Trinity Health Grand Rapids Program

Program Identity & Fit

Trinity Health Grand Rapids's Transitional Year, affiliated with Michigan State University, is a Catholic mission-driven, community teaching hospital program designed explicitly as a launchpad year rather than a terminal training experience, with residents overwhelmingly bound for PM&R, anesthesiology, radiology, and other advanced specialties. The curriculum emphasizes broad clinical exposure (four blocks of inpatient medicine, emergency medicine, ambulatory medicine, and four elective blocks) with hands-on primary responsibility for patients across a large multi-specialty referral base serving over a million people, supplemented by simulation and ultrasound training. The program's identity is rooted in Trinity Health's mission of serving the poor and vulnerable, and it draws heavily on residents who value a supportive, low-burnout, collegial culture and flexible electives tailored to their next residency rather than research or a specific TY specialty focus. There is no indication of significant scholarly output expectation; the program's stated priority is a smooth, well-rounded foundation year with faculty serving as role models rather than research mentors.