Dignity Health announces the creation of graduate medical education programs to meet the health care needs of the growing East Valley community

(PHOENIX - March 16, 2023) – Dignity Health East Valley is launching graduate medical education programs (GME) to address Arizona’s critical physician workforce shortage and meet the health care demands of the rapidly growing community in the East Valley. The programs, which have received accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, will provide high quality training to medical graduates in general surgery, internal medicine and family medicine.

The public announcement of the programs is being unveiled ahead of National Resident Matching Day on March 17, a highly anticipated event that matches medical students with residency programs across the United States. On Match Day, 28 fourth-year medical students will be named to Dignity Health East Valley’s inaugural class of residents. They will officially begin their medical training at Dignity Health East Valley, which encompasses Dignity Health Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers, in July.

“The launch of a GME program is an important milestone in our history at Dignity Health East Valley,” says Mark Slyter, President and CEO of Dignity Health East Valley. “We look forward to welcoming our first class of residents and are excited to contribute to the development of the next generation of medicine.”

Arizona, like many states, is facing a critical shortage of physicians. Based on data from the Arizona Center for Rural Health Policy Brief, the state will require more than 1,900 more primary care physicians by 2030 due to population growth, and higher rates of chronic disease and aging. 

“There is no question that Arizona is experiencing a shortage of health care workers,” says Roger Bies, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Dignity Health East Valley. “The development of our GME program is a crucial step to ensure our commitment of providing high quality health care services to our growing community and to strengthen Arizona’s physician workforce.”

The residency program will be driven by the latest innovations in medicine, technology and research. It is expected to grow to include 126 medical residents by 2028 and include residents in emergency medicine and OB/GYN..For more information about the GME programs, visit Dignity Health East Valley GME Program.

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