Montana's First Class Moves from the Classroom to the Clinic
Future Doctors at TouroCOM Montana Explore Options During Rotations
Future physicians are making their mark at Benefis Health System as Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Montana’s inaugural class continues clinical rotations. Nearly half of the class is training in Great Falls, gaining hands-on experience with patients, learning from experienced physicians, and seeing firsthand what it means to provide compassionate, skilled medical care.
Third-year rotations include Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Psychiatry—each designed to help students apply what they’ve learned in the classroom while developing the clinical judgment, teamwork, and bedside manner essential to becoming a physician.
For student physician Colby Spongberg, working in the Emergency Department at Benefis has been both challenging and deeply rewarding. He said the best part of rotations is meeting all the providers—from doctors to NPs to PAs and even support staff. Everyone is pleased to have Touro students, and they are very helpful. He’s had critical care techs teaching him IVs and physicians guiding him through patient care. “It’s been such a collaborative environment,” Spongberg said, “and that’s made it a wonderful experience all around.”
Michael Ny said the transition from the classroom to patient care has given him a new appreciation for the responsibilities that come with the profession. “The gravity of the fact that our decisions matter is weighty now, more than ever before,” he said. “In the first two years, we’re behind a book all the time. But now, seeing real patients—like a recent stroke case we had—if we missed a subtle detail in the physical exam, the consequences could have been dire. It’s a reminder that this is real life, not a board question in a textbook.”
For Caroline Aprigliano, rotations have reinforced the importance of empathy as a cornerstone of medicine. “It’s about never losing your sense of empathy,” she said. “This training reminds us that while we’re doctors, we also have to be there for our patients—to comfort them, to listen, and never to forget the human side of medicine. That’s what really makes a difference.”
Their preceptor, Dr. Stephanie Khouth Hang, said mentoring students through their first patient encounters has renewed meaning for her medical practice. “I would say my whole team has grown a lot, and that’s the most rewarding part of medicine for me—giving back and mentoring at different stages,” Dr. Hang said. “Watching medical students grow that whole journey is incredibly fulfilling. I always ask them, ‘What type of doctor do you want to be?’ because I hope that they never lose sight of the fact that their patients are human beings first.”
John Goodnow, CEO of Benefis Health System, said hosting TouroCOM students reflects Benefis’ commitment to addressing Montana’s healthcare needs. He said the organization is dedicated to playing a significant role in the training of all clinical professionals, including physicians. “We know this is one of the best ways to combat the current healthcare workforce shortage,” Goodnow said. “Our hope is that many of the medical students completing clinical rotations at Benefis will want to pursue joining our team in the future once they complete their training.”
Dr. Brittany Mayfield, Emergency Physician and Director of Undergraduate Medical Education at Benefis Health System, said precepting medical students is one of the most meaningful parts of her work. “Guiding future physicians reminds me why I chose medicine in the first place,” Mayfield said. “Every question they ask, and every spark of curiosity, reignites my own passion for learning and caring for patients. They push me to think critically, to explain the ‘why’ behind what we do, and to stay current with new advances. What I love most is watching them grow—seeing their confidence build, their compassion deepens, and their skills come together. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and it reminds me every day that medicine is as much about people as it is about science.”
As rotations continue, the collaboration between Benefis Health System and TouroCOM Montana is already showing results—not only in the growth of students as physicians-in-training but also in strengthening the future of healthcare across Montana’s communities.
