Welcome!

Byron Joyner, MD, MPA

Jennifer Best, MD

Cindy Hamra JD, MA

We are excited that you are here to begin the next phase of your medical or dental education with us. Many of you have traveled from around the country – and from around the world – to train at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

We have all faced challenges and uncertainty, especially the last 3 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and racial unrest. Many of you have never been to Seattle and might have questions as to whether this will be the right home for you. As you start your new journey, we want you to know that we are here for you. A world-class faculty and staff are committed to teaching you, providing you skills and feedback along the way. We want you to gain all the experiences you can and have all the learning opportunities you need to do your work. We want you to feel that you are working in a diverse learning environment, one that is inclusive, equitable, and fair.

There will be uncertainty during your training, not only because you will be learning new things about your chosen specialty but because uncertainty challenges you to discover new things about your community and the world.  You will meet your colleagues and find new friends. You will encounter new interdisciplinary teams with whom you will care for patients, and, along the way, you will learn more about yourself.

Matriculating now into your new residency or fellowship program should be an adventure – even for those of you who are UW alumni returning as subspecialty fellows. Our top priority is to offer you the best and safest clinical learning environment so that you can develop the skills, behaviors, and attitudes you will need to be a successful, independent doctor.

You are one of the amazing, high-caliber physicians/dentists training in one of our 200+ residency and fellowship programs. This sets UW apart from other institutions. The new wave of 502 residents and fellows is our largest entering class ever. You represent an exceptional, diverse, and exceedingly qualified member of that class who will enrich each other’s lives and learning experiences. Best of luck to you!

Who you are

Exceptional.

• In total, you are 502 incoming residents and fellows
• You are pursuing 118 ACGME accredited specialties, over 85 non-ACGME specialties and 4 dental specialties
• 295 of you are first year residents

Many US medical school graduates going into your specialty have applied to our UW training programs, and you are among the select few to be admitted to our very competitive programs.

Diverse.

Altogether, you are global citizens who have studied around the world, with an increase in countries represented since last academic year:

 

You show diversity in gender identity, representing an increase in female and non-binary trainees:

This is no accident. Diversity and inclusion are core values of UW Graduate Medical Education.

Qualified.

Where you are:

Graduate Medical Education (GME).  GME programs sponsored by the UW School of Medicine are designed to train skillful physicians with ingrained habits of life-long learning and well-formed ethical and professional modes of practice.

UW Medicine. Among nearly 871 institutions, UW Medicine ranks seventh in the number of programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), and ninth in the number of trainees.

Looking at the number for the 2023-2024 academic year:

Although trainees most commonly rotate at Harborview Medical Center, the University of Washington Medical Center-Montlake & Northwest, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and the Veteran’s Administration, we partner with over 500 training sites throughout the WWAMI region – and the world – so you can have the best training.

Who we are

GME Office. In partnership with many members of the learning community, we are responsible for the administrative oversight and academic quality of UW’s residency and clinical fellowship programs. Most importantly, we are here for you. Please contact any of us with questions, comments, or concerns. (http://gme.washington.edu/).

 

Congratulations and thank you!

Byron Joyner, MD, MPA
Vice Dean for GME and DIO

Jennifer Best, MD
Associate Dean, Accreditation and Education

Cindy Hamra, JD, MA
Associate Dean, Operations and Administration