Preliminary Internship
In addition to 15 categorical residents (3/PGY year), the Mount Carmel Surgery residency also supports three preliminary intern positions. These are typically filled by designated preliminary residents going into interventional radiology or anesthesiology but a number of our preliminary residents have also gone on to training in general surgery, orthopedic surgery, ophthalmology, and other fields.
At Mount Carmel, preliminary residents are considered equal members of the team relative to their categorical colleagues. Participation in the OR is encouraged and expected. An elective month of the intern’s choosing is offered.
The last three classes of preliminary residents and their second-year destination in training is listed for your review along with their perspective on the preliminary experience at Mount Carmel.
Stewart Smith, MD
Residency in Anesthesiology
University of California at San Francisco
Today after practicing emergency case simulations, my program director told me that I had the smoothest top-to-bottom RSI that he had seen all day. I was also able to correctly identify indications, contraindications, and dosages of various medications and rescue airway techniques during our level 1 trauma simulation, which definitely stuck out in the crowd. These were all thanks to my strong experience at Mount Carmel. Another attending recently asked me what I did during my intern year as he felt that I had “a level of clinical maturity seldom seen in CA-1s.” That is a testament to the culture of the Mt Carmel program and residents. I cannot thank Mt Carmel enough for the great start that the program has given me in training. You can consider me a walking MCHS billboard!
Priyesh Patel, MD
Residency in Interventional Radiology
Cleveland Clinic
I would describe my intern year at Mount Carmel as “exceptional.” My initial draw to the program was the early hands-on experience and the collegiality among the residents I noted on my interview day. After spending a year there, I can say that the Mount Carmel general surgery program exceeded my expectations. In that year I learned a great deal and know the education I received will serve me well for the remainder of my career. Both staff and senior residents always made me feel like a valued member of the team, and I could not have wished for a better environment to begin my training.
Suraj Prakash, MD
Residency in Interventional Radiology
Medical College of Wisconsin
I am seeing immense returns on the clinical knowledge and procedural skills I learned last year at Mount Carmel. Few internships offer the level of responsibility and opportunity as what I experienced during my year at Mount Carmel.
Jane Han, MD
Residency in General Surgery
St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio
Among the many programs that tout a high case volume, Mount Carmel is unique in the high volume and quality of operative (as well as clinical) experience that it provides to interns, as well as the other year residents. It has a small group of faculty whom you get to know and grow with quickly. At the same time, faculty have diverse teaching styles and treatment perspectives that build a strong, broad foundation for your future practice. It is a small, close-knit community program that keeps up with modern technology and carries just as much enthusiasm for resident education as any large academic program does; no wonder people call it a hidden gem. The only downside is that you will never want to leave this place! In hindsight, I'm grateful to be at a different program to learn new systems and gain new experiences, but Mount Carmel is truly the #1 place to be.
Joshua Hernandez, MD
Residency in Surgery/Vascular Surgery
Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio
All with whom I spoke to, including residents, were happy & excited about the program. The program offers flexibility, including electives in the first year, and fosters early OR experience in a collegiate environment that is also family-friendly. As a bonus, everyone we know who has been loves Columbus.
Ryan Rossos, MD
Residency in Anesthesia
University of Indiana
Being an intern at Mount Carmel provides a good mix of autonomy with supervision. Early OR exposure even for prelims. You will work hard, but leave prepared whether you are a prelim or categorical.
John Kutzfara, DO
Residency in Interventional Radiology
University of Buffalo
I cannot say enough positive things about my time at Mount Carmel. From day one, I felt welcome and as if I was joining a close-knit family. I do not believe that I would have had the experiences that I did anywhere else as a preliminary intern. Twice, I was intimately involved in resuscitative thoracotomies which led to me performing internal compressions, using the internal defibrillator, and once directly injecting the heart with intraventricular epinephrine. When I was talking about my experience here with my new co-residents, they were taken aback at the experiences that I had and the autonomy I was granted. The lessons that I have learned and the confidence I gained through my year at Mount Carmel will without a doubt make me a more well-rounded physician and always be some of the fondest memories I have.
Charles Renner III, MD
Residency in General Surgery
St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio
My prelim year at Mount Carmel was a pivotal point in my life. When I arrived, I could barely tie knots, had no idea how to manage patients on the floor, and lacked insight into common surgical problems. When I left, I felt that I was a surgeon. The academic curriculum combined with the operative experience makes Mount Carmel a world class surgical training program. With the help of Dr. Chambers and Dr. Reitz, I was able to successfully secure a 2nd year General Surgery spot, one of only a few in the country. The first night on call at my new program, I successfully managed 15 patients in the SICU, threw in multiple lines and chest tubes, and successfully performed a lap chole. I owe this all to my time at Mount Carmel.
Calvin Pilbeam, MD
Preliminary General Surgery
Mount Carmel Health in Columbus, Ohio
The preliminary year at Mount Carmel was phenomenal. It is structured to give you a great foundation in the discipline of surgery with the added bonus of letting you focus on your passion for a month; whether anesthesia, interventional radiology or something else you’d like to explore. Just like the categorical interns you are thrown into the mix of general surgery with all the same expectations and responsibilities. For me personally it was a steppingstone to focus on my passion, general surgery. The other residents accept you in as part of the team and together with the other interns, categorical and prelim you all learn and grow together. You are in the operating room on day one becoming skilled enough to perform critical portions of cases within the first month. Each intern supersedes their minimum for OR cases and floor procedures, i.e. lines, chest tubes, etc.
It’s not just all work and no play. All of the residents find time for small get-togethers outside of the hospital whether going out for dinner and attending local sporting events.
Ultimately by the end of the year you will have become part of the Mount Carmel family and with that have both a great educational foundation in surgery as well as form connections that will stay with you for the rest of your life.