Florida Hospital East Orlando (see more articles like this)

Nearly 800 prospective medical students have applied to join the first class at the University of Central Florida’s College of Medicine.  Florida Hospital received more than 400 applications for the inaugural class of the Emergency Medicine Residency Program at Florida Hospital East Orlando. Despite surveys that point to an inevitable decline in doctors statewide, Florida Hospital and members of the Orlando medical community are doing what they can to reverse that trend and continue to establish Orlando as a leading medical destination.

“The level of interest and the number of applications is a strong indicator of the number of people who want to stay here to learn and then to serve and work in our community.  We find that to be very exciting,” said Dr. Dale Birenbaum, director of the Emergency Medicine Residency Program.

Last December, Florida Hospital and Florida Emergency Physicians, P.A., (FEP), announced a new Emergency Medicine Residency Program at Florida Hospital East Orlando.  After an intensive interview process, the six residents who were selected spent their first day working with patients on June 30, 2008. 

This new residency program will make local training slots available to University of Central Florida’s College of Medicine graduates and will also become a means to recruit and retain the best Emergency Medicine doctors in Central Florida. 

"It's exciting to be a part of a new program especially with a new medical school that's opening in the area.  That opens up potential to become faculty and continue to the academic realm too," said resident Michele Rorich.

Historically, more than 50 percent of Florida Hospital residents go into practice in the Central Florida community.  Already several of these new residents have expressed an interest in making Central Florida their home. 

Florida Hospital has the largest family practice residency program in Florida and one of the largest programs in the nation. Florida Hospital currently operates residencies in Allopathic Family Medicine, Osteopathic Family Medicine including Neuro-Musculoskeletal Medicine, Podiatry, and General Surgery, as well as fellowships in Geriatrics, Obstetrics, Minimally Invasive Surgery, and Gynecologic Oncology.