Dear Prospective Applicants,

We are excited that you are considering applying to an internal medicine residency! To ease your
application process, we created this document which contains detailed information about each
Air Force internal medicine program as well as testimonials from two current Air Force medicine
residents. We hope that you find this information useful, and look forward to your application.
If you are not currently a member of the American College of Physicians, we highly encourage
you to join. Membership is free for students, and the Air Force maintains its own active chapter.
Feel free to learn more at the chapter website: Air Force ACP Chapter Website
Sincerely,
The Air Force Chapter of the American College of Physicians

Table of Contents
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

Page 3: Keesler AFB

Page 4: National Capital Consortium
Page 5: SAUSHEC
Page 8: Travis AFB
Page 9: Wright Patterson
Page 16: A residents 4th year experience at SAMMC and Travis SFB
Page 18: A residents experience at Wright Patterson
Page 18: Transportation and Lodging tips at the National Capital Consortium

Keesler AFB
Program Features:
1) Residents become proficient in procedures. No Fellows means residents do all IM
procedures with staff oversight. Residents also participate in dedicated outpatient
procedure clinic. Electively residents can also complete subspecialist level procedures.
2) 24 resident program with open door policy and access to subspecialists, including
cardiology, GI, endocrinology, infectious disease, pulmonary/CC, rheumatology,
nephrology, genetics, immunology/allergy, geriatrics, neurology, urology, ENT, general
surgery, orthopedic surgery, vascular surgery, oral surgery, radiology, interventional
radiology and ophthalmology.
3) Noon conference, morning reports and senior openers are held daily
4) Residents are given their own desk and lap top computer. Resident offices, call rooms,
and lounge completely renovated in 2015.
5) Rotations during residency:
a. PGY1 residents go to UMMC at Jackson MS for an MICU and cardiology
rotation. Lodging is provided.
b. PGY2 residents go to Gulfport Memorial Hospital for an ER rotation, and to
Jackson MS for MICU and inpatient hematology/oncology rotations.
c. PGY3 residents go to Jackson MS for an MICU rotation. Will also have the
opportunity to go to Landstuhl Germany for a wards rotation. PGY3 may also be
able to do electives at SAMMC or other locations with approval from the program
director.
6) Many graduates pursue fellowship training
Lodging for Active Duty Tours:
1) The Air Force will provide lodging at the Tyre House (base hotel) during your month at
Keesler. Lodging cost is reimbursed. The hotel is located one block from the hospital and
is an easy walk
2) HPSP students are provided a rental car for the month. USUHS students are not always
provided a rental car.
Contact Information:
1) Internal medicine Program Director:
a. Lt. Col. Wayne Latack, MC, FACP, FACN
b. wayne.latack@us.af.mil
c. 228-376-5537
2) Program website: Keesler AFB IM Program

National Capital Consortium Internal Medicine Residency

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Program Features:
1) Located in downtown Bethesda next to the National Institutes of Health and Uniformed
Services University, conveniently on the DC Metro Red Line (Metro benefits available).
2) 50 ICU beds, 274 patient rooms, 27 ER beds, 7-story outpatient building.
3) New gym, pool, NSA Base Exchange store and USO facility right next to the Hospital.
4) Joint residency program for the Army/Navy/AF/USPHS.
5) Offers training in internal medicine, 12 IM subspecialties and Faculty Development.
6) Patients include wounded warriors, military beneficiaries, veterans, foreign dignitaries,
and our Nation's Leaders.
7) Active partnerships for global training with Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
(Germany), Naval Hospital Guam, Army/Navy research facilities (Kenya/ Peru/ Djibouti/
Honduras), as well as with area hospitals, including the DC VA Medical Center,
Washington Hospital Center, INOVA Fairfax, and Virginia Hospital Center.
8) Residents of all Services have the opportunity to join available humanitarian assistance
missions on the hospital ship USNS Comfort and other operational platforms.
Contact information:
1) Program Director: CAPT Bill Shimeall, MD MPH FACP
a. william.t.shimeall.mil@mail.mil
b. Phone: (301) 319-8111
2) Program Office/Interviews: Ms. Geraldine Marquez
a. geraldine.r.marquez.civ@mail.mil
b. Phone: (301) 319-8754
3) Associate Program Directors:
a. LTC Josh Hartzell, MD, FACP joshua.d.hartzell.mil@mail.mil
b. CDR Casey Flanagan, MD FACC michael.c.flanagan4.mil@mail.mil
c. MAJ Renee Mallory, MD, MPH, FACP renee.m.mallory2.mil@mail.mil
d. Dr. Julie Chen, MD, FACP julie.chen.civ@mail.mil
4) Schedule post clerkship rotations (Uniformed Services University Dept. of Medicine):
a. Ms. Jackie Drake jacqueline.drake@usuhs.edu
b. Phone: (301) 295-9727
5) Program Website: NCC Program Website
6) Learn more about Internal Medicine and IM subspecialties at Walter Reed Bethesda at:
Learn more about NCC medicine
7) NCC program snapshot (great information!): NCC Program Snapshot

SAUSHEC
Program Features:
1)
2)
3)
4)

Largest and busiest graduate medical education program in the DOD

Strong academic program with an excellent board pass rate
New hospital completed in 2012
Complete rotations at SAMMC, Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, University
Hospital, and Texas Center for Infectious Diseases (TB Hospital)
5) Combined Air Force/Army program
6) Option to participate in overseas rotations when available (GEIS, MEDRETEs, Tropical
Medicine Course, humanitarian missions).
Contact Information:
Program Coordinators:
Ms. Carmen Vargas: carmen.m.vargas4.civ@mail.mil; 210-916-3856
Ms. Yvonne Long: yvonne.n.long.civ@mail.mil; 210-916-3910
Chief Residents, AY15-16
Air Force: Capt Sam Weiss: samuel.l.weiss.mil@mail.mil
Army: CPT Brian Y'Barbo: brian.c.ybarbo.mil@mail.mil
Quality Improvement/Patient Safety (QIPS): Capt Rebecca Barrett:
rebecca.s.barrett10.mil@mail.mil
Chief Residents, AY16-17
Air Force: Capt Lauren Lee: lauren.e.lee18.mil@mail.mil
Army: CPT Katie Bello: kathryn.j.bello.mil@mail.mil
QIPS: Capt Caroline Green: caroline.m.green4.mil@mail.mil
Associate Program Directors:
Air Force: Maj Kristen Glass: kristen.r.glass.mil@mail.mil
Army: MAJ David Ferraro: david.m.ferraro2.mil@mail.mil
Program Director:
LTC Joshua Hawley-Molloy: joshua.s.hawleymolloy.mil@mail.mil
Program website: http://www.bamc.amedd.army.mil/saushec/gme/residency/internal-medicine

Travis AFB:
Program Features:
1) Joint program with UC Davis Medical Center, established in 2008
2) The PG1 year of the military tract is spent solely at the UC Davis Medical Center and its
affiliated institutions in Sacramento. During the PG2 and PG3 years, residents spend one
inpatient month and one elective month rotating at DGMC.
3) David Grant Medical Center is a staging platform for expeditionary medical missions for
both combat support and humanitarian missions. Capabilities include setting up
deployable, expandable hospitals, mobile surgical, and critical care teams capable of
managing air transport of critically injured personnel.
4) David Grant Medical Center has 165 beds
5) The outpatient population includes active duty members and their dependents as well as
military retirees and their dependents. The inpatient population includes all Department
of Defense and TRICARE eligible members as well as a limited number of Department
of Veterans Affairs beneficiaries from the immediate San Francisco-Sacramento vicinity.
6) There is a Clinical Investigational Facility, one of seven Air Force wide, which along
with the GME Research Office can fully support, provide training, protocol consultation
and coordination services to residents conducting research projects.
7) UC Davis Medical Center is a 619 bed tertiary referral center that serves a 65,000 squaremile area that includes 33 counties and 6 million residents across Northern and Central
California. UC Davis admits more than 40,000 patients per year and handles nearly 1
million visits.
8) UC Davis is ranked as Sacramentos top hospital by U.S. News & World Report. It is
also nationally ranked in multiple specialties including Oncology, Cardiology,
Nephrology, and Pulmonology.
Contact Information:
1) Program Director
a. LTC S. Charles Whang
b. suk.whang@us.af.mil
2) Gastroenterology, Staff Physician
a. (707) 423-5041
3) Program website: http://www.travis.af.mil/news/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=19718
(Please note that the Program Directors contact information has not been updated and is
incorrect on this website)
4) UC Davis Program Website:
http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/internalmedicine/residency.html
5) UC Davis Contact information:
a. Internal Medicine Residency Office:
i. (916) 734-7080
ii. (916) 734-7080
8

Welcome to the Wright State University

Internal Medicine Residency Program
What is the primary focus of the program?
We are educating clinicians preparing for general internal medicine practice, hospitalist
practice, or subspecialty fellowship training.
What is the WSU program looking for in a resident candidate?
We look for physicians with a clinical medicine career focus. Those selected will be good
team players" with strong interpersonal skills and an interest in each patient as an individual.
They will maintain a high level of intellectual and clinical curiosity, and will strive to become
lifelong learners and teachers.
What are the strengths of the Wright State program?
highly-skilled supportive residents
strong educational focus
diverse patient mix
dedicated full-time and voluntary faculty
comfortable learning and living environment
multiple opportunities for ambulatory experience
flexible elective rotations
opportunities for research collaboration with clinical or basic science faculty
Which hospitals participate in internal medicine training?
Residents rotate to three teaching hospitals:
Miami Valley Hospital - 960 beds, not-for-profit community hospital
Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center 76 acute care beds, VA hospital
Wright-Patterson Medical Center 61 acute care beds, U.S. Air Force hospital
All provide free convenient parking and are located within easy driving distance from
downtown Dayton and surrounding communities; average 15-20 minutes travel between sites.
Is there a university hospital in Dayton?
The Dayton community had several well-established hospital residency programs when the
medical school was founded (1974). The school chose to draw on the strengths of the
existing facilities and has grown into a best of both worlds learning environment with
academic structure in a community-based setting. There is no university hospital but the
above facilities are fully equipped for primary through tertiary care with academic faculty at
each location.
9

How often will I be on overnight call?

Beginning 2011, there is no overnight call requirement in any staff rotation for interns or
senior residents. Schedules and team configurations have been revised to be fully compliant
with the new ACGME requirements for duty hours.
Is there a night float system?
Yes, there is a night float system for all inpatient general medicine and critical care
rotations.
What is a typical rotation schedule?
The following is a typical rotation schedule for residents:
R1
4.5 blocks inpatient
general medicine
1.5 blocks night float (two
week blocks, not
consecutive)
2 block intensive care unit
1 block cardiology
1.5 block ambulatory block
2.5 blocks medicine
subspecialty elective
0.5 block practice-based
learning modules
0.5 block leave

R2
3 blocks inpatient general
medicine
1 block night float (two
week blocks, not
consecutive)
1-1.5 blocks intensive care
unit
1.5 block ambulatory block
1 block emergency
medicine
1 block neurology
1 block hospital medicine
3 3.5 blocks electives

R3
3 blocks inpatient general
medicine
1.5 blocks night float (two
week blocks, not
consecutive)
1 block intensive care unit
1.5 blocks ambulatory
block
1 block geriatrics
5 blocks electives

Will I have opportunities to do research?

All residents participate in scholarly activity, writing clinical case reports, presenting
abstracts, and learning the basics of research design and interpretation of the medical
literature. Several residents elect to conduct clinical research during training, either as a
separate block elective or contiguous with other assignments. In addition, a research scholar
pathway is available after the completion of the first year of residency. A few residents have
collaborated with medical school faculty in conducting basic science research. Grant money
for resident research is available through awards from local hospitals and the Wright State
University Boonshoft School of Medicine. Residents are encouraged to present abstracts at
an annual citywide Resident Research Forum as well as at the Ohio Chapter, American
College of Physicians annual meeting, the Army/Air Force Physicians Chapter, American
College of Physicians national meeting and at other regional or national venues.
What electives are available?
R1s request an elective from the subspecialties of allergy, gastroenterology,
hematology/oncology, infectious diseases, nephrology, and pulmonary. Senior residents
select from the above plus cardiology (inpatient, ambulatory, or treadmill), endocrinology,
diabetes, rheumatology, allergy, dermatology, palliative medicine, sports medicine, office
orthopedics, anesthesiology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, medical imaging,
10

occupational medicine, private office, hospitalist, and psychiatry. Some of these are offered
as two-week options to complete a month with a scheduled night float rotation. A resident
may also participate in a customized elective not listed above (including selected
international or other away rotation options) with approval of the program director.
Where will I have my inpatient and continuity experiences?
Military Senior residents will be assigned to continuity clinic at Wright-Patterson Medical
Center, while civilian residents have continuity clinic at the Five Rivers Health Center.
Interns get ambulatory experience in acute care clinics but continuity clinics dont begin until
the R2 year as part of the long ambulatory block. During training, residents will rotate to all
three participating hospitals and will serve on general medicine teams at three sites (Miami
Valley, Wright-Patterson, and Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center). On the inpatient
services, two teams admit patients daily with a drip system. Teams are composed of one
senior and one intern working as a group of four supervised by an attending.
What conferences do residents attend?
Senior check-out:
all inpatient team sites, M-F
or Openers
Senior resident review of patient admissions with chief resident and
faculty; evidence-based approach to clinical questions.
Morning report: all inpatient team sites, M-W-Th-F
Attended by all levels of residents as well as third and fourth year
medical students.
Presentation of case (from recent inpatient or ambulatory service) or
topic with discussion among chief resident, faculty, residents and
students.
Resident forum:

MVH every Tuesday afternoon.

2-3 hours of core curriculum with a wide range of topical
discussions including internal medicine subspecialties, ethical and
legal issues, health policy, in-training examination learning
objectives, research design and evidence-based medicine. This is an
opportunity for the entire program to meet for lunch and education.

Noon conference:

all inpatient team sites, most M-W-Th-F

Schedules include core conferences such as journal club, morbidity
and mortality, and professors rounds, as well as primary care topics,
medical imaging, EKG review, medical subspecialties, Medical
Grand Rounds, and others.

Clinic meetings:

MVH or WPMC, 2nd Tues. 1:00 p.m.

This is an interactive session including topic presentation,
continuity site QI review, and practice management discussion.
WPMC discussions will include a portion of the military unique
curriculum.

11

Are there any special seminars or workshops for residents?

During orientation, first year residents attend a fall procedure workshop using models for
practice of central line insertion, laceration repair, lumbar puncture, etc. They also
participate in a teaching workshop just before moving to supervisory responsibilities in the
second year. Other seminars and workshops include cultural competency, end of life care,
ethics, grant-writing, and research design. Some of these are presented by the School of
Medicine for residents in all Dayton area programs. Residents also have opportunities to
attend selected local CME half-day or full-day events on medicine subspecialty topics.
Finally, the department provides fun, learning experiences by way of annual retreats for each
class.
Where have residents entered practice or fellowship training?
Many residents entering primary care practice or hospitalist practice have stayed in the Ohio
area, with several in Dayton. Residents choosing additional training have been accepted into
the following graduate medical education programs:
Allergy/Immunology
Ohio State University
University of Michigan
University of Tennessee
San Antonio Military
Medical Center
Cardiology
Kettering Medical Center
Michigan State University
Ohio State University
San Antonio Military
Medical Center
Tufts University
University of Cincinnati
Virginia Commonwealth
University
Wright State University
Critical Care
San Antonio Military
Medical Center
Walter Reed Medical
Center
Medical College of Ohio
Wayne State University
Endocrinology

San Antonio Military

Medical Center
University of Kentucky
University of Nebraska
University of Tennessee
University of Wisconsin
Gastroenterology
San Antonio Military
Medical Center
St. Louis University
Touro University
University of Florida at
Gainesville
University of Miami
(Hepatology)
University of North
Carolina
Wright State University
Yale University
Geriatrics
Banner Good Samaritan
Medical Center, Arizona
George Washington
University
Indiana University
12

Loyola University
Stanford University
Tulane University
University of Hawaii
Hematology/Oncology
Cleveland Clinic
San Antonio Military
Medical Center
Indiana University
Medical College of
Georgia
Montefiore, New York
St. Elizabeths Medical
Center, Boston
University of Cincinnati
University of Texas, San
Antonio
University of Wisconsin
Wright State University
Hospice & Palliative Med
Cleveland Clinic
Ohio State University
Wright State University
Infectious Diseases
MD Anderson, Houston

Ohio State University

Penn State University
San Antonio Military
Medical Center
Southern Illinois
University
St. Louis University
University of Alabama,
Birmingham
University of Cincinnati
University of Connecticut
University of Louisville
Wake Forest University
Wright State University
Nephrology
San Antonio Military
Medical Center
Allegheny General,
Pittsburgh
Brown University
Emory University

Indiana University
Johns Hopkins
Ohio State University
San Antonio Uniformed
Services Health Education
Consortium
St. Johns Hospital,
Michigan
St. Louis University
Thomas Jefferson
University
University of California,
Los Angeles
University of Utah
Virginia Commonwealth
University
Nuclear Medicine
University of Colorado
Pulmonary/Critical Care
Albert Einstein University
Emory University

Indiana University
Ohio State University
San Antonio Military
Medical Center
University of Florida
University of Wisconsin
Washington University
Walter Reed Hospital
Rheumatology
Indiana University
Louisiana State University
Medical College of
Wisconsin
San Antonio Military
Medical Center
University of Alabama,
Birmingham
University of California,
Los Angeles
University of South
Florida, Tampa

How do program graduates perform on the ABIM examination?

The pass rate for the 2014 examination was 89% (national median 85%).
As reported on the ABIM website for all programs, the three-year rolling pass rate for our
programs first-time takers is 88 %.
Are there any changes anticipated in the program?
The residency program is well-established with three participating hospitals and multiple
ambulatory training sites. All participating hospitals are fiscally sound and well-managed.
The program is fully accredited and in compliance with all ACGME duty hour requirements.
How are resident vacations and holidays scheduled?
Residents submit information regarding major life events such as weddings, baby due
dates, and anticipated overseas travel or away rotations before the block schedule is created
each year. After the schedule is published, residents request preferred dates for three weeks
vacation, three bonus days, and two personal days each year. (Personal days carry over to
the next year if not needed.) In addition, all residents are allotted five education days to be
used over the three years of residency training; these can be used to attend conferences when
not presenting or to take a Board prep or other course. All residents are allotted
administrative time away from the program for exams, conference presentations, etc.
13

Most R1s will have a 2-week vacation, a one week vacation, and three bonus days. R2 and
R3 residents may choose to take three individual vacation weeks plus the three bonus days
or can combine for a vacation of two weeks when the rotation schedule allows.
Does the program make allowances for religious observances?
As we are providing essential patient care, there is no assurance that residents will always
have time off for religious observances, but brief time for prayer during the workday is
practiced by several residents and faculty in our program. Residents are asked before
beginning residency if there is any half day of the week during which they prefer to avoid
scheduling continuity clinic. Residents can schedule their bonus days to coincide with major
religious observances if requested in advance. If not scheduled as official time off, residents
will observe the holiday schedule of the hospital at which they are rotating and, if not on call
or post-call, may have major holidays free of duty assignments.
Are there resident social events or other special activities?
The program hosts a welcome picnic in June and a recognition banquet in May. A popular
annual event is the Medical Challenge. Teams of residents compete in a game-show format,
answering questions on clinical topics, medical trivia from popular culture, and the history
of medicine.
Other events have been sponsored for residents in all Dayton area programs; Resident
Appreciation Week, a night out at a Dayton Dragons minor league baseball game, family
bowling, ice skating, a family day at Kings Island and others.
What are the NRMP and ACGME program numbers?
Wright State University Categorical Program NRMP# 2011140C0ACGME Program
Number
1403821345
Email: paul.haggerty@us.af.mil

Contact Us
Wright State University Internal Medicine
Residency
Department of Internal Medicine
128 E. Apple Street, 2nd floor
Dayton, OH 45409

WPMC Internal Medicine Residency

Program Coordinator- Barbara Carroll
Phone: 937-257-9655
Fax: 937-522-3285
Email: barbara.carroll@us.af.mil

Program Director Roberto Coln, M.D.

Department Chair Glen D. Solomon, M.D.
Phone: 937-208-2865
Fax: 937-208-5304
Email: glen.solomon@wright.edu

Phone: 937-208-2860
Fax: 937-208-5304
Email: roberto.colon@wright.edu
Associate Program Director (Military) - Paul
F. Haggerty, MD
Phone: 937-257-9655
Fax: 937-522-3285
14

WSUIM Residency Program Coordinator Mary Pietrzak

Phone: 1-800-443-9001 or 937-208-2866
Fax: 937-208-5304
Email: imres@wright.edu or mapietrzak@mvh.org
Other Links
WSU School of Med. home page:
http://www.med.wright.edu

Program web sites

IM Residency home page:
http://www.med.wright.edu/im/res/

To Learn More About the Dayton Area

Parks and recreation:
http://www.metroparks.org/
News and local information:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/

15

Residents Corner:
A resident shares her 4th year experience at San Antonio Military Medical
Center and Travis AFB:
Please keep in mind that everyones experience is unique and, in my opinion, can largely depend on
the resident/intern, staff, and time of year. This list is by no means all-inclusive, but meant to provide
a brief overview of my ADT experiences at SAMMC and Travis AFB, respectively.
SAMMC:
Rotation: wards
Setup: 1 IM resident (either second or third year), 2-3 interns (may be categorical IM, transitional
years, preliminary medicine interns, off-service rotators including EM, psych), 1-2 medical students,
2-4 staff (sometimes they do two weeks straight, sometimes they only do a week at a time)
Staff: may be hospitalists (civilian), internists (active duty typically), or subspecialists in
cardiology, rheumatology, gastroenterology, allergy/immunology, endocrinology, oncology,
pulmonary, etc. (No family medicine)
Call schedule: at the time that I rotated, it consisted of an AM/PM call schedule, but this has since
changed and now consists of 8 ward teams with q4d call (recently changed and may see further
changes in future)
Time of year: I rotated at SAMMC in July of my fourth year of medical school, which also meant
brand new interns and second year residents on wards. I was fortunate, however, to rotate on wards
with a very solid third year resident who had an excellent grasp of the system and medical
knowledge. Because it was the beginning of the year, I was able to act like an intern and many people
thought I was such (in contrast to later in the year when people know who the interns truly are).
Patient population: largely older (60+) retirees and family members, but SAMMC now accepts
civilian traumas and, as a result, ward teams may accept some of these patients if they have medical
issues with no acute indications for surgery; occasionally a VA patient is transferred for the sole
purpose of a procedure (i.e. ERCP on the weekend); also take care of younger active duty population
EMR: AHLTA (outpatient), Essentris/CHCS (inpatient/outpatient)
Residency program: 25-30+ interns/residents per year
My experience: Overall, I had a wonderful experience and was given a lot of independence. At
the time that I rotated, sub-interns were allowed to write orders (to be signed off by
interns/residents/staff) and were expected to write each of the daily progress notes/H&P/discharge
summaries, etc. (Since that time, there have been some changes and some limitations on orders, but
notes are still expected and encouraged). I had a lot of unique patients including one of the first cases
of West Nile virus. I found that the majority of consulting services were friendly and approachable,
in particular, the infectious disease, rheumatology, and oncology services. Every morning we are
expected to attend morning report and Tuesday afternoons are didactic lectures (3 hours), which you
dont technically have to attend as a medical student. Rounds are highly variable depending on the
staff with regards to length and formality (some bed side rounds, some card flipping, some
independent rounds, some teaching rounds, etc). For the first two weeks, I had a civilian
rheumatologist (prior COL in the Army) and the second was a civilian hospitalist and so there was
generally more teaching with the rheumatologist and more turn around with the hospitalist.
Living situation: I stayed at the Springhill Extended stay suites, which was covered by the
military. It consisted of a small kitchen with on-site laundry services, a gym/pool, internet, etc. I was
16

also granted a rental car. This may vary and many people now stay on the SAMMC campus and walk
to/from the hospital.
Advantages: rotating at the flagship hospital for the DoD with access to nearly all subspecialties
and fellowships; San Antonio has a lot of stuff to do (Alamo, River Walk, wineries, Schlitterbahn,
etc, etc).
Drawback: limited cell service in the resident work area (almost none and this may seem like a
trivial thing, but in todays world, not having access to cell service is quite frustrating), limited WIFI
(have to use the patient login which is spotty)
Travis:
Rotation: 3 weeks of wards (family medicine run), 1 week of cardiology
Setup: 1 family medicine resident, 1-2 family medicine interns, 2-4 staff
Staff: mine consisted of a subspecialist in gastroenterology, cardiology, and FP (varies)
Call schedule: I honestly cannot remember (it has been a few years), but it is a MUCH smaller
program with only 1-2 teams from what I can remember
Time of year: I rotated in the fall of my fourth year of medical school (Aug/Sept)
Patient population: largely older (60+) retirees and family members, some active duty younger
population (generally, however, I would say there was far less volume and lower acuity in contrast to
SAMMC)
EMR: AHLTA (outpatient), Essentris/CHCS (inpatient/outpatient)
Residency program: the actual rotation at Travis is done with the family medicine residency
program, but the residency itself for internal medicine is largely done at the UC Davis campus (only
a few rotations are done at Travis) so the rotation probably isnt the best representation of what you
would expect for residency
My experience: Overall, I had a good experience at Travis, but I felt less intellectually challenged
during the rotation and felt like I didnt have the demand of seeing multiple patients like I did at
SAMMC. I cannot recall any solid, dedicated conferences or didactics (aside from rounding which
was also highly variable).
Living situation: I stayed at a local extended stay suites and was provided a rental car (about 1015 minutes away from base).
Drawback: the rotation may not reflect what residency is like (if you really want to see what
residency is like, perhaps consider doing a rotation at UC Davis) since the majority of your training
will be done at UC Davis and this TDY consists of working with family medicine residents and not
IM residents at Travis. Additionally, if you do residency here, you lose out on all of the military
aspects of your training. Later on when you have to pay back your time, it may be more challenging
to learn the EMR and military way of life. Additionally, if you are interested in fellowships, the
majority (if not all), take place at SAMMC. So, doing residency at SAMMC may be beneficial if you
are interested in pursuing fellowship training (generally speaking, you are more likely to get a
training spot if they know you). Having said all of that, there are occasional deferred fellowship slots
and some may prefer civilian training (thereby avoiding additional tasks such as military-specific
online training, urine drug tests, uniforms, etc). Lastly, something to consider is cost of living which
is far higher in California compared to Texas (not to mention state income tax, etc).
Advantages: as mentioned above residency training at Travis is primarily civilian (done at UC
Davis) and requires only a few military specific obligations so, in theory, you can focus more on the
medical aspect of your training. If you do decide to do an ADT at Travis, you are only a short drive
from things like the Golden Gate Bridge, Sacramento, wineries, etc.
17

A Wright Patterson Senior Resident shares his experience:

1) The biggest advantage of the Wright Patterson program is that it is not a pure military
residency. Instead, it offers a great combination of exposure to both military and civilian
medicine which affords a massive variety of patients and pathology
2) There are 25 residents in the program in two tracks, approximately half are military and the
remainder are civilian. The only difference between the civilian residents and the military
residents is the continuity clinic experience
3) The largest affiliated hospital is a community hospital with no academic faculty. Residents
rotate through a VA hospital as well. Since there are no fellows, residents handle the interesting
cases and have more opportunities for poster presentations and research projects
4) Residents complete 6 weeks of nights per year at the most
5) The program consistently has strong in-service scores. Many residents have gone on to obtain
fellowship training in various fields, including one resident who was accepted to a Cleveland
Clinic Rheumatology fellowship
6) Rotations are easy to set up by contacting the program coordinator. The base inn is a great
place to stay throughout your rotation!

Tips for Transportation and Lodging at the NCC:

1) The new go-to for lodging is the Navy Gateway Inn and Suites on campus. If you stay here,
you wont have to worry about obtaining a rental car.
2) The hospital is on the metro red line which a main metro line and can get you pretty much
anywhere in DC, northern Virginia, and parts of Maryland. Reagan Airport is on the metro, and
Dulles is very nearby to the metro. They have a $5 shuttle from the airport to the silver line
which connects you to the rest of the metro, so if your travel arrangements have you flying to
Dulles not to worry.

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