The transitional year is designed to fulfill the educational needs of medical school graduates who require one year of fundamental clinical education prior to entering a categorical residency or preliminary to fulfilling a public health service or military obligation as a general medical officer.

Instruction focuses on learning fundamental clinical skills, diagnosing and managing a broad range of clinical problems, and heightening awareness of humanism and professionalism in the practice of medicine.  During inpatient rotations, Transitional Residents will be offered equivalent educational opportunities and be held to the same expectations and standards as first year categorical residents at a similar level of training.  These educational objectives will be met by interfacing with senior categorical residents in direct patient care activities, educational sessions (morning report, bedside attending rounds, grand rounds, resident colloquia, journal club, basic science conferences, morbidity and mortality conferences and other institutional teaching conferences), assigned reading, and independent learning.

Residents will be provided a written evaluation every 4 weeks (at the end of each rotation).  Residents will also have the opportunity to evaluate the individual rotations as well as the overall Program.