Kaweah Delta Health Care District (KDHCD) Program

The Kaweah Delta Health Care District (KDHCD) Anesthesiology Residency Program is based in a large institution with 8 campuses, 581 patient beds, and more than 300 physicians. The program boasts a strong anesthesia staff of over 25 members and provides training in a state-of-the-art facility with 18 operating rooms. They perform nearly 18,000 anesthetics per year, including 5,000 deliveries in the obstetrical suite. The program is unique as it is the only Anesthesiology Residency Program in the Central Valley and one of the few in California.

Application to the program entails submitting a completed ERAS application, 3 letters of recommendation, medical school transcript, dean's letter, and a personal statement. The program requires graduation from a medical school recognized by the State of California within the last 2 years. Applicants should also have West Coast and/or California connections, particularly to the California Central Valley. While the program does not provide visa sponsorship, it offers four categorical positions each year. The deadline for completed applications is preferably before November 1st.

The structured curriculum includes rotations covering a wide range of specialties, such as internal medicine, surgery, ICU, emergency medicine, obstetric anesthesiology, regional anesthesiology, and more. The didactics include weekly conferences, resident discussions, and simulation labs. Faculty members are noted for their diverse backgrounds and experience.

Residents at Kaweah Health have shared positive experiences about the camaraderie among residents and faculty, quality of training, and the supportive environment. The program offers a supportive and family-like culture, providing opportunities to work in an underserved community while nurturing a sense of community within the residents. The location in Visalia, in the heart of California's Central Valley, offers access to outdoor activities, national parks like Yosemite and Sequoia, and a pleasant community environment with a reasonable cost of living.

The resident salaries are competitive, with additional benefits such as flex days, resident retreats, wellness activities, conferences, stipends, food provided, and education support. Personal mentorship is emphasized, and residents are encouraged to engage in educational and social activities both within and outside the program.

The residency program aims to train highly motivated residents who value teamwork and patient-centered care, offering them a supportive and unique experience within a high-acuity, high-volume setting. Residents are expected to gain exposure to a variety of complex and challenging cases while receiving excellent training.