Welcome to the Naples Comprehensive Transitional Year Residency Program. Our program became accredited by the ACGME in 2020 and welcomed its inaugural class of six residents in July 2021. The program is integrated into Internal Medicine but has the opportunity for electives in your future program of study.
At NCH, we are committed to providing superior care in every patient encounter and strive to deliver high quality, cost-effective healthcare to the community which we serve. The variety of pathologic disease and socioeconomic diversity of our patient population in Naples and Collier County is extraordinarily unique, making for a graduate medical education experience like no other. NCH is recognized as a premier healthcare system with two hospital campuses receiving distinction in several clinical areas and ranked the 11th Best Hospital in Florida by U.S. News and World Report.
Brian R. Pulford, MD, MBA, FACP
Information for Applicants
Applications are made through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Application will require the following:
- Official medical school transcripts
- Official test transcripts for all applicable examinations (USMLE, COMLEX)
- A Dean’s letter and two other letters of recommendation
- A curriculum vitae
- A personal statement
- A valid ECFMG certificate (for IMGs)
- A valid J1 visa – H1B visas will not be considered
- Applicants must have graduated medical school within 5 years of anticipated date of enrollment
- USMLE Step 1: Passed First Attempt
- USMLE Step 2: 220
- COMLEX Level 1: Passed First Attempt
- COMLEX Level 2: 500
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Do you sponsor J-1 or H-1B visas?
We only sponsor J-1. H-1B visas will not be considered
Do you require Step 3?
Passing Step 3 is not a requirement to apply to our program. We would like to see Step 3 taken early in your training.
What is the graduation cutoff?
Applicants must have completed medical school within 5 years of the start of residency.
We do not accept applications from individuals with medical school graduation dates greater than five years from date of application.
Is there a specific resident selection criteria?
The program selects from among eligible applicants on the basis of their preparedness and anticipated ability to be successful in the program. Academic performance during medical school, USMLE/COMLEX scores, scholarly contributions, recommendation letters, and the personal statement are among the considerations reviewed in selecting candidates to interview. Skills that align with our institutional mission and best serve our patient population are also considerations.
What is the board score cutoff?
Applicants must have passed on the first attempt USMLE steps 1 and 2 or COMLEX levels 1 and 2 to be considered for an interview.
- USMLE Step 1: Passed First Attempt
- USMLE Step 2: 220
- COMLEX Level 1: Passed First Attempt
- COMLEX Level 2: 500
Will interviews be conducted virtually or in-person?
Interviews are currently held virtually using Webex
Is U.S. clinical experience required?
U.S. clinical experience is not a requirement. However, we assess the overall strength of the application as well as the competitiveness of the applicants to the program in the given year; thus, U.S. clinical experience is encouraged.
Are there any other requirements for the position?
Must obtain a training license to practice medicine in Florida prior to the start of the program.
Will you review my credentials prior to my submission so I know whether I should apply?
We review each application in its entirety once submitted to ERAS, and invite candidates we feel would be a good fit in our program.
Is the program accredited?
Our program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
What if I would like additional information or questions regarding the program at NCH?
Please see the NCH Graduate Medical Education website for additional program information: https://nchmd.org/education/gme/
Curriculum
The Transitional Year curriculum consists of 13 four-week blocks. Each resident completes the core clinical rotations and additional specialty track rotations aimed at advanced residency preparation.
Core Clinical Rotations
- Inpatient Wards – 12 weeks
- Night Medicine - 4 weeks
- Medical ICU - 4 weeks
- Surgery – 4 weeks
- Emergency Medicine – 4 weeks
- Simulation – 2 weeks
- Ambulatory – 4 weeks
- Electives – 14 weeks
- Vacation- 4 weeks
Potential Electives
- Addiction Medicine
- Allergy/Immunology
- Anesthesiology
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Geriatrics/Palliative
- Hematology/Oncology
- Infectious Disease
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Ophthalmology
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Pulmonology
- Radiology
- Radiation oncology
- Research
- Rheumatology
- Sleep Medicine
Transitional Year Faculty
Brian R. Pulford, MD, MBA, FACP
Carlos Aguirre, M.D.
Douglas W. Harrington, DO, FCCP
Robert Grossman, MD, FACS
Contact Us
For inquiries or assistance regarding our Pulmonary Fellowship at NCH, please call our Program Coordinator Lori Ellison below or contact GME directly at GME@nchmd.org. Reach out today to take the first step towards excelling at NCH.
Residents
