VA Caribbean Healthcare System Program
San Juan, PRLast Updated: 2/19/2026
About This Program
Program Length
1 Year
First Year Positions
2 Positions
Application Deadline
Nov 13, 2025
Avg Work Hours
40 Hours/Week
Program Setting
Community
Application Service
ERAS
Program Statistics
Contact Information
Program Director
Patricia Fernandez-Hawa, MD
VA Caribbean Healthcare System
Primary Program Contact
Emilio Gonzalez-Alicea
VA Caribbean Healthcare System
Survey Received: 11/19/2025
Program ID: 5204214001
Locations
Norwalk Hospital
34 Maple St
Norwalk, CT 06856
University District Hospital
Po Box 2116
San Juan, PR 00922
Application Information
Applicant Interview Format
Hybrid
Interviews Conducted Last Year
5 Interviews
Interviews/First Year Positions
2.5:1
Participates In
Advanced or Fellowship Match of NRMP
Code: 3012520F0
ERAS®
Yes
Doesn't Participate In
- Main Match of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)
- San Francisco Match
- Military Match
- Urology Match
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
Total required letters of recommendation (excludes MSPE and Dean's letter)
Minimum
1 Letters
Maximum
3 Letters
Required specialty-specific letters of evaluation within total letters of recommendation
- Specialty-specific standardized letter(s) of evaluation
- Letter(s) from someone within the specialty (e.g., faculty, attending)
Requires Previous GME
Yes
Number of previous GME years required
3 year(s)
Offers Preliminary Positions
No
Required Specialty-Specific Away Rotations
Yes, Minimum 1, Maximum 2
Required Supplemental Information
No
Osteopathic Recognition
No
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
1.5:1
Program Faculty
4
Female Faculty
50%
Faculty Distribution
Physicians (4)
Non-Physicians (--)
Work Environment
Program Start Dates
July 1
Avg Hours/Week on Duty (During First Year)
40 Hours
Maximum Consecutive Hours on Duty (During First Year)
12 Hours
Avg Number of 24 Hour Off Duty Periods Per Week (During First Year)
--
Program Allows Moonlighting (Beyond PGY-1)
Yes
Night Float System
No
Most Taxing Schedule & Frequency Per Year
Beeper or Home Call (Weeks / Year)
Year 1 - Other
26
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
No
H-1B visa
No
F-1 visa (OPT 1st year)
No
Program Size
2
Current Residents
PGY-1s2
Key Dates & Timelines
2026 - 2027
NOV13
Application Due
Nov 13, 2025
AUG1
Interview Period Starts
Aug 1, 2025 - Nov 13, 2025
2027 - 2028
NOV6
Application Due
Nov 6, 2026
AUG1
Interview Period Starts
Aug 1, 2026 - Nov 13, 2026
Average PGY-1 Educational Environment
Structured Didactic Activities
6
Hospital Outpatient
N/A
Non-Hospital Ambulatory Care
N/A
Employment Policies & Benefits
Free parking
Educational Benefits
Research rotation
Required (4 wks)
Integrative medicine curriculum
No
Curriculum to develop health systems leadership skills (e.g., QI project leadership, community/organizational advocacy)
No
Formal program to foster interprofessional teamwork
No
Instruction in medical Spanish or other non-English language
No
Alternative/complementary medicine curriculum
No
Economics of health care systems curriculum
No
Debt management/financial counseling
No
Academic support for USMLE Step 3 and/or COMLEX-USA Level 3 preparation
No
International experience/global health
No
Resident/fellow retreats
No
Off-campus electives
No
Hospice/home care experience
No
MPH, MBA, PhD or other advanced degree training
No
Tracks & Educational Features
Data not provided by program
Evaluations
Aggregate resident Milestone achievements
Yes
Graduates’ board certification pass rates
Yes
Performance-based assessment scores (e.g. OSCE, patient or computer simulations)
No
Patient surveys
No
Portfolio system
Yes
Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE)
No
Medical Insurance Coverage
Data not provided by program
Salary Compensation
$0
PGY-1
PGY-1
$0
Salary paid by a non-profit institution.
Vacation & Sick Days
Vacation Days--
Sick Days--
Maximum # of paid days
45 days
Maximum # of unpaid days
0 days
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
--
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