Transitional Year

A Transitional Year (TY) program is a one-year residency designed to provide a broad base of clinical experience for physicians in training before they enter a more focused specialty.

TY programs are often completed by medical graduates who have matched into advanced specialty programs that require preliminary training in general medicine or surgery, such as anesthesiology, dermatology, radiology, ophthalmology, or physical medicine and rehabilitation.

The goal of the transitional year is to equip residents with a well-rounded foundation in clinical medicine through rotations in various fields, including internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, pediatrics, and more.

This year provides residents with exposure to a variety of patient populations and medical conditions, helping them develop essential clinical skills in diagnosis, patient management, and procedural competency.

The Transitional Year is often characterized by flexibility, allowing residents to tailor their experiences based on future career goals.

In addition to core rotations, some programs offer elective opportunities in fields like radiology, neurology, or critical care.

Although it is not a long-term specialty, the Transitional Year provides valuable experience and a strong foundation for further specialization.