NEWS RELEASE – February 4, 2026
ARH and ARH Internal Medicine Residency receive continued ACGME accreditation
LEXINGTON, KY – Appalachian Regional Healthcare as well as the ARH Internal Medicine Residency Program have again received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
Tammy Allen, the Designated Institutional Official for ARH Graduate Medical Education, who is tasked with ensuring the residency program is in compliance with the ACGME requirements, said both the residency program and ARH – the sponsoring institution for the residency program – have maintained annual accreditation since first receiving it in 2018.
“Since the inception of our program, we have positioned ourselves as leaders in upholding the highest standards,” Allen said. “So, we are proud and excited to celebrate our achievements which showcase our dedication, leadership and our unwavering commitment to quality and steadfast compliance.”
The ACGME sets standards for effective educational and training programs and monitors for compliance with those standards. Accreditation requires sponsoring institutions to demonstrate compliance regarding educational oversight, safe learning environments and resident safety.
Dr. Bart Francis, who serves as the director of the ARH Internal Medicine Residency Program, said the accreditations serve as affirmation of the quality, rigor and stability of the program’s training environment.
“This recognition reflects the dedication of our faculty, the hard work of our residents, and the strong institutional commitment to excellence in medical education,” he said. “It signifies that our program not only meets but consistently maintains the national standards required to prepare residents for independent, compassionate, and evidence‑based practice.
“For prospective residents, it is a clear signal that they will train in a program that is supportive, well‑structured, and deeply invested in their success.”
ARH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Maria Braman, echoed Francis, and praised both him and Allen for their dedication.
“I am so proud of them and of the entire team that ensures ARH continues to deliver nationally recognized high-quality medical education right here in the mountains of eastern Kentucky,” she said. “It is because of their hard work that our residency program continues to serve as a pipeline of well-trained, caring physicians who are committed and dedicated to our culture and to providing the best healthcare to the communities we serve.”
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About Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) traces its roots back to 1955, when the United Mine Workers of America opened the Miners Memorial Hospital system – a network of 10 hospitals dedicated to providing care throughout the coalfields of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. Seventy years later, ARH has grown into a 14-hospital not-for-profit health system that serves more than 500,000 residents of central Appalachia each year. ARH hospitals in Barbourville, Harlan, Hazard, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, West Liberty, Whitesburg, and South Williamson in Kentucky, and Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, ensure that residents, tucked away in even the most remote areas, can access the highest quality of care without traveling hours from home. ARH’s hospitals, clinics, multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores, retail pharmacies, and medical spas boast more than 6,700 employees with a network of more than 1,300 providers, making it the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.