SANTA CLARA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER

PRELIMINARY YEAR

We have a highly competitive preliminary program and our interns have matched into a variety of specialties across the country. Preliminary interns are fully integrated into the program.

Our preliminary intern year is rigorous and hands-on, and our prelims gain exceptional clinical exposure and are well prepared for their advanced specialties. Our interns graduate feeling comfortable with many procedures and can independently manage complex medical issues. Our preliminary interns value autonomy and responsibility.

Of our 6 Preliminary positions, up to 4 slots are linked to Stanford Neurology as a Joint Advanced/Preliminary Program (NRMP Program Code 1063140P1), and the other slots are open to applicants from all advanced specialties (NRMP Program Code 1063140P0). Applicants applying in Neurology can apply to both program codes.

Applicants who are debating between a Preliminary and Transitional year should click here to learn about our exceptional TY program. If, like many of our applicants, you apply to both programs and are offered an interview, that interview will count for both programs; you will not have to interview twice.

GRADUATES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE MOVED ONTO THE FOLLOWING ADVANCED PROGRAMS:

Albert Einstein: Dermatology
Case Western: Ophthalmology
Loyola: Ophthalmology
Mount Sinai: Neurology
New York Eye and Ear: Ophthalmology
Stanford: Anesthesiology, Dermatology, Neurology, Ophthalmology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Radiology, Radiation-Oncology
SCVMC: Radiology
St. Louis University: Anesthesia
UC Davis: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Radiology
UCLA: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
UCSD: Anesthesiology
UCSF: Anesthesiology, Dermatology
USC: Neurology
University of Oklahoma: Ophthalmology
University of Pittsburgh: Dermatology
Washington University St. Louis: Radiology

Team work during the intern orientation scavenger hunt

A TYPICAL PRELIMINARY INTERN SCHEDULE IS LISTED BELOW:

Inpatient wards: 19-23 weeks (including 4 weeks at the Palo Alto VA)
ICU/CCU: 0-4 weeks
Night float: 4 weeks
Subspecialty electives: 20 weeks
(comprised of selectives and electives, including ED if required by your advanced specialty)
Vacation and directed reading block: 4 weeks

Subspecialty elective time is broken into two types of electives: Core Medicine and Mastery electives. The Core Medicine electives are the big eight: Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Hematology/Oncology, Infectious Disease, Nephrology, Pulmonary and Rheumatology. Preliminary interns spend about 12 weeks rotating through some of these experiences, most of which are inpatient consult. Additionally, prelims spend 4 weeks or more choosing from Mastery electives. These rotations help augment growth as a physician in more specialized areas. Elective options include Radiology, Pathology, Psychiatry, Research, HIV clinic, Palliative Care and more.

Ultrasound training during intern orientation