VA Caribbean Healthcare System Program

San Juan, PRLast Updated: 2/19/2026

About This Program

Program Length

3 Years

First Year Positions

3 Positions

Application Deadline

Sep 30, 2025

Avg Work Hours

55 Hours/Week

Program Setting

Other

Application Service

Program Statistics

View All

Compensation

$66k-$72k

28 Vacation Days
15 Sick Days

View All Benefits

Types of Graduates

Resident Gender

Contact Information

Program Director

Doris H Toro-Lugo, MD
VA Caribbean Healthcare System

[email protected]
(787) 641-3669

Primary Program Contact

Mayra Ortiz-Martinez
VA Caribbean Healthcare System

[email protected]
(787) 641-7582

Survey Received: 7/2/2025

Program ID: 1444231223

Locations

VA Caribbean Healthcare System
Med Service (111)
10 Casia St
San Juan, PR 00921

Sponsor Location

PRIMARY TEACHING SITE

VA Caribbean Healthcare System

10 Casia St
San Juan, PR 00921-3201

Participant Locations

University District Hospital

Po Box 2116
San Juan, PR 00922

University Pediatric Hospital

Po Box 191079
San Juan, PR 00919-1079

Auxilio Mutuo Hospital

Ponce De Leon Ave
San Juan, PR 00918

Application Information

Applicant Interview Format

In person

Interviews Conducted Last Year

9 Interviews

Interviews/First Year Positions

3:1

Program Participation

Medical Exam Licensing Requirements for Interview Consideration

U.S. MD Applicants

Must Have Passed Step 1

Yes

Must Have Passed Step 2

Yes

IMG Applicants

Must Have Passed Step 1

Yes

Must Have Passed Step 2

Yes

DO Applicants

Must Have Passed COMLEX Level 1

Yes

Must Have Passed COMLEX Level 2

Yes

Must Have Passed Step 1

Yes

Must Have Passed Step 2

Yes

Recommendation Letter Requirements

Total required letters of recommendation (excludes MSPE and Dean's letter)

Minimum

4 Letters

Maximum

4 Letters

Required specialty-specific letters of evaluation within total letters of recommendation

Letter from a department chair
Letter(s) from someone within the specialty (e.g., faculty, attending)

Additional Eligibility Information

Requires Previous GME

Yes

Number of previous GME years required

3 year(s)

Offers Preliminary Positions

Required Specialty-Specific Away Rotations

Required Supplemental Information

Yes

Osteopathic Recognition

Medical School Graduation Timeline

Graduation from medical school must have occurred within the past 1 year(s).

Gap Experience Requirement

PGY-1 applicants to this program with a gap of 1 year or more between medical school graduation and entry to residency must have the following experience occur during the gap: Research or other medical education pursuits (clinical experience not required)

Resident / Fellow Characteristics

Three year averages. Medical school type does not include graduates of Canadian schools.

Types of Graduates

Resident Gender

Program Faculty

Faculty/Resident Ratio

0.9:1

Program Faculty

Female Faculty

40%

Faculty Distribution

Physicians (11)

Non-Physicians (--)

Work Environment

Work Schedule

Program Start Dates

July 1

Avg Hours/Week on Duty (During First Year)

55 Hours

Maximum Consecutive Hours on Duty (During First Year)

12 Hours

Avg Number of 24 Hour Off Duty Periods Per Week (During First Year)

1.70

Program Allows Moonlighting (Beyond PGY-1)

Yes

Night Float System

Call Schedule

Most Taxing Schedule & Frequency Per Year

Beeper or Home Call (Weeks / Year)

Year 1 - N/A

Year 2 - N/A

Year 3 - N/A

NA = Not Applicable

NGO = Negotiable

OTH = Other

Visa Status

This program will consider an appropriately qualified applicant with the following visa or visa status. Contact the program for additional information.

J-1 visa sponsorship through ECFMG

H-1B visa

F-1 visa (OPT 1st year)

Program Size

Current Residents

PGY-1s3

PGY-2s3

PGY-3s3

Key Dates & Timelines

2026 - 2027

SEP30

Application Due

Sep 30, 2025

OCT15

Interview Period Starts

Oct 15, 2025 - Nov 30, 2025

2027 - 2028

SEP30

Application Due

Sep 30, 2026

OCT15

Interview Period Starts

Oct 15, 2026 - Nov 30, 2026

Average PGY-1 Educational Environment

Structured Didactic Activities

Hospital Outpatient

70%

Non-Hospital Ambulatory Care

N/A

Employment Policies & Benefits

Free parking

On-call meal allowance

iPads, tablets, etc., or technology allowance

Educational Benefits

Offered

Resident/fellow retreats

Yes

Off-campus electives

Yes

Research rotation

Required (24 wks)

Not Offered

Integrative medicine curriculum

Curriculum to develop health systems leadership skills (e.g., QI project leadership, community/organizational advocacy)

Formal program to foster interprofessional teamwork

Instruction in medical Spanish or other non-English language

Alternative/complementary medicine curriculum

Economics of health care systems curriculum

Debt management/financial counseling

Academic support for USMLE Step 3 and/or COMLEX-USA Level 3 preparation

International experience/global health

Hospice/home care experience

MPH, MBA, PhD or other advanced degree training

Tracks & Educational Features

Data not provided by program

Evaluations

Program Evaluations

Aggregate resident Milestone achievements

Yes

Graduates’ board certification pass rates

Yes

Performance-based assessment scores (e.g. OSCE, patient or computer simulations)

Resident Evaluations

Patient surveys

Yes

Portfolio system

Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE)

Medical Insurance Coverage

Institution & Resident Share Cost

Major medical for residents
Major medical for dependents
Major medical for domestic partners
Outpatient mental health
Inpatient mental health
Dental insurance

Fully Paid by Institution

Salary Compensation

$66k-$72k

PGY-4 through PGY-6

PGY-4

$65,827

PGY-5

$69,288

PGY-6

$72,109

Salary paid by a non-profit institution.

Vacation & Sick Days

Residents receive 28 Vacation Days and 15 Sick Days annually to support work-life balance and personal well-being.

Vacation Days28

Sick Days15

Family & Medical Leave Policy

Maximum # of paid days

15 days

Maximum # of unpaid days

NGO

Quality of Life Information*

San Juan, PR

Purchasing Power Index

Safety Index

Health Care Index

Climate Index

Cost of Living Index

Property Price to Income Ratio

Traffic Commute Time Index

Pollution Index

Estimated Monthly Costs

Estimated cost does not include rent.

Family of 4

Single Person

*Source: Numbeo

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VA Caribbean Healthcare System Program

About This Program

Program Statistics

Compensation

Types of Graduates

Resident Gender

Contact Information

Program Director

Primary Program Contact

Locations

Application Information

U.S. MD Applicants

IMG Applicants

DO Applicants

Total required letters of recommendation (excludes MSPE and Dean's letter)

Required specialty-specific letters of evaluation within total letters of recommendation

Medical School Graduation Timeline

Gap Experience Requirement

Resident / Fellow Characteristics

Types of Graduates

Resident Gender

Program Faculty

Faculty Distribution

Work Environment

Visa Status

Program Size

Key Dates & Timelines

2026 - 2027

Application Due

Interview Period Starts

2027 - 2028

Application Due

Interview Period Starts

Average PGY-1 Educational Environment

Employment Policies & Benefits

Educational Benefits

Tracks & Educational Features

Data not provided by program

Evaluations

Medical Insurance Coverage

Salary Compensation

Vacation & Sick Days

Quality of Life Information*

Estimated Monthly Costs

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