HCA Healthcare/Mercer University School of Medicine Program
Summerville, SCLast Updated: 2/19/2026
About This Program
Program Length
1 Year
First Year Positions
13 Positions
Application Deadline
Nov 1, 2025
Avg Work Hours
70 Hours/Week
Program Setting
Community
Application Service
ERAS
Program Statistics
Contact Information
Program Director
Dennis T Besong, MD, MBA
HCA Healthcare/Mercer University School
Primary Program Contact
Laurin A Largin, MD
HCA Healthcare/Mercer University School
Survey Received: 7/16/2025
Program ID: 9994500002
Locations
HCA Healthcare/Mercer University School of Medicine
Po Box 23089
Savannah, GA 31404
Fetter Healthcare Network-Charleston
51 Nassau St
Charleston, SC 29403
Application Information
Applicant Interview Format
Virtual
Interviews Conducted Last Year
130 Interviews
Interviews/First Year Positions
10:1
Participates In
Main Match of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)
Code: 2329999P0
ERAS®
Yes
Doesn't Participate In
- Advanced or Fellowship Match of 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
--
Must Have Passed Step 1
Yes
Must Have Passed Step 2
Yes
Total required letters of recommendation (excludes MSPE and Dean's letter)
Minimum
3 Letters
Maximum
4 Letters
Required specialty-specific letters of evaluation within total letters of recommendation
- Letter(s) from someone within the specialty (e.g., faculty, attending)
Requires Previous GME
No
Offers Preliminary Positions
No
Required Specialty-Specific Away Rotations
No
Required Supplemental Information
No
Osteopathic Recognition
No
Medical School Graduation Timeline
Graduation from medical school must have occurred within the past 3 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: Clinical experience in the US
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
0.5:1
Program Faculty
12
Female Faculty
0%
Faculty Distribution
Physicians (11)
Non-Physicians (1)
Work Environment
Program Start Dates
July 1
Avg Hours/Week on Duty (During First Year)
70 Hours
Maximum Consecutive Hours on Duty (During First Year)
28 Hours
Avg Number of 24 Hour Off Duty Periods Per Week (During First Year)
1.00
Program Allows Moonlighting (Beyond PGY-1)
No
Night Float System
Yes
Most Taxing Schedule & Frequency Per Year
Beeper or Home Call (Weeks / Year)
Year 1 - Once per week for 4 week(s)
4
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
Yes
H-1B visa
Yes
F-1 visa (OPT 1st year)
Yes
Program Size
13
Current Residents
PGY-1s13
Key Dates & Timelines
2026 - 2027
NOV1
Application Due
Nov 1, 2025
OCT1
Interview Period Starts
Oct 1, 2025 - Feb 1, 2026
Average PGY-1 Educational Environment
Structured Didactic Activities
4
Hospital Outpatient
N/A
Non-Hospital Ambulatory Care
15%
Employment Policies & Benefits
Free parking
On-call meal allowance
iPads, tablets, etc., or technology allowance
Educational Benefits
Debt management/financial counseling
Yes
Off-campus electives
Yes
Research rotation
Not available
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
Academic support for USMLE Step 3 and/or COMLEX-USA Level 3 preparation
No
International experience/global health
No
Resident/fellow retreats
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
No
Performance-based assessment scores (e.g. OSCE, patient or computer simulations)
Yes
Patient surveys
Yes
Portfolio system
Yes
Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE)
Yes
Medical Insurance Coverage
- Major medical for residents
- Major medical for dependents
- Major medical for domestic partners
- Outpatient mental health
- Inpatient mental health
- Group life insurance
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Disability insurance for HIV
--
Salary Compensation
$63k
PGY-1
PGY-1
$62,566
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
Maximum # of paid days
42 days
Maximum # of unpaid days
NGO
For more information, view the program's leave policy on their website.
Quality of Life Information*
Summerville, SC
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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