HCA Florida Healthcare/USF Morsani College of Medicine GME - Tampa South Program

The HCA Florida Blake Hospital's Internal Medicine Residency Program offers a comprehensive and structured training experience for residents pursuing a career in internal medicine. This ACGME-accredited program accommodates 71 categorical positions, including 22 residents per year in the three-year categorical residency and five residents in the preliminary year. It is closely affiliated with the USF Morsani College of Medicine, providing a dynamic educational environment enriched by collaboration with esteemed faculty and fellowships.

Residents primarily rotate at HCA Florida Blake Medical Center, a 383-bed tertiary care facility recognized as a level II trauma center and a burn center in Florida. The hospital features multiple critical care units, including dedicated medical, trauma, burn, and cardiovascular ICUs. This broad setting significantly enriches residents' clinical exposure and education.

Curriculum and Rotation Schedule

This residency program operates on a 4+1 scheduling format, where residents undergo four-week rotations followed by a one-week block dedicated entirely to continuity clinic experiences. This innovative structure allows for uninterrupted outpatient responsibilities, personal quality projects, and didactic time for research endeavors.

Throughout their training, residents will engage in approximately 10 months of inpatient ward rotations, 4-5 months of ICU experience, and 10 months in an outpatient setting, ensuring a well-rounded skill set upon graduation. Importantly, residents will not exceed 12-hour shifts due to a committed night float rotation that ensures optimal work-life balance and educational supervision. Residents also benefit from over six months of elective rotations tailored to individual career aspirations and educational needs.

Core Rotations

The core inpatient rotations span multiple specialty areas including cardiology, gastroenterology, infectious disease, and geriatrics. In addition, residents will have the opportunity to engage in elective rotations across various specialties such as dermatology, anesthesiology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. This broad exposure is facilitated by a highly dedicated hospitalist faculty and 24/7 staffing in the ICUs.

Didactic Curriculum

Education in this program extends beyond clinical practice into a robust didactic curriculum. Residents participate in mandatory protected didactic sessions totaling 7 hours per week. These sessions cover a wide array of essential topics ranging from core medical knowledge to advanced practical skills, all designed to prepare residents for board examinations. Key components include case report presentations, noon conferences, EKG reviews, and morbidity & mortality conferences.

Additionally, residents are encouraged to enhance their practical skills through hands-on simulations and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) workshops. The program provides complimentary access to board preparation resources such as MKSAP, UWorld QBank, and provides academic time off for critical examinations.

Research Opportunities

Participation in scholarly activity is a requirement for residents, aimed at fostering a research-oriented mindset throughout the training. Residents are expected to lead didactic sessions and partake in significant research projects, including presenting at the annual Blake Research Day and possibly progressing to regional conferences. Support is available for publication costs and travel arrangements to conferences, underlining the program's commitment to resident academic advancement.

Salary and Benefits

The HCA Florida Blake Hospital provides a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. This includes customizable health and dental insurance plans, professional liability coverage, paid time off, educational stipends, and meal allowances. Additionally, residents are eligible for professional memberships and funding for conference participation.

Visa Sponsorship and Competitiveness

The program is dedicated to being inclusive and considers applicants from diverse backgrounds, including those from DO and IMG categories. Candidates who may need visa sponsorship can expect support for J-1 and H-1B visa applications, thereby opening the door for international medical graduates to train in this highly engaging and supportive environment.

Application Requirements

While specific application requirements can vary, typical prerequisites include graduation from medical school within a certain timeframe and relevant clinical experience. Candidates are generally expected to have performed satisfactorily in standardized examinations, with consideration offered to those who may have encountered challenges in achieving their scores.