About Us

Dominican Hospital (a member of Dignity Health) is a 222-bed facility that offers a wide range of services to residents of California’s Central Coast. With 24/7 emergency care, comprehensive care in cardiac, orthopedics, oncology, women’s and children’s services, we continue to lead the region in medical innovation and excellence in healthcare. 

Comprehensive Care

Dominican offers emergency services and is a Certified Stroke Center and Chest Pain Center. Dominican’s services include the only comprehensive Cancer Center in Santa Cruz County, a Total Joint Replacement program, and advanced neurological and endoscopic services. Dominican regularly receives ‘A’ grades for hospital safety from Leapfrog Group, and has received national recognition for superior patient safety, cardiac care, and stroke treatment from Healthgrades, a leading provider of comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals.

As Santa Cruz County’s heart attack (STEMI) receiving center, Dominican Hospital provides cutting edge cardiac care. The hospital’s heart attack treatment times consistently beat the national average, and the hospital offers two cardiac catheterization labs available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Groundbreaking cardiac procedures at Dominican include the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure, which allows for heart valve replacement without opening a patient’s chest.

Dominican Hospital has forged significant partnerships with area hospitals to bring exceptional care to Santa Cruz County. The hospital offers a level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) through a partnership with Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. Neurosurgery at Dominican is also offered through a partnership with Stanford Health Care.

In The Community

Beyond care inside the hospital, Dominican is dedicated to the health and wellness of the Santa Cruz community.

Community programs include a Mobile Wellness Clinic, a tattoo removal program, and support groups for patients and new mothers. In addition, and in accordance with our mission, Dominican Hospital supports programs for the underserved in our community, including children and adults, students, seniors, and the homeless population. Dominican also has received several awards for environmental excellence.

#RN@DH

PGY-1's Core Rotations are a balanced experience by rotating through the Dominican Hospital AdultMedical Wards including ICU, Cardiology service, Surgery, Acute Rehab Unit, Orthopedics/Sports Medicine and other specialties as appropriate to the learning curriculum. They may be in the L&D, Maternity, Pediatrics for their FMP “continuity” patients.In addition, PGY1s also rotate at Watsonville Community Hospital for inpatient pediatrics and OB/Gyn including the OR and ER. PGY1s spend 1-2half day sessions per week at Santa Cruz Community Health (FQHC) Family Medicine Practice (FMP) continuity clinic managing their own panel of patients as well as Salud Para La Gente (FQHC) in Watsonville for ambulatory pediatrics, OB/Gyn. Community Medicine, Practice Management, Leadership, Addiction Medicine, and research are supported in different institutions affiliated with the Residency. There is no overnight call/night float in PGY1.

Dominican Hospital FMRP participates in the NRMP program in which participants agree to abide by the NRMP match requirements and guidelines

EDUCATION:

• M.D. (Medical Doctor) degree or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) degree from accredited University. \
• Graduate of LCME accredited medical school, AOA accredited osteopathic medical school, or acceptable equivalent medical school (at the discretion of the Residency selection committee and Program Director).
• Interest in post-graduate training in Family Medicine Acceptable performance in medical school as judged by Dean's Letter (“Medical Student Performance Evaluation”), letters of recommendation, transcripts, or other evaluation criteria. Acceptable performance on USMLE or COMLEX licensing examinations (USMLE 1 and 2, COMLEX 1 and 2) or equivalent examination acceptable to the Residency selection committee and Program Director Acceptable score on in-person interview with faculty member.
• Credentials and evaluations verified and acceptable to Program Director Must pass background check, drug screen, health screening examination.
• Must possess appropriate immigration visa (J-1 or H-1b, or an F-1 valid for one additional year beyond student status) or permanent resident status (green card) if not a US citizen

LICENSURE:

California law requires residents to obtain a “Post Graduate Training License (PTL)

https://www.mbc.ca.gov/Licensing/Postgraduate-Training-Licensees/

TRAINING:

No prior residency experience required for first year position. For second year, need to have completed 1 year (12 months) of residency. For third year, need to have completed 2 years (24 months) of residency.