Contact us
For any additional questions, please contact our program administrator.
Welcome from our program director
We are very excited to announce the addition of The University of Central Florida-HCA Healthcare Transitional Year program to the HCA Florida Fort-Walton Destin Hospital. We are driven by the core HCA Healthcare mission: "Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life." The program is designed to provide a well-rounded clinical experience that promotes quality patient care and scholarly activity in preparation for advanced specialty residency programs. Through bidirectional feedback, the faculty strive to establish a comfortable learning environment that provides unique educational opportunities to prepare our graduates for a successful PGY-2 year.
About our program
We are a newly ACGME-accredited Transitional Year program that received accreditation in December 2025. The inaugural class is anticipated to start in July 2026.
This program is the second residency to join the HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, alongside the Internal Medicine residency program that started in July 2024. Both programs were created through the partnership of two well-known leaders in graduate medical education and quality patient care: The University of Central Florida and HCA Healthcare. The clinical rotations will primarly occur at the HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and nearby outpatient clinics.
HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital is an acute care hospital with 331 beds, with over 300 physicians on staff. The hospital is the only comprehensive full-service hospital in the area and is recognized as an accredited Advanced Primary Stroke Center, accredited Chest Pain Center, and a certified Cancer Center.
The hospital provides a multitude of services including general internal medicine and its subspecialties, critical care, cardiothoracic surgery, neurologic surgery, urology, otorhinolaryngology, and psychiatry.
Our program is dedicated to training and preparing interns for their desired advanced specialty residency programs. We intend to create a training environment in an academic hospital setting that promotes high-quality patient care and graduates well-rounded physicians.
Program details
Salary and benefits information
| Year | Salary |
|---|---|
| PGY1 | $62,878 |
Curriculum highlights
Our curriculum is designed to complement resident's rotations.
Benefits
- Vacation Leave: PGY1: three weeks (15 working days)
- Sick Leave: Physician learners will be provided 10 days of paid sick leave each academic year.
- Step 3 Exam: Step/Level 3 must be taken with a passing score before the end of PGY1 year. Our program will cover the cost of your exam. All residents are provided with a 6-month subscription to UWorld or COMBANK for exam preparation.
- Insurance: The Human Resources website for UCF provides many details of the types of insurance provided to residents.
- Technology/Devices: Residents are issued an iPhone and laptop for use during the academic year.
- Licensing: The cost of training licenses in Florida will be covered by the program.
- BLS and ACLS Training: Certification is no charge to resident.
- Meals/Snacks: Meals are provided free of charge at the Fort Walton Beach-Destin hospital cafeteria and GME lounge/suite snacks available at all times.
- Uniform: The program will provide residents with two lab coats, one jacket, and two sets of scrubs at the start of the academic year.
- Resident Call Rooms: Dedicated sleep rooms are available for residents use in addition to a GME lounge space.
Why Fort Walton Beach, FL?
Fort Walton Beach, FL is a small community with an estimated population around 20,000 – 21,000 per the U.S. Census. It is a coastal town that offers beautiful beaches with emerald green waters. Fort Walton Beach and its neigboring town Destin, FL are a frequently chosen vacation spot due to their warm, tropical climate and numerous family-friendly activities (i.e. restuarants, shopping centers, and watersports). It is located near a military base (Eglin Airforce Base and Hurlburt Field) and has its own airport (Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport). Although it offers many activities, large metropolitan cities are only a short drive away for other activities, such as major sporting events, concerts, or theme parks: New Orleans, LA (~3.5 hours), Jacksonville, FL (~5 hours), Atlanta, GA (~ 5 hours), Tampa Bay, FL (~6 hours), Orlando, FL (~6 hours). Fort Walton Beach offers a relatively affordable cost of living in comparison to other coastal towns, and overall, is a great place to live and complete residency training.
Frequently asked questions
How many Transitional Year positions will be available per year?
13
What are the eligibility criteria required to apply to the program?
- Applicants must have passed USMLE Steps 1 and 2 or COMLEX Levels 1 and 2 on the first attempt to be considered.
- J-1 applicants will be considered.
- Priority will be given to candidates who have graduated from medical school within the past two years.
- Graduated from an accredited medical school recognizable in the WHO directory.
- An ECFMG certificate must be provided by international medical graduates before the start of the residency program.
- 3 Letters of recommendation
Where can I find more information about your program's resident benefits package?
Resident benefits go into effect on July 1st. Please see UCF Trainee Benefits webpage for more specifics.