Dignity Health residency programs bring more physicians to the East Valley

PHOENIX, Ariz. (July, 2024) – Now in its second year, the graduate medical education (GME) residency programs at Dignity Health’s East Valley hospitals have welcomed 33 new residents who will begin their medical training this month. The new residents are joining Dignity Health East Valley’s second year residents, bringing a total of 52 future physicians to the community. The program trains residents in the fields of emergency medicine, internal medicine, family medicine and general surgery. Obstetrics and gynecology will be added next year. 

“This is a new generation of physicians who have the unique opportunity to help build our residency program as they are the future leaders of our training program and future providers for our community,” says Roger Bies, MD, FACC, FSCAI, Designated Institutional Official for Dignity Health East Valley GME Program. “I am proud of their excellence and commitment to our hospitals and community.”

In the inaugural 2023-2024 academic year, Dignity Health East Valley welcomed a total of 28 residents into the fields of general surgery, family medicine, and internal medicine. During the first year, the fourth residency program - emergency medicine - received ACGME accreditation to begin its program. 

This is welcoming news for Arizona’s health care workforce. While programs like the East Valley GME work on expanding, there is a critical need for more health care professionals. The Arizona Board of Regents estimates that by 2030, the health care sector will have a shortage of 23,300 health care professionals.

“Much like the East Valley, Dignity Health’s GME residency program is growing,” says Mark Slyter, President and CEO of Dignity Health East Valley. “This is driven by a combination of a rapidly growing population in the city of Chandler and town of Gilbert, a need for more physicians to serve this growing population in the community, and an overall demand to help fill a shortage of physicians in the health care industry.” 

The residents are now rotating at Dignity Health Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers. They also train in facilities across Arizona including at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Dignity Health Research Institute, Phoenix Children's and several simulation labs. Some residents will get to experience life as a rural doctor at the HuHuKam Memorial Hospital ED on the Gila River Indian Community and at Fort Defiance Medical Center on the Navajo Nation.

For more information about the GME programs, visit Dignity Health East Valley GME Program.