Dear Applicant,

You are embarking on what undoubtedly will be one of the most important decisions in your medical career: Where do I take my residency training? Perhaps, for the first time, you must determine in a relatively brief time frame where 
you should train. While the Residency Review Committee sets the general standards for program content, there are striking differences among programs.

Ask certain questions:

Question: Does education receive the highest priority?

Answer: The obvious answer should be yes. However, if there are minimal opportunities for formal and informal learning, reduced faculty interest, no unstructured time or less demanding rotations during the four years of training, service may dominate your experience.

Question: Is the program stable?

Answer: Faculty and resident turnover are serious harbingers of instability. Lack of faculty depth, particularly in subspecialty areas, can compromise your training. Instability also contributes to reduced teaching and short approval cycles by the RRC.

Question: What is the accreditation cycle?

Answer: The majority of  programs have three years of accreditation or greater.  Inquire what steps have been taken to address the recent citations. We have enjoyed four four-year cycles of ACGME accredidation.

Question: Is the program nurturing?

Answer: You have chosen a very demanding yet most rewarding specialty. During four years of training you will experience episodes of fatigue, undergo several major life events, and work very closely with the other residents and faculty. Will your academic family be there for you?  A strong mentoring system is a powerful component of a superior residency.

I strongly believe all of the answers are yes for this program. There are many positive aspects of training, which I will discuss in more detail if you visit the campus. However, regardless of where you apply, please be an informed applicant.

Best regards,

John H. Mattox, MD, FACOG
Chair and Program Director
Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center
Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology (clinical)
Associate Head, University of Arizona