Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Medical Education has more than 2,000 residents and fellows enrolled in programs across the country. Of its 300-plus programs, 201 are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, which accredits core specialties and most subspecialties. Ninety-five percent of Mayo's graduate medical education training programs are above the national average in board passage rates.
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September 18, 2024
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In July, Mayo Clinic welcomed its newest class of residents to Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education. More than 600 trainees joined one of the nation's oldest and largest institutions of graduate medical education, specializing in more than 300 programs. Learn the story of one of our new Florida residents.
Resident's experience influences her rural medicine dreams
Shalyn Fullerton, M.D., has believed for years that Mayo was the best choice when evaluating where she would complete her medical training. She interviewed in Rochester to attend Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine and was immediately drawn to the environment.
"Everyone I met during my interview was friendly, kind, and supportive. That really stuck with me and made me confident that Mayo was a good fit," she says.
Dr. Fullerton participated in the school's Minnesota/Florida Track, attending the first half of medical school in Rochester before completing her degree at Mayo Clinic in Florida. There, she continued to be met with support from Mayo's faculty and community.
Growing up in a small town in California, Dr. Fullerton and her family had to drive at least 30 minutes to find basic medical care. Specialty care providers were more than two hours away. This showed her the need for more specialty care providers in rural areas. She started to consider pursuing surgery as a specialty, hoping to bring that type of care to a small town one day.
Finding female mentors
Women are underrepresented among surgeons. In Florida, women account for only about 14.3 percent of the state's 4,300 general surgeons, according to the 2023 Florida Physician Workforce Annual Report. The report also found that fewer young physicians are entering the surgical field in Florida. Only 12.47 percent of Florida surgeons are under the age of 40.
At Mayo, Dr. Fullerton found the support she needed to pursue her dream. Her female mentors during medical school, Young Erben, M.D., a vascular surgeon, and former chief resident Jamie Kaplan, M.D., encouraged her. In March, Dr. Fullerton matched to the five-year General Surgery Residency at Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education in Florida — her first choice.
The opportunities at Mayo, she says, will give her the best training possible to realize her goal of becoming a rural practitioner. They include a month-long rotation during which residents can train under a rural surgeon and research opportunities with faculty. Dr. Fullerton did some research during her time as a medical student and is looking forward to rural healthcare research opportunities, where she'll learn how to work with limited technology, resources and tools.
"I hope that my education at Mayo and the access to groundbreaking medical training can be taken back to my rural patients one day. Even if we won't have the same technology or tools, I can still apply the principles of the Mayo Clinic Model of Care," Dr. Fullerton says.
Providing unparalleled training to learners
According to program director Fernando Elli, M.D., Florida's General Surgery Residency received about 1,800 applications this year for only four spaces available to first-year residents. Cutting-edge training opportunities are part of what makes the program so competitive.
One of those training experiences is access to the J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Simulation Center. The program's curriculum includes weekly sessions there, and general surgery residents can access the 9,500-square-foot multidisciplinary simulation training space 24/7. Residents also have research support from the first day.
Dr. Elli says the program's selection committee looks for previous research experience when they decide whom to admit. Residents can take one to two years off for research during their training, sometimes with funding support. For those who publish and present their research nationally or internationally, the program covers their travel expenses, helping residents gain greater visibility in their field.
Dr. Elli has led the General Surgery Residency for the last five years but has had strong relationships with students and residents since he came to Mayo Clinic in 2015.
I was a student and a resident at one point. I know the importance of training in an experienced and respectful place. Training our residents means we allow them to move at a slower pace while still being exposed to complex cases.
Fernando Elli, M.D.
Program director, General Surgery Residency (Florida)
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Training for the graduate school's general surgery residents in Florida began in July with a transitional month during which new residents attended a weeklong orientation followed by "surgical bootcamp." During this time, they learn how to scrub in for surgery, interact with nurses and staff members, and go through robot training. That way, says Dr. Elli, at the end of the month they are ready for the operating room.
Each new resident is assigned a senior resident mentor and has weekly check-ins with faculty members during their first year of training. This is intended to help them get their bearings, ensure they understand what's expected of them, and ensure they are comfortable.
"We are lucky to have the leadership that we do in graduate medical education. Residents have a voice here and can feel heard and supported," Dr. Elli says. "They can really have input into their training here, and that's something that makes Mayo Clinic unique for our residents."