Transitional Year
The Saint Francis Hospital Transitional Year Residency is a one-year clinical experience divided into 13 four-week rotation blocks. It is structured to provide a well-balanced program of residency training in multiple clinical disciplines designed to facilitate preparation for medical school graduates who have specific aims for advanced training in specialty fields or clinical careers which require a clinical base year of training.
Welcome to Our Program
Transitional year training is specifically designed and intended for:
- Medical school graduates seeking advanced training in a specific specialty which requires a year of fundamental clinical education as a prerequisite
- Medical school graduates planning to serve in public health organizations or on active duty in the military as general medical officers or primary flight/undersea medicine physicians
- Medical school graduates who desire or need to acquire at least one year of fundamental clinical education before entering administrative medicine or non-clinical research
Why choose us?
Saint Francis Hospital is a 270-bed licensed acute care facility located on the south side of Evanston, Illinois. There are nearly 100 residents training at Saint Francis on a continuous and ongoing basis. The Saint Francis Transitional Year Residency is sponsored by Illinois Graduate Medical Education. In addition to the program, the institution also sponsors a categorical and preliminary medicine residency which are primarily based out of Saint Francis Hospital.
Demographics
Over the past 20 years, the program has successfully recruited residents from allopathic and osteopathic schools. As in most civilian Transitional Year Programs PGY-1 interns continue their training in advanced specialty training programs. These typically include:
- Radiation Oncology
- Diagnostic Radiology
- Anesthesiology
- Physiatry (PM&R)
- Neurology
- Occupational Medicine
- Dermatology
The program also graduates trainees enrolled in the Armed Forces.
Among the program’s graduates are trainees who have gone on to service in each of the branches of the Armed Forces. Typically, such graduates enter service and attain additional service-specific certifications.
The majority of our program’s Transitional Residents have been graduates of U.S. medical schools.
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
ECFMG certificate is not required for the interview but is preferred for international medical graduates who apply to the program.
Invitation to interview
Candidates for interview will be selected based on review of the information provided in ERAS. The program typically begins application review in October. Invitations to interview in December, January and early February are usually sent in October and November. The application deadline is December 1.
The program will make deadline exceptions for applicants with civilian deferments and for early (January) match applicants whose outcomes were unanticipated. (Students incurring these circumstances are invited to contact program coordinator by telephone for guidance in the application procedure).
Medical school graduation
Applicants should be no more than 5 years post-graduation from medical school.
Observership program
The sponsoring institution does not offer an observership program.
USMLE scores
A score of 200 and above on both Step 1 and 2 examinations. Applicants can interview without USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills and Clinical Knowledge being taken. Applicants are required to have passed USMLE Step 2 – Clinical Skills and Clinical Knowledge before starting in a first year position. Saint Francis does not have an official “number of attempts” for passing Steps I and II. However, after more than two attempts an applicant’s application would not be given high consideration.
U.S. clinical experience
U.S. clinical experience is not a requirement.
Visas and immigration
Saint Francis Hospital sponsors J1 visas.
Unanticipated San Francisco (early) match result
The TY program director recognizes that early match outcomes may change strategic decisions. Candidates whose early match results have had unanticipated impact on their training strategy who wish to be considered after the December 1 application deadline are invited to contact the program’s coordinator 847-316-3111 for consideration on a case-by-case basis.
Military deferments for civilian training
Candidates who receive deferments from the US Armed Services for civilian training after the December 1 application deadline are invited to contact the program’s coordinator 847-316-3111 for consideration on a case-by-case basis.