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About the Program
Curriculum
Educational Environment
Pittsburgh
Alumni
Contact
Why
Consider a Transitional Year Program?
An increasing number of organizations are recognizing
the value of additional general training as a prerequisite to specialty
training. For example, both the American Board of Anesthesiology and the
American Board of Radiology require a "clinical base" for certification. The
Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association has also
recommended that each physician undergo a year of general training
immediately upon graduation from medical school and prior to specialized
residency training.
This recommendation has merit in that the expansion
of medical knowledge, coupled with the commonly "all elective" senior year,
has made it practically impossible for the modern graduate to feel
comfortable in the wide variety of clinical situations that he or she may
later face.
Benefits of a
Transitional Year
From our perspective,
there are three main groups of students seeking the Transitional Year
educational experience:
-
Students
who remain uncertain about their ultimate career goal and want
additional clinical experience in a number of fields in order to better
decide upon their future.
-
Students
who seek residency training in a specialty requiring preliminary training of
a general nature. Some students in this category may have a strong
interest in a specialty that will, under certain circumstances, consider
training taken in a Transitional Year program toward board certification
requirements. These students may wish to design a year to satisfy those
requirements while allowing latitude to sample other specialties of possible
interest. These considerations relate particularly to students seeking
eventual board certification in:
- Anesthesiology
- Dermatology
- Family
Medicine
- Internal
Medicine
- Neurology
- Ophthalmology
- Pathology
- Psychiatry
- Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Radiology
-
Students who have a commitment to the Armed Services or
Public Health Service and must plan to fulfill that commitment
immediately after the first year of graduate training.
The UPMC Mercy Transitional Year Program...Preparing Physicians to Excel
The objective of our program is to prepare physicians
in a manner such that they excel in subsequent clinical activities. Transitional Year residents engage in intensive, closely supervised clinical
work in an environment permeated by the spirit of inquiry.
Relying on One’s Own Resources
The Transitional Year residents’ responsibilities are
increased progressively as they mature in experience and judgment.
Residents are encouraged to develop independence and rely increasingly upon
their own resources.
The resident will engage in a thorough study of
patients who present with diagnostic and therapeutic problems. Priority is
placed on history taking, physical examination, and the synthesis of
clinical information. In addition, an ongoing emphasis is placed on the
appropriate usage and interpretation of diagnostic studies.
The resident should be able to reach sound
conclusions about common as well as more intricate problems in clinical
medicine.
Curriculum
The UPMC Mercy Transitional
Year consists of required (7) and elective (6) rotations of four weeks each. Required are four
blocks
of General Internal Medicine, one block of Coronary Care, one block
of Ambulatory Medicine, and one block of Emergency Medicine. These required
blocks afford each resident core knowledge and skills that should translate
to nearly any medical endeavor. The remaining six blocks are elective so
that each resident can develop a diversity of knowledge and skills. The
list of possible electives is extensive.
Rotations are
critically evaluated on a yearly basis to ensure that the educational
experiences for the Transitional Year residents are uniformly excellent. The
Transitional Year program director is available to assist the prospective
resident in designing a program to meet any pertinent board certification
requirements and career goals. Additionally, other UPMC Mercy physicians are
available to advise the resident if further assistance is desired.
A Wide Range of
Electives
Electives offered to Transitional Year residents include:
Educational Environment
Examining the
Transitional Year Experience
The nature of any
Transitional Year program should be examined with regard to the degree to
which Transitional Year residents are treated equivalently to categorical
first-year residents as they serve on each specialty service, and also with
regard to the level of commitment the faculty have to medical education.
Transitional Year
residents have generally been quite pleased with the degree to which they
are embraced as fully participating members of the patient care team.
The faculty of UPMC Mercy
Hospital believe that the educational rewards for residents should be of
paramount importance, and that residents' service to the hospital is a
by-product of the educational effort rather than a driving force. A
substantial effort is made on an ongoing basis to make the Transitional Year
program a fruitful educational experience.
UPMC
Mercy’s ongoing success in the Pittsburgh market translates into a full
range of patient care opportunities. In calendar year 2002, UPMC Mercy’s market
share increased in 13 of the 17 federal DRG product lines.
The Patient Care
Experience
At the core of any
graduate educational program is the patient care experience. However,
patient care without direction, evaluation and amplification may not, in
itself, contribute much to the quality of a graduate medical education
program.
Our teaching staff
interacts with each resident regarding their patient histories and physical
examinations, their analyses of patients' clinical presentations, and their
interpretations of laboratory studies, as well as their diagnostic and
therapeutic plans. Correlation of the clinical presentation and the
pathological anatomy is the order of business in the operating room and the
autopsy room. This daily stimulation leads residents to frequently access
the medical literature in order to profit as much as possible from the care
of each patient.
Conferences, Lectures,
and Other Educational Opportunities
Naturally, to
supplement the bedside educational sessions, each of UPMC Mercy's residencies
offers a full slate of conferences, lectures, journal clubs and other
activities. Regularly scheduled clinicopathologic conferences and other
interdisciplinary meetings also enrich the educational environment.
For schedules and detailed descriptions of formal
teaching activities in each department, the prospective Transitional Year
resident should refer to the information specific for each residency
program.
Call Schedule
The on-call experience offers the resident an opportunity to address a wide
variety of acute medical problems and to participate actively in their
management. The challenges faced and the lessons learned in the on-call
setting will remain with the physician forever.
Transitional Year
residents have the opportunity to see, evaluate, and manage all acute
problems while knowing that immediate back-up by senior residents and
attending physicians is available.
While the on-call
experience can pay dividends to the physician-in-training, call which occurs
too frequently or which is of an excessively demanding nature can be
counterproductive. Therefore, although the frequency varies from service to
service, the resident's call will not average more than one night in four.
Night Medicine: A Unique System
The Department of
Medicine, where Transitional Year residents spend a minimum of six months on
various rotations, was among the first programs to develop what is commonly
known as a “night float” system. Transitional Year residents serve one of
their six medicine blocks on the Night Medicine rotation, which combines
patient management with didactic activities.
A Night Medicine Team (four first-year residents and
three upper-level residents) covers patients on Sunday through Thursday
nights. These residents complete their overnight experience by
discussing 1-2 patients in a group setting during a didactic Morning Report.
Medical Grand Rounds is scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Thursdays.
The knowledge that Night Medicine residents gain in relation to their
patient care responsibilities is amplified by these regular educational
sessions.
This system makes it
possible for Transitional Year residents to have evenings free during their
remaining medical rotations to pursue independent study and personal
development. Absence of night call responsibilities during the week also
ensures that residents are fresh for teaching rounds, conferences, and other
formal learning opportunities.
Residents assigned to
daytime medical rotations are eligible for on-call assignments on weekends
only. It should be emphasized that each resident has either Saturday or
Sunday free for activities outside the hospital.
Living in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is a city on
the move. No longer a center for heavy industry, the city has earned an
international reputation for its successful shift into advanced technology
and biomedical enterprises. The extensive physical redevelopment of the
metropolitan area has been paralleled by a rise in quality of life
indicators, as demonstrated by the selection of Pittsburgh as among the most
livable cities in the United States.
Building on a base of
stable neighborhoods, low housing costs, moderate climate, and low crime
rates, Pittsburgh also boasts a diversified economy and strong cultural,
educational, and medical communities.
Leisure Activities Abound
Regular performances by
the Pittsburgh Symphony, Ballet Theater, and the Opera will satisfy the most
demanding performance-goers. Museum lovers will appreciate The Carnegie,
with its outstanding art collection and museum of natural history. Sports
enthusiasts will enjoy the Pittsburgh Pirates, Penguins, and Steelers, as
well as Division I college sports.
For More Information…
See the Graduate Medical Education overview booklet for:
- A concise description of medical education activities at UPMC Mercy
- A brief introduction to each of the Hospital’s residencies
- More information about living in Pittsburgh
See individual residency program brochures for details about educational
opportunities in each specialty.
Comments From Recent Alumni:
- I look back on my internship year with great fondness, especially
because everyone associated with the transitional year program was very
supportive and dedicated to my development as a physician.
- This program is very responsive to needs of the residents.
- Excellent transitional program that is committed to resident
education. Department open to resident suggestions and always takes the
necessary steps to ensure residents are learning in an environment that is
supportive. Would rank this program #1 all over again.
- Well-balanced program.
- General
medicine and subspecialty experiences are combined with core knowledge
lectures to provide a solid foundation for residents entering any area of
medicine.
- Very
humane setting so that it’s possible for residents to have a life outside
the hospital.
- Great
learning experience.
- Treated
well by staff.
- Enjoyable, meaningful relationships with fellow residents and faculty.
- Would do
it all over again.
- I found
the year to be very rewarding and a solid beginning for my career.
- I
appreciated the interest which (the program director and staff) showed for
the residents.
- It was
clear that resident feedback and concerns were given a top priority.
- The
educational abilities of the UPMC Mercy staff were never lacking. They
encouraged residents to investigate problems thoroughly.
- The
administrative staff was always very professional and accommodating.
- I feel
very fortunate to have been a part of your program during the past year and
will reflect fondly on my experience here.
- I found
UPMC Mercy to be a very special place.
Activities of Graduating Transitional Year Residents
Class of 1998
Anesthesiology
UPMC
Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh
Radiology
University of Virginia –
Charlottesville
Radiology
Mt. Sinai New York
Ophthalmology
University of Pittsburgh
Dermatology
Tulane University
Anesthesiology
University of Pittsburgh
Anesthesiology
Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Ophthalmology
University of Pittsburgh
Internal Medicine
Johns Hopkins University
Radiology
Thomas Jefferson University
Class of 1999
Anesthesiology
Beth Israel – Boston
Anesthesiology
Wake Forest University
Ophthalmology
Georgetown University
Ophthalmology
West Virginia University
Anesthesiology
University of Pittsburgh
Anesthesiology
University of Pittsburgh
Radiology
University of Pittsburgh
Ophthalmology
Penn State – Hershey
Radiology
University of Illinois – Peoria
Radiology
UPMC
Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh
Class of 2000
Business Administration
Carnegie-Mellon University
Ophthalmology
Eastern Virginia School of Medicine
Ophthalmology
University of South Florida
Radiology
University of Pittsburgh
Anesthesiology
Duke University
Radiology
Oregon Health Sciences University
Internal Medicine
Oregon Health Sciences University
Radiology
University of Tennessee – Knoxville
Anesthesiology
Mayo Clinic
Class of 2001
Radiology
West Penn Hospital
Radiology
Mallinckrodt Institute – St. Louis, MO
Radiology
University of South Carolina
Neurology
University of Oklahoma
Radiology
UPMC
Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh
Internal Medicine
UPMC
Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh
Anesthesiology
University of Pittsburgh
Radiology
Rochester General Hospital
Radiology
University of Pittsburgh
Radiology
Duke University
Class of 2002
Radiology
University of Texas/Southwestern Medical Center
Ophthalmology
University of Iowa
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
UPMC
Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh
Anesthesiology
University of Pittsburgh
Ophthalmology
University of Pittsburgh
Anesthesiology
University of Pittsburgh
Radiation Oncology
Allegheny General Hospital
Radiation Oncology
University of Washington
Radiology
UPMC
Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh
Dermatology
University of Pittsburgh Class of 2003
Emergency Medicine
Allegheny General Hospital
Anesthesiology
Loma Linda University
Radiology
Ohio State University
Ophthalmology
University of Pittsburgh
Ophthalmology
Cleveland Clinic
Radiology
Indiana University
Radiology
Allegheny General Hospital
Anesthesiology
UC San Diego Medical Center
Ophthalmology
University of North Carolina
Ophthalmology
University of Florida
Dermatology
University of Pittsburgh
Radiology
Wayne State University
Anesthesiology
George Washington University
Dermatology
University of Pittsburgh
Radiology
UPMC
Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh CLASS OF 2004
Radiology
University of Pittsburgh
Ophthalmology
University of Kentucky
Radiology
Cleveland Clinic
Ophthalmology
University of Kansas City
Anesthesia
University of Pittsburgh
Radiology
VA Commonwealth University
PM&R
Thomas Jefferson University
Radiology
University of Pittsburgh
Ophthalmology
Vanderbilt University
Ophthalmology
University of Virginia
Internal Medicine
UPMC
Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh
Anesthesia
NYP Hospital-NY Cornell
Anesthesia
University of Maryland
Ophthalmology
Ohio State University CLASS OF 2005
Radiology
University of Pittsburgh
Ophthalmology
University of Pittsburgh
Ophthalmology
University of Pittsburgh
Anesthesia
Mt. Sinai, New York City
Dermatology
New York University
Ophthalmology
University of Pittsburgh
Radiology
West Penn Hospital
Ophthalmology
Geisinger Medical Center
Radiology
UPMC
Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh
Neurology
University of Miami
Radiology
Penn State Hershey
Anesthesia
University of Pittsburgh
Anesthesia
University of Virginia
Radiology
University of Pittsburgh CLASS OF 2006
Anesthesiology
Ohio State University
Anesthesiology
Massachusetts General Hospital
PM&R
University of Texas – Houston
Anesthesiology
University of Pittsburgh
Radiology
University of Virginia
Radiation Oncology
University of Pittsburgh
Radiology
West Virginia University
Radiology
University of Pittsburgh
Radiology
University of Pittsburgh
Anesthesiology
University of Pittsburgh
Radiology
Jackson Memorial Hospital
Radiology
Geisinger Medical Center
PM&R
New York Presbyterian Hospital
Radiology
University of Pittsburgh
Radiology
Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University CLASS OF 2007 Radiology
University of Pittsburgh
Ophthalmology
University of Pittsburgh
Radiology
Stanford University
Anesthesia
New York University
Ophthalmology
University of Miami
Anesthesia
University of Pittsburgh
Anesthesia
University of Pittsburgh
Radiology
Indiana University
Radiology
University of Pittsburgh
Radiology
Virginia Commonwealth
Anesthesia
University of Pennsylvania
Radiology
Yale University
Ophthalmology
University of Pittsburgh
Radiology
University of Alabama at Birmingham
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