Lakeland Regional Health Program

Curriculum Structure

The curriculum involves a block rotation strategy where each block is four weeks long. The essential rotations include:

• General Internal Medicine – 3 blocks

• Night Float – 1 block (two 2-week rotations)

• Medical Intensive Care Unit – 1 block

• Emergency Medicine – 2 blocks

• Ambulatory Urgent Care – 1 block

• Ambulatory Primary Care (Family Medicine or Internal Medicine) – 1 block

• Palliative Medicine - 2 weeks

• Infectious Disease - 2 weeks

• Electives – 12 Weeks

There is no 24-hour call requirement, and residents enjoy four weeks of vacation during the year.

Electives

Elective rotations provide opportunities for residents to pursue their specific career interests. The available electives include:

• Anesthesia

• Cardiology

• Critical Care Response Team

• Dermatology

• Gastroenterology

• Hematology/Oncology

• Infectious Disease

• Interventional Pain Management

• Neurology

• Neurosurgery

• Nephrology

• Palliative Medicine

• Pathology

• Pediatrics

• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

• Pulmonology

• Psychiatry

• OB/GYN

• Radiology and Interventional Radiology

• Radiation Oncology

• Rheumatology

• Sports Medicine

• Urgent Care

Didactics Curriculum

The program emphasizes education and skills development through dedicated didactics time, amounting to 4-8 hours per week, tailored specifically for Transitional Year Residents. Monthly didactics feature skills essential to all physicians such as:

• Business of Medicine

• Physician Wellness & Well-being

• Leadership Skills

• Research Development

• Quality Improvement/Patient Safety

The program supports residents' engagement in research and scholarly activities, with each resident expected to participate in at least one project during their training, culminating in a presentation at the annual Research Symposium.

The Transitional Year Residency Program is considered competitive, welcoming both MD and DO graduates to apply. Applicants must submit various documents including a CV, medical school transcript, personal statement, and three letters of recommendation to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).

Importantly, the program does not sponsor visas, requiring applicants to already be authorized to work in the U.S.

The Transitional Year Residency Program at Lakeland Regional Health currently includes 18 PGY-1 residents representing a diverse range of medical schools across the United States and internationally. The class brings together graduates from institutions including Georgetown University School of Medicine, the University of Florida College of Medicine, the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ponce Health Sciences University, and several other respected medical schools. This diverse cohort contributes a broad range of experiences, perspectives, and career interests while training in Lakeland Regional Health's comprehensive clinical environment.

Meet our Current Residents here!

The Transitional Year Residency Program is supported by an experienced and diverse faculty dedicated to resident education, mentorship, and professional development. As one of Florida's largest hospitals, Lakeland Regional Health offers exposure to more than 35 specialties and a wide variety of clinical pathology. Faculty members provide direct supervision, hands-on teaching, and individualized mentorship designed to help residents successfully transition into their chosen specialty careers. The Graduate Medical Education enterprise is led by Dr. Nancy Finnigan, DO, MBA, MHPE, FACP, FACOI, Designated Institutional Official, who has extensive experience developing and leading residency programs and is committed to fostering excellence in medical education.

Meet our Faculty here!

Transitional Year graduates have successfully advanced into competitive residency and fellowship programs across the country. Alumni have matched into a variety of specialties, including Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Anesthesiology, Dermatology, Diagnostic Radiology, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Interventional Radiology, Neurology, Nuclear Radiology, Radiation Oncology, and Urology. Recent graduates have continued their training at nationally recognized institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, Baylor College of Medicine, Emory University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, AdventHealth Orlando, UT Health East Texas, and numerous other prestigious programs nationwide. These outcomes reflect the strong clinical foundation and personalized career development opportunities provided during the Transitional Year experience at Lakeland Regional Health.

See our Alumni here!

Annual Resident Salary (AY26-27): $67,588

Education Allowance: $1,500 annually for educational and professional development expenses

Vacation Time: 4-weeks of paid vacation

Continuing Medical Education (CME): 5 days per academic year

Living in Lakeland

Lakeland, known for maintaining a small-town atmosphere amidst rapid growth, offers a vibrant lifestyle enriched by easy access to outdoor activities, cultural events, and a variety of culinary options. Its central location between Tampa and Orlando provides convenient access to major attractions and an active lifestyle.

Transitional Year Residency

[email protected]

Exam Preparation

Residents must take the USMLE Step 3 or COMLEX Level 3 exam, with exam preparation integrated into the didactics. All residents receive reimbursement for exam registration and are allotted protected time off to take the exams. Additional educational resources such as subscriptions to UWorld, TrueLearn, and MKSAP are also provided.

Institutional Support

An impressive benefits package is provided to residents, which includes a competitive salary, meal subsidies, an educational stipend for professional development, and access to facilities such as the LRH GME Fitness Center.