The fall 2023 class of fellows completing the WellNow Urgent Care Traditional and Accelerated Fellowship program turned their tassels and celebrated their graduation day at the end of September. Since 2018, a total of 216 fellows in 6 states have graduated from WellNow’s development programs, and 90 percent of graduates have gone on to serve in full time positions as advanced practice providers (APPs) at WellNow centers. According to Chief Medical Officer Robert Biernbaum, DO, in a press release, the program is designed to ensure the fellows gain the skills they need to seamlessly transition from their educational experiences to their clinical roles.
APPs get some perks: Fellows participating in the 9-month program work one-on-one with experienced clinicians, who provide training and performance reviews. According to WellNow, graduates who join its clinical team receive “a substantial pay increase.” Investing in the next generation of APPs is a trend across urgent care as more centers are challenged by staffing shortages and a lean pipeline of new talent.