Abrazo Health Network Program

The Abrazo Transitional Year Residency Program is an ACGME-accredited, one-year program, designed to accept up to 13 residents each year. This residency aims to provide extensive foundation training, eligible for individuals preparing for advanced training in specialties such as Internal Medicine, General Surgery, and more. The program is based primarily at Abrazo West Campus, a 188-bed hospital in Goodyear, AZ, which has received Level I Trauma Center distinction, ensuring residents gain exposure to significant trauma cases and emergency care.

Throughout their training, residents in the program will participate in various rotations to enrich their clinical experience. The main rotation sites include:

• Abrazo West Campus: Here, residents will rotate through the Medicine, Emergency Room (ER), and Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
• Abrazo Arrowhead Campus: This 217-bed acute care hospital offers rotations primarily through Medicine and Surgery services.
• Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital: This location serves as the site for Inpatient Cardiology and Coronary Care Unit (CCU) rotations. It is recognized by the American Heart Association and is a Certified Chest Pain Center, ensuring residents receive quality education in cardiology.
• Abrazo Medical Group Clinics: Residents will complete their required ambulatory rotations at various outpatient clinics.

The program's core values emphasize unopposed training, strong procedural skills, and excellence in quality improvement, where evidence-based medicine is the foundation of the program. This commitment to high-quality training allows residents to innovate and serve communities effectively.

Residents benefit from program highlights that include:

• 24-hour access to Midwestern University’s library resources.
• Access to a simulation lab featuring mannequins and task trainers for enhancing hands-on skills.
• Dedicated space for educational activities, including equipped computer stations and comfortable call rooms.
• Free meals provided while on duty, including access to the physician’s lounge.
• An allowance for textbooks, software, and laptops.
• Funding to attend relevant national and state conferences, representing the program.
• Generous vacation days amounting to 20 days, along with one flexible day off, plus protected time for didactic sessions and journal clubs.
• A variety of elective rotation opportunities to allow residents to tailor their training to their future career goals.

The residency program emphasizes a collaborative working environment between residents, faculty, and staff, aiming to serve the needs of the community effectively.

Application Process

For prospective applicants, the process involves submission through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS). Only U.S. Citizens and permanent residents can apply. The program is competitive, and candidates are encouraged to meet all program-specific application requirements outlined on the ERAS site. The program collaborates with the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) for the matching process.

Salary and Benefits

The salary for residents in the transitional year is approximately $61,977, with a benefits package that includes:

• Medical and dental insurance coverage.
• Life and disability insurance plans.
• Participation in an employee retirement plan.
• Provision of a white lab coat by the hospital upon starting the residency.
• Additionally, the program covers the cost of ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) and BLS (Basic Life Support) certifications.

Visa Support

The program offers visa sponsorship for J-1 visa applicants, which is a critical consideration for international medical graduates seeking residency in the United States.

Competitiveness

The Abrazo Transitional Year Residency Program maintains a selection process that is highly competitive, particularly for positions allotted to international medical graduates (IMGs) and graduates from osteopathic medicine (DO) programs. Candidates should prepare themselves with strong applications reflecting their clinical experiences and other relevant qualifications.