Our Specialties
Trident Medical Center is part of the HCA Healthcare Family
The nation's leading provider of quality, patient-centered care is also the leader in graduate medical education (GME). From the moment a graduate joins an HCA Healthcare residency or fellowship, they are mentored by a dynamic network of physicians who are focused on teaching them to provide the exceptional, compassionate care our patients deserve. These programs are led by an accomplished faculty, set under rigorous standards, and tailored to provide extensive training for the next generation of physician leaders.
Search all GME programsWelcome from our Program Director
Pooja Paunikar, MD, MPH
We are delighted that you are interested in our Family Medicine Residency Program!
The Family Medicine Residency Program at Summerville Medical Center is part of HCA Healthcare’s Graduate Medical Education network, the largest provider of GME programs in the United States. This is a brand new program and our goal is create skilled, compassion physicians to care for families at all stages of their lives.
The GME program is designed to offer a rewarding, educational environment where residents are provided individualized learning opportunities by faculty and staff who support and sustain one another throughout quality care delivery. We are committed to providing clinical experience and education, while expanding residents’ perspectives to be inclusive of cultures, values and ideals. Summerville Medical Center is in a booming part of Charleston with significant growth and opportunities for residents.
Summerville Medical Center’s brand new Graduate Medical Education space is 5,000 square feet with dedicated parking for residents and includes two conference rooms, shower and locker facilities, numerous office spaces, a large communal gathering space with a ping-pong table, and a full kitchen.
You are about to make a decision that will influence the rest of your life. We hope the program information that you will find on our site will help you discover the atmosphere of teamwork and professionalism we strive to create. We welcome you to get to know us better, and invite you to consider training at Summerville Medical Center.
Best,
Pooja Paunikar, MD, MPH
Program Director
About Trident Medical Center
Trident Medical Center is a 321-bed acute care hospital and trauma center located close to the rivers, beaches and restaurants in historic Charleston, SC, which has been recognized for the past 10 years as one of the best cities in the U.S. The hospital currently has four Graduate Medical Education programs – Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, Internal Medicine and Pharmacy. In 2024, Residents are scheduled to move into a new medical office building located on the hospital’s campus. Trident Medical Center earned America’s 250 Best Hospitals designation from Healthgrades in 2023 and 2022. It is a part of Trident Health, which includes 124-bed Summerville Medical Center and three freestanding ERs - Brighton Park Emergency, Centre Pointe Emergency and Moncks Corner Medical Center. By September 2023, the hospital will have opened its fourth FSER, James Island Emergency, and a 60-bed mental health hospital, Live Oak Mental Health & Wellness. For Residents who want to provide care in a hospital known for high acuity, high quality care in a city known around the world, Trident Medical Center and Charleston, SC are great places to begin a new career.
What do our physicians say about our graduate medical education programs?
Hear from residents from all over the country who share their experiences with HCA Healthcare's residency and fellowship programs.
With 270+ residency and fellowship programs, HCA Healthcare plans to continue to grow the largest GME community in the United States.