with my patients. Family Medicine offered that opportunity. At La Maestra, I’ve discovered a program that not only challenges me clinically but also aligns with my purpose: to provide compassionate, comprehensive care to my community. Here, every patient encounter is a chance to make a long-term impact. If you’re looking for a residency where medicine feels personal again—where you can grow as both a physician and an advocate—La Maestra es La Familia.