Health Education Service-Merit Health Wesley Program

Program Identity & Fit

Merit Health Wesley's transitional year is a small, single-site community hospital program in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, built as a preparatory rotating-internship year rather than a research or academic training ground. The curriculum spans core adult-learner rotations (EM, OB/GYN, surgery, pediatrics, family medicine, ICU, cardiology, night float) at a 211-bed community facility, with an explicit "additional EM or IM month" elective structured around the resident's future specialty. The program frames itself around a faith-informed community-care mission ("loving God, serving others, excelling in healthcare") rather than fellowship pipelines or scholarly output, and emphasizes resident self-direction and effort ("adult learner") over structured mentorship. It functions primarily as a launching pad for residents heading into categorical PGY-2 positions in fields like EM, anesthesiology, radiology, or PM&R, particularly those wanting a broad, low-pressure clinical base year in a family-friendly setting.