Damas Hospital Program

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

Ponce, PRLast Updated: 8/20/2026

About This Program

The Damas Geriatrics Fellowship trains geriatricians to serve one of the oldest populations in the United States. The curriculum is anchored in the Age-Friendly Health Systems 4Ms framework - What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility. The Damas Skilled Nursing Facility, where fellows serve as primary practitioners for a longitudinal patient panel across all 12 months, has earned the Institute for Healthcare Improvements Age-Friendly Health System - Committed to Care Excellence designatio

Program Length

1 Year

First Year Positions

3 Positions

Program Starts Reviewing Applications

Application service release date

Avg Work Hours

65 Hours/Week

Program Setting

Community

Application Service

ERAS

Program Statistics

View All

Compensation

$41K

28 Vacation Days
7 Sick Days

View All Benefits

Types of Graduates

Resident Gender

Contact Information

Program Director

Doris M Iturrino, MD, MPH, MD
Damas Hospital

[email protected]
(787) 840-8686

Primary Program Contact

Melissa M Robles
Damas Hospital

[email protected]
(787) 840-8686

Survey Received: 7/21/2026

Program ID: 1514214001

Locations

Damas Hospital
Parra Medical Building. Ste. 407
2225 Ponce Byp
Ponce, PR 00717-1321

Application Information

Applicant Interview Format

Hybrid (in-person OR virtual)

Interviews Conducted Last Year

Interviews/First Year Positions

Program Participation

Participates In

NRMP Main Match

Doesn't Participate In

San Francisco Match
Military Match (i.e., Joint Service Graduate Medical Education Selection Board, Military Selection Board)
SAU/AU Match (i.e., Urology Match)
None

Program Offers

Does not offer open house or second look

Medical Exam Licensing Requirements for Interview Consideration

U.S. MD Applicants

Must Have Passed USMLE Step 1

Must Have Passed USMLE Step 2 CK

IMG Applicants

Must Have Passed USMLE Step 1

Must Have Passed USMLE Step 2 CK

DO Applicants

Must Have Passed COMLEX Level 1

Must Have Passed COMLEX Level 2

Requires the USMLE Step 1 and/or Step 2 CK

Specialty-Specific Standardized Letter Required

Specialty-specific standardized letter requirements

Recommendation Letter Requirements

Total required letters of recommendation (excludes MSPE and Deans letter)

Minimum

3 Letters

Maximum

4 Letters

Required Letter Writers

Program Director

Additional Eligibility Information

Requires Previous GME

Yes

Number of previous GME years required

3 year(s)

Required Supplemental Information

Osteopathic Recognition

Medical School Graduation Timeline

No cap on the number of years.

Gap Experience Requirement

Data not provided by program

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

1:1

Program Faculty

Female Faculty

Faculty Distribution

Physicians (6)

Non-Physicians (--)

Work Environment

Work Schedule

Program Start Dates

July 1

Avg Hours/Week on Duty (During First Year)

65 Hours

Maximum Consecutive Hours on Duty (During First Year)

24 Hours

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

1.00

Program Allows Moonlighting (Beyond PGY-1)

Night Float System

Call Schedule

Most Taxing Schedule & Frequency Per Year

Beeper or Home Call (Weeks / Year)

Year 1 - 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

Year 13

PGY-1 Positions Not Offered

PGY-2 Positions Not Offered

Key Dates & Timelines

2026 - 2027

Program Starts Reviewing Applications

Application service release date

AUG1

Interview Offer Dates

Aug 1, 2026 - Oct 31, 2026

Average PGY-1 Educational Environment

Structured Didactic Activities

4 Hours

Hospital Outpatient

54%

Non-Hospital Ambulatory Care

17%

Employment Policies & Benefits

Free parking

On-call meal allowance

iPads, tablets, etc., or technology allowance

Educational Benefits

Offered

Off-campus electives

Yes

Hospice/home care experience

Yes

Research rotation

Required (4 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

Resident/fellow retreats

MPH, MBA, PhD or other advanced degree training

Tracks & Educational Features

Offered

Primary care track

Yes

Hospitalist track

Yes

Not Offered

Research track/non-accredited fellowship track

Rural track

Women's health track

Academic or clinician educator track

Offers additional training or educational experience beyond accredited length

Evaluations

Program Evaluations

Aggregate resident Milestone achievements

Yes

Graduates board certification pass rates

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

Resident Evaluations

Patient surveys

Yes

Portfolio system

Yes

Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE)

Medical Insurance Coverage

Data not provided by program

Salary Compensation

$41K

Year 4

$40,579

Salary paid by a non-profit institution.

Vacation & Sick Days

Residents receive 28 Vacation Days and 7 Sick Days annually to support work-life balance and personal well-being.

Vacation Days28

Sick Days7

Family & Medical Leave Policy

Maximum # of paid days

7 days

Maximum # of unpaid days

30 days

Quality of Life Information*

Ponce, 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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Damas Hospital Program

About This Program

Program Statistics

Compensation

Types of Graduates

Resident Gender

Contact Information

Program Director

Primary Program Contact

Locations

Application Information

Participates In

Doesn't Participate In

Does not offer open house or second look

U.S. MD Applicants

IMG Applicants

DO Applicants

Total required letters of recommendation (excludes MSPE and Deans letter)

Required Letter Writers

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

PGY-1 Positions Not Offered

PGY-2 Positions Not Offered

Key Dates & Timelines

2026 - 2027

Program Starts Reviewing Applications

Interview Offer Dates

Average PGY-1 Educational Environment

Employment Policies & Benefits

Educational Benefits

Tracks & Educational Features

Evaluations

Medical Insurance Coverage

Data not provided by program

Salary Compensation

Vacation & Sick Days

Quality of Life Information*

Estimated Monthly Costs