Preliminary Year
Our preliminary year provides residents bound for training in other specialties with broad and intensive exposure to internal medicine. Three one-year positions are offered each year for residents planning to enter other areas of residency training (dermatology, neurology, ophthalmology, anesthesia, radiology and physical medicine & rehab).
Preliminary interns are completely integrated into the residency program and are exposed to the same curriculum and held to the same standards as our categorical interns. The one exception is that there is no continuity clinic requirement for our preliminary interns.
4 + 1 Format
Our schedule currently has a 4+1 format. The 1 week, also called Y week, is dedicated to continuity clinic for categorical interns. For preliminary year interns those weeks are elective weeks, one of which is dedicated to quality improvement.
You will have a personalized session with the Program Director at the beginning of the year to determine what specialty driven requirements are needed.
Placements following preliminary year:
- Zachary Abbott, DO University of Colorado Physical Medicine & Rehab
- Eva Kubrova, MD Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education Physical Medicine & Rehab
- Mathew Macey, DO Lahey Clinic Diagnostic Radiology
- Ashley So, MD Massachusetts General Hospital Anesthesia
- Alba Coraini, Massachusetts General Hospital, Neurology
- Sophia Wayan Chan DO, Tufts Medical Center, Physical Medicine & Rehab
- George Zhang, Cook County Chicago, Illinois, Ophthalmology
- Elizabeth George, M.D., Brigham And Women’s Hospital, Radiology
- Silvia Song, M.D., University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Dermatology
- Melina Morkin, M.D., New England Eye Center, Ophthalmology
- Sarvenaz Pourjabbar, M.D., Yale New Haven Hospital, Radiology
- Melissa Pergakis, M.D., Boston University, Neurology
- Sergi Martinez-Ramirez, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital, Neurology
- Ranish Khawaja, M.D., Duke University, Radiology
- Omar Al-Louzi, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital, Neurology
- Daniel Daneshvar, M.D., Stanford University, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Juan Carlos Martinez, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital, Neurology
- Philip Chan, M.D., Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Anesthesia
Testimonials
Felipe Naranjo, MD, Nephrology Fellowship, Johns Hopkins
"I completed my Internal Medicine Residency program at Salem Hospital in 2018. I am confident that the training gave me the tools and broad-based knowledge I needed to pursue a Nephrology fellowship. The teaching was extraordinary. Everyone from hospitalists, intensivists, consultants and nurses were willing to share their knowledge and experience from an integral and medical point of view. As a resident, we were always included in discussions and medical decisions. These providers have set the standard for excellence in teaching which I am trying to aim with other students and colleagues.
My training also provided me with skills on how to carefully and critically evaluate and analyze available medical literature to actively update my knowledge and provide the best care to my patients. Additionally, the faculty and leadership at the residency program offered me support and guidance on my future career goals. The residency allowed me to complete away electives in order to get exposure and practice in renown teaching hospitals in the Greater Boston Area.
Mentorship from faculty and medical consultants was always present. They encouraged us to present case reports and posters at local and national meetings. I believe this is what helped me to build my professional network. In my experience, I worked with multiple mentors which guided me in different aspects of my training and career and provided a great support during my fellowship application.
The work environment was remarkable, as demonstrated by the fact that over the years some residents decided to stay after their residency either as hospitalist or primary care physician . I was grateful to be trained in a healthcare setting that provided care to a diverse patient population from different backgrounds and cultures which made the practice of medicine more enriching. But the most important experience was to become part of a family. The relationship developed between the residents was amazing. The strong connections we had allowed everyone to ask for help and to be willing to help when needed. I am lucky to say that these relationships developed into a friendship."
"My experience at Salem Hospital was valuable for multiple reasons. First, the atmosphere at Salem Hospital is congenial with a huge emphasis on teamwork to provide the best evidence-based medical care for the patient. Second, my co-residents quickly became a second family which I learned to trust and also inspired me to work harder to reciprocate that trust when they needed help. Third, I was challenged on a daily basis with a wide variety of pathology that in turn led to many more teaching moments for myself and my team. Fourth, I appreciated the various electives that were available to me that had significant overlap with the study of dermatology. Finally, and most importantly, working with various attendings of various sub-specialties gave me valuable insight into the art and science of how colleagues in different fields think about diseases and treating people.
Although I deal with mainly cutaneous disease, many valuable lessons still stick with me to this day. I am in debt to my co-residents, attendings, nurses, respiratory therapists, social workers and other staff that have provided their perspectives on how I could improve as a doctor. All of these experiences from my intern year have molded me to become a better sleuth, a better team player and most importantly a better patient centered doctor."
Edward Bae, MD, Roger Williams Medical Center Dermatology
Preliminary Intern (2018-2019) – Dermatology
"I chose Salem Hospital to learn medicine in a community hospital setting right on the shores of Massachusetts and in the historical city of Salem! It was the right choice as I was exposed to management of a great range of simple to complex cases including a great independent call experience! Also, I was treated "special" as a radiology consultant in the program (I for sure enjoyed that part). My inquisitive colleagues brought cases to my attention when they needed an opinion on imaging studies (I by no means was great at it!). Attendings know you by your first name and are friendly! You get to choose two elective months during the year to expose yourself to specialty medicine as well! Amazing group of attendings, engaging and diverse residents, and supporting program director!
Ranish Khawaja, MD, Duke Radiology
"It is the people that make Salem Hospital a very special place to work and learn. As a prelim resident, I had equal responsibilities as a categorical resident as well as the time to pursue electives that prepared me for my Radiology residency."
Elizabeth George, MD, Brigham And Women’s Hospital, Radiology
“My time has been filled with joy, excitement, and incredible learning opportunities. I felt very lucky to be surrounded by great teachers, supportive peers, and outstanding staff. While I came into the program hoping to learn the fundamentals of internal medicine to facilitate my journey in neurology, I left the program with much more; including many long-lasting friendships, a solid clinical mentorship, and a growing foundation of knowledge. Overall, my internship experience is truly to be remembered and has equipped me with the essential toolset to delve into neurology training and practice.”
Omar Al–Louzi, MD, MGH, Neurology
“I appreciated my time here because I had the opportunity get comfortable with “bread and butter” medicine: the types of disease processes that I can expect to encounter regularly as a physiatrist. The flexibility offered with elective time was especially valuable for me to focus on topics that will help me become a better clinician and scientist.”
Daniel Daneshvar, MD, Stanford , Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation