Mercy Health will once again train pediatric medical residents in its emergency rooms, clinics and on the inpatient units at Mercy Health – Children’s Hospital. Beginning July 1, four first year pediatric medical residents will begin their training with Mercy Health physicians and specialists.
This is the 12th medical residency or fellowship program offered at Mercy Health – Toledo facilities and the only pediatric residency program within Mercy Health system. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), an independent organization that sets and monitors the professional educational standards essential in preparing physicians to deliver safe, high-quality medical care. By the year 2019, there will be a total of 12 pediatric residents at Mercy Health, four in each residency year.
“We are pleased to once again offer pediatric residents another place to train in Northwest Ohio. For nearly 123 years, Mercy Health has been committed to graduate medical education and training future generations of physicians and healthcare professionals,” said Dr. Randall Schlievert, vice president of academic affairs for Mercy Health – Toledo. “Mercy Health has long recognized the importance of medical residency programs to the quality of care—and the quality of life—in this community.”
Medical education began in Northwest Ohio in 1894 when Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center offered the first medical internship program in surgery. Today, Mercy Health offers residency programs in the following areas: emergency medicine, family medicine, family medicine, OB/GYN, orthopedics, podiatry, general surgery, internal medicine, hospice and palliative care fellowship, neuroendovascular fellowship, cardiology fellowship and transitional year.
“We understand the importance of offering a strong place for medical residents to work and learn,” Dr. Schlievert said. “Our physicians have a passion for teaching the next generation of caregivers. Their contributions in this area will be felt in this community for years to come.”
Sherri Thomas, M.D., pediatrician, will serve as program director for the residency program. Dr. Thomas has been a practicing pediatrician in the area for more than 20 years. Dr. Thomas trained at the former Medical College of Ohio’s pediatric residency program and completed a behavior and development fellowship at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She has a longstanding clinical presence at Mercy Health and Wood County Hospital.