University of Central Florida-HCA Florida Healthcare Fort Walton Beach Program

Program Identity & Fit

This is a newly launched (inaugural class July 2024) community-based internal medicine residency at a 331-bed HCA acute care hospital in Fort Walton Beach/Destin, Florida, sponsored jointly by the University of Central Florida College of Medicine and HCA Healthcare. The program emphasizes broad general internal medicine exposure with subspecialty rotations, a 5+1 ambulatory/inpatient block structure with capped patient loads and no overnight ward call, and explicit dual preparation for either autonomous community practice or subspecialty fellowship. Research is structurally supported (HCA's national research infrastructure, Scholarly Commons, journal club, compensated research travel) but not positioned as a defining identity, and the program leans heavily on HCA's system-wide "Pathways to Flourishing" wellness framework and community engagement (Dragon Boat Festival, Hope Squad) as a cultural differentiator. As a brand-new, unranked program building its first classes, it appears to value adaptable residents comfortable with an evolving structure and community-hospital pace rather than a highly specialized academic pedigree.