Mercy Hospital (St Louis) Program

The Transitional Year Program (TYP) at Mercy Hospital, St. Louis is structured to provide residents with a well-rounded educational and clinical experience as they transition into their chosen medical or surgical specialty residency. The program is designed to comply with ACGME guidelines, ensuring residents receive the necessary training across a variety of medical disciplines.

The curriculum is divided into several key rotations, allowing residents to gain exposure to different medical fields within their year of training.

Program Structure

A typical program year for the TYP includes:

• 2 months of inpatient Internal Medicine
• 1 month in the Coronary Care Unit
• 1 month of Trauma-Neuro Critical Care
• 1 month in the Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
• 1 month each in Ambulatory Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Psychiatry, and Surgery

In addition to the core rotations, residents can choose from elective opportunities that may include Anesthesiology, various sub-specialties of Internal Medicine and Surgery, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Pediatrics, Neurosciences, and Physical Medicine. Research electives are encouraged, although these count as away electives, in line with the program's aim to enhance the educational experience of its residents 1.

Rotational Details

Each rotation has its specific attributes:

Internal Medicine Ward

Residents spend two months in the inpatient Internal Medicine setting, where they engage with both night float admissions and a daytime hospitalist teaching service. This crucial rotation involves daily patient rounds and participation in noon conferences and weekly Grand Rounds.

Trauma Neuro ICU

During the one-month rotation in the Trauma Neuro ICU, residents collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team and handle several patients under supervision, allowing for comprehensive experiential learning.

Emergency Medicine

The Emergency Medicine rotation encompasses 24-25 ten-hour shifts, providing residents with direct patient care experience under the guidance of experienced faculty members. In addition, the curriculum includes didactic lectures and simulation exercises.

Surgery/Trauma

This rotation focuses on operative skills, enabling residents to scrub in on various surgical cases. The month concludes with presentations where the resident discusses surgical topics, fostering educational engagement.

Psychiatry

Residents spend the first part of the month in didactic learning before engaging in psychiatric consults, allowing for practical exposure combined with theoretical insights.

Coronary Care Unit

Training in the CCU involves active patient care responsibilities and ongoing educational experiences, including daily teaching rounds and didactic sessions focused on cardiology.

Medical-Surgical ICU

In this rotation, residents participate in daily rounds and attend educational sessions without the burden of taking call, providing a focused learning environment.

Research and Electives

Residents are encouraged to select electives that will complement their future categorical residency. Popular areas for electives include Neurology, Dermatology, and various Surgical disciplines, among others 3.

Application Process

To apply for the Transitional Year Program at Mercy Hospital, candidates must use the ERAS application system. The program is quite competitive, receiving around 325 applications for seven available spots, leading to an interview of about 75 selected candidates. The program typically requires:

• USMLE test scores averaging 220 or better
• Three letters of recommendation
• Graduation from a U.S. Medical School within the last two years

It's important to note that the program cannot sponsor any visas, which may affect international medical graduates seeking to apply 2.

Visa Support

Unfortunately, the Transitional Year Program at Mercy Hospital does not provide any visa sponsorship for candidates. This limitation is crucial for international applicants to consider when applying to the program 1.

Resident Life

The program fosters a collaborative and educational environment. Residents have access to all conferences and learning exercises offered at Mercy St. Louis, which allows them to integrate fully into the academic community. Additionally, summer and winter holidays may impact clinic hours, encouraging residents to stay informed about their schedules during those times.