Meet Willmar Family Medicine Resident Dr. Sumaiyya Mohiuddin

As one of the first physicians in the new University of Minnesota / CentraCare Willmar Rural Family Medicine Residency program, Dr. Sumaiyya Mohiuddin brings both global experience and deeply personal motivation to her training in Willmar.

Originally from India, Dr. Mohiuddin has lived and practiced in many communities including Chicago and Elmhurst, Illinois; Doylestown, Pennsylvania; and Poplar Bluff, Missouri, before beginning her family medicine residency with CentraCare in 2025. Her journey reflects a commitment to comprehensive, compassionate care that spans cultures, settings, and stages of life.

From Rural India to Rural Minnesota

When Dr. Mohiuddin talks about medicine, it quickly becomes clear that her path has been shaped as much by people as by training.

After completing medical school in Hyderabad, India, she practiced medicine in a rural setting where she established and ran her own clinic. That experience reinforced her passion for comprehensive, community-based care.

After moving to the United States, she worked as a phlebotomist and medical assistant while completing her U.S. medical licensing exams.

"Matching into residency with CentraCare - Willmar was a major milestone," shared Dr. Mohiuddin. "It feels like a natural continuation of my commitment to rural and community-focused medicine."

The Willmar family medicine residents are based at the Willmar Lakeland Clinic, where they begin building their own patient panels as soon as they arrive.

Much of their first postgraduate year (PGY-1) is spent completing core training and rotations at CentraCare in St. Cloud, while they also see patients in Willmar one day each week during their first year.

For their PGY-2 and PGY-3 years, they are primarily on site in Willmar, caring for their own panel of patients, including prenatal care and deliveries, while working and training side-by-side with local physician faculty and mentors.

Residents are fully trained medical doctors who care for real patients every day while continuing advanced training alongside supervising attendings — bringing additional expertise, time, and attention to patient care in our community.

The Heart Behind Family Medicine

For Dr. Mohiuddin, family medicine was the specialty that allowed her to do everything she loved.

"When I considered internal medicine or pediatrics or any other specialty, I realized I would deeply miss caring for pregnant patients—which I truly love—as well as children/newborn care," she explained. "Family medicine offers the perfect balance, allowing me to care for patients at every stage of life."

Within family medicine, she values the continuity of relationships and the opportunity to address a wide range of medical concerns, from procedures to preventive care.

"I am especially drawn to obstetrics, and family medicine provides strong OB exposure while still allowing me to care for entire families, which is incredibly meaningful to me."

Her approach to care has also been deeply influenced by her personal journey.

"My mother's experience as a cancer patient shaped how I practice today. Being a caregiver to a terminally ill loved one allowed me to understand the patient experience beyond what is written in a chart."

That viewpoint remains a steady guide for her daily work.

"I strive to listen closely, meet patients where they are, treat them with dignity and respect, and practice with patience and empathy, regardless of their circumstances."

Drawn to Willmar and Its People

When Dr. Mohiuddin interviewed for residency programs, CentraCare - Willmar stood out immediately.

"I felt genuinely excited and grateful. During the interview process, I felt an immediate connection with the faculty."

The design of the program and the culture of teaching resonated with her.

"The program's unopposed structure, strong one-on-one teaching, and the enthusiasm of the faculty to teach stood out to me. Being part of a new program where residents are truly valued made the match feel especially meaningful."

Her prior rural clinic experience made the fit clear. "Having practiced in a rural setting in India, I felt naturally drawn to a program that serves a rural population."

Now that she is training here, she is eager to contribute both clinically and personally.

"I hope to provide compassionate, reliable care and to be a physician that patients feel comfortable turning to. I want to build trust with patients and colleagues and support the diverse population of the Willmar community through attentive, patient-centered care," she explained. "I am most excited to gain broad, hands-on clinical experience, including performing procedures and participating in obstetric care such as assisting with C-sections."

Understanding the role of residents

As the family medicine residency program is new to Willmar, Dr. Mohiuddin hopes staff and patients will come to better understand both the role of residents in patient care and the significance of bringing a rural teaching program to this community.

"I want people to understand that residents are deeply committed physicians who actively care for patients while continuing to learn every day."

She also highlights how the residency model strengthens care for patients.

"We take on real responsibility and work closely with supervising attendings, meaning patients benefit from multiple layers of thoughtful, evidence-based care."

And while residency can be challenging, she views it as a rewarding part of her career. "Residency is demanding, but it is also incredibly meaningful because of the trust patients place in us."

Nurturing what grows

Outside of medicine, Dr. Mohiuddin finds joy in gardening, cooking with fresh produce, and feeding friends and family. She describes herself as a hands-on mother who values time spent nurturing both her garden and her family.

Beyond the clinic and hospital, her life is guided by the same values that define her work: care, connection, and growth.