Internal Medicine Residency
University of Pittsburgh
Transitional Year Residency Program at UPMC Shadyside
Gary H. Tabas, MD, FACP
Director, Transitional Year Residency Program
Program Description
The Transitional Year Residency Program at UPMC Shadyside is a 1-year program that has grown increasingly since its inception in the mid-1970s. One of the main reasons for its popularity is that the year focuses on broad-based general medicine training so that residents feel well-prepared for their future subspecialty. Many medical students see the year as an opportunity to define interests and aptitudes better and to obtain some solid hands-on experience before committing to a specific program. The transitional year also appeals to medical students who have not yet made a career choice or specialty selection and students who are planning to serve in organizations such as the public health service. Over the course of the transitional year, residents gain exposure to a variety of specialties and at the same time acquire the knowledge and preparatory skills that are vital to success in future clinical activities.
The transitional year qualifies as the first postgraduate year, as defined by the American Medical Association. It is not intended to be a complete graduate education for the practice of medicine. Instead, it is intended to serve as an entry into further specialization, including internal medicine and family practice.
Unlike preliminary year medicine, the transitional year is fully funded by the government as a separate year and does not decrease funding for the subsequently chosen subspecialty institution. Given the increasing fiscal concerns among training institutions, this funding advantage for the transitional year is particularly important to the subspecialty programs in which residents train after their transitional year. More important, only the transitional year is accredited by a separate resident review committee, ensuring high standards for the programs that meet the requirements.
Program Accreditation and Requirements
Our transitional year program has received 5-year accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
For information about application requirements for the program, click here.
Curriculum
Our program prepares residents for further training in any one of a number of subspecialties, including but not limited to radiology, dermatology, radiation oncology, ophthalmology, emergency medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, anesthesiology, internal medicine, and family practice. The Program is co-sponsored by the departments of Medicine and Family Practice. Transitional Year residents are integrated into core rotations and electives with internal medicine categorical residents.
The Transitional Year is designed to provide a broad experience in general medicine, in both the inpatient and ambulatory settings. Transitional residents receive four months of general medicine inpatient training within the Department of Medicine. The year also includes a month each of emergency medicine and critical care, providing experience in the management of acute illness. Ambulatory experience consists of a one-month block rotation in an internist's office. The remaining months are elective and can be taken in medical or nonmedical subspecialties at UPMC Shadyside, UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Montefiore, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, or other UPMC hospitals. One elective can be a nonclinical research month. A special Transitional Year Conference is held every three (3) months to discuss residency-related issues as well as academic topics of interest to Transitional Year residents.
Rotation |
Months |
Ward Medicine |
4 |
Intensive Care Unit |
1 |
Emergency Medicine |
1 |
Ambulatory Block |
1 |
Night Float |
.5 |
Electives |
4.5 |
Electives
Examples of electives are listed below. At least one elective must be in a medical subspecialty.
| Anesthesiology | Obstetrics/Gynecology |
| Cardiology | Ophthalmology |
| Coronary Care Unit | Orthopaedics |
| Dermatology | Otolaryngology |
| Endocrinology | Pathology |
| Family Practice UPMC Shadyside | Pediatrics |
| Gastroenterology | Plastic Surgery |
| General Surgery | Psychiatry |
| Hematology/Oncology | Pulmonary Medicine |
| ICU/CCU VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System | Radiology |
| Intensive Care Unit (ICU) UPMC Shadyside | Rehabilitative Medicine |
| Infectious Diseases | Research |
| Medicine | Rheumatology |
| Nephrology | Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System |
| Neurology | Urology |
New Interns
| New Interns for 2011–2012 | |
|---|---|
 Andrew Degnan, MD degnanaj@upmc.edu George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences |
Future Career Plans: Following my transitional year, I will continue with residency training in Diagnostic Radiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center with the intention of becoming a neuroradiologist. Why I Chose UPMC Shadyside: I chose UPMC Shadyside's Transitional Year Program after a very positive experience on my interview. Everyone, including the staff, attendings, and residents, was warm and welcoming. The program unites the resources of a prominent academic medical center with the community-feel of a hospital oriented foremost to the care of its patients. Here, transitional year residents are provided the opportunity to pursue a broad array of electives in fields pertinent to their future plans while benefitting from excellent general medicine training in a supportive, friendly atmosphere. |
 Kavi Devulapalli, MD devulapallikk@upmc.edu Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine |
Future Career Plans: After this year, I will be starting residency in Diagnostic Radiology at the University of California San Francisco. Why I Chose UPMC Shadyside: The transitional year program offers broad fundamental training in medicine, yet provides tremendous flexibility with regards to electives. I find the faculty, residents and staff to be incredibly friendly and approachable. The opportunity to learn in a community hospital with an academic affiliation provides for exposure to a diverse patient population and solid teaching in an environment that is collegial and relaxed. |
 Dionne Okafor, MD okafordc@upmc.edu University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine |
Future Career Plans: After completion of my transitional year, I will be completing my residency in Anesthesiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA. Why I Chose UPMC Shadyside: As a student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, I had the opportunity to rotate through UPMC Shadyside. I noticed that this hospital has a nice balance of community and the academic. It offers great didactics and quality cases but you still get the feel of a community hospital. The attending physicians are very nice as well and love to teach, which creates a comfortable learning environment. In addition, the residents are cared for and the environment allows for camaraderie. Now that I am a resident these qualities continue to hold true and make UPMC Shadyside a great choice for my transitional year training. |
 Adam Olson, MD olsonac@upmc.edu University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine |
Future Career Plans: After my transitional year internship, I will move to Durham, NC for radiation oncology residency at Duke University. Why I Chose UPMC Shadyside: As a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine student, I was familiar with the outstanding faculty and staff at UPMC Shadyside and I knew I would receive excellent clinical training. I also appreciated the small-hospital feel while maintaining an amazing breadth of clinical and research opportunities. There are many diverse elective opportunities both within oncology and in general medicine, providing me with a chance to round out my general medical training before I specialize in residency. |
 Matthew Zhang, MD zhangm2@upmc.edu University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine |
Future Career Plans: I will complete my Ophthalmology training at Vanderbilt University. Why I Chose UPMC Shadyside: I chose UPMC Shadyside because of the fantastic faculty and staff and for the diverse educational experience and extensive research opportunities available for its residents. |
Additional Information
We invite you to look at our main Web site concerning internal medicine residency programs at UPMC Shadyside, as this site will provide details regarding the city of Pittsburgh, our hospital and faculty, and the internal medicine curriculum into which the transitional year program is integrated.
For additional information, contact us at:
Transitional Year Residency Program
Department of Medicine
UPMC Shadyside
5230 Centre Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Telephone: 412-623-2465
Fax: 412-623-3592
e-mail: ty@upmc.edu