Internal Medicine Pediatrics Residency

/ Internal Medicine Pediatrics Residency

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The Corewell Health – Grand Rapids/Michigan State University Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency program is designed to prepare you for a career either as a primary care physician or to provide you with a foundation for subspecialty training. We are a four-year program, accepting four residents annually. Upon completion, residents will be board-eligible in both internal medicine and pediatrics and well-equipped to sit for board-certifying examinations in each area.

Our program is ACGME accredited and our board pass rate is above national average on both the American Board of Internal Medicine and American Board of Pediatrics certifying examination. We offer residents robust training experience in both community and academic hospital settings, including complex/rare conditions.

Our program, your future

Resident retreat

Our residency is a tight-knit, warm, and supportive community, fully integrated into our categorical programs. Each year we have a retreat that is the highlight of the year for the residents and their families.

Group shot of Internal Medicine Pediatric Residents at a retreat

Mission work

Mission work is very important to Dr. Switzer, internal medicine/pediatrics program director. Yearly, he goes on a trip to Guatemala and encourages residents to join. Additionally, pediatrics attendings regularly go on trips to Haiti and residents are encouraged to set up any international rotations they are interested in. Here are some pictures from our Guatemala trip:

Internal Medicine Pediatric Residents on a trip to Guatemala

Got questions?

We understand you may have many questions about our program and our hospital. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers. For more information, reach out to our program coordinators, Pam Hritzkowin or Kristyn McCarthy.

Resident retreat

Mission work

Got questions?

Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency program has a long-standing testimony to our commitment to academic excellence and achievement. Our residents are fully integrated into both our Internal Medicine and Pediatric programs but have a unique identity as Med/Peds residents in the hospital.

Read our program aims.
One-third of our program graduates have completed fellowships in subspecialties, such as adolescent medicine, infectious disease, rheumatology, adult and pediatric hematology/oncology, cardiology ,and more.
Our board pass is above the national average on both certifying examinations.
Corewell Health in West Michigan has a highly reputable med/peds presence in the community.
We offer robust training experience in both community and academic hospital settings, including world-class facilities and strong research support.

Curriculum

The shaded areas of the sample schedule represent pediatric rotations and non-shaded areas represent internal medicine rotations. Electives are resident selected, based on area of interest.

Didactics

MKSAP and PREP review sessions
Monthly med/peds lectures
Monthly journal clubs in both internal medicine and pediatrics programs
Weekly grand rounds in both internal medicine and pediatrics programs
Annual Research Day highlighting resident scholarly activities

Numerous monthly multispecialty boards such as lung cancer, tumor, pediatric neuroradiology

Teaching and supervision of Michigan State University medical students

Quality & safety committees for both hospitals

Morning report

Morbidity & mortality conferences

Procedure skills labs/sim labs

We accept applications through ERAS only. The NRMP code for our program is 2077700CO. The application deadline for an internship starting June 2025 is December 1, 2024.

Application statement

The residency application landscape has evolved, with virtual interviews removing travel barriers. However, this has led to an influx of applications, straining review resources. To ensure fair evaluations and maximize opportunities for all applicants, we recommend limiting applications to 20 programs. Additionally, including a tailored paragraph expressing interest in our program can aid in assessing genuine interest amidst a large applicant pool. We’re dedicated to facilitating a fair and successful process, and we appreciate your collaboration in achieving this goal.

If you have any questions about the program or the application process, contact our program coordinators, Pam Hritzkowin and Kristyn McCarthy.

Required application materials for US medical school graduates are as follows:

Three letters of recommendation in support of your application from faculty with whom you have worked
Dean's letter (MSPE) from your medical school
Personal statement
Curriculum vitae
Official medical school transcript(s)
Must pass Step 1 on the first attempt
Must score 220 or higher on Step 2 on the first attempt
USMLE Step 2 exam scores must be received prior to rank deadline to be considered for ranking
DO applicants may submit COMLEX scores in lieu of USMLE

Required application materials for international medical graduates are as follows:

Three letters of recommendation in support of your application from faculty with whom you have worked
Dean's letter (MSPE) from your medical school
Personal statement
Curriculum vitae
ECFMG certification
USMLE Steps 1 and 2 – 220 or higher on Step I and Step II on the first attempt
No failed scores on any USMLE Step exam
Six weeks of US clinical experience, an observership does not count toward this clinical requirement
All candidates must possess U.S. work authorization or be eligible for J-1 status

Visiting learners

All visiting medical student applications must be submitted through the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities program. For more information on visiting medical student opportunities, please visit our Visiting Learner page.

Corewell Health in West Michigan provides a comprehensive and very competitive benefits package for our residents, staff, and their families. In addition, our program provides educational monies to support your ongoing education. Download our salary and benefits document to learn more.

From the program director

It's about you! Development and discovery are the fundamental forces behind the Corewell Health – Grand Rapids/Michigan State University Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency program at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. We strive to create an educational atmosphere where medical knowledge is learned, patient management skills are honed, and discovery of your calling is revealed.

Our program began in 1985 in response to a desire of medical students to obtain a significant depth and breadth of training that would allow for a number of career options ranging from primary care to fellowship training. We found that many fourth-year medical students have not decided on a career path or changed their plans in the first several years of residency. Therefore, we structured our curriculum to allow for broad exposure early in training, so that you can work with hospitalists, subspecialists as well as outpatient primary care med/peds physicians. The educational experience is also enhanced by the diverse populations we serve. The clinic population is a range of patients of Hispanic, African American, and European descent. Residents also rotate through private med/peds offices in suburban practices.

Grand Rapids, Michigan has long been known as a family-friendly place to live. Activities abound. Cultural activities include: theater, symphony, and ballet. Lake Michigan beaches are an average of 30 minutes away. My favorite is the 60-minute drive to the Breslin Center in East Lansing to watch Coach Izzo and the MSU Spartan basketball team - hopefully to another final-four appearance.

It has been a pleasure for me to serve as the med/peds program director since 1991. Our residents come from a wide variety of backgrounds and have chosen a variety of careers including: primary care, hospitalist, fellowship training, international medicine, underserved urban medicine, and missionary medicine. Ultimately, it is about you! Come take a closer look at us and let us help you discover who you are and what you can become.

Richard Switzer,
MD program director

Our shared commitments

Image of doctors and nurses walking with each other

Resident and Fellow DEI

Learn more about our promise to foster and advance inclusion and diversity.

Resident and Fellow Wellness

Learn more about our commitment to the holistic wellness of our residents and fellows.

Viewing lab results through a microscope

Scholarly Activity Support

Clinical research is paramount in the discovery of new treatments, therapies, and medicine.

Resident and Fellow DEI

Learn more about our promise to foster and advance inclusion and diversity.

Resident and Fellow Wellness

Learn more about our commitment to the holistic wellness of our residents and fellows.

Scholarly Activity Support

Clinical research is paramount in the discovery of new treatments, therapies, and medicine.

Resident and Fellow DEI

Learn more about our promise to foster and advance inclusion and diversity.

Resident and Fellow Wellness

Learn more about our commitment to the holistic wellness of our residents and fellows.

Scholarly Activity Support

Clinical research is paramount in the discovery of new treatments, therapies, and medicine.

Resident and Fellow DEI

Learn more about our promise to foster and advance inclusion and diversity.

Resident and Fellow Wellness

Learn more about our commitment to the holistic wellness of our residents and fellows.

Scholarly Activity Support

Clinical research is paramount in the discovery of new treatments, therapies, and medicine.

Explore West Michigan

Food, entertainment, and shopping

Food: Release your inner foodie exploring one of the top food cities in the US.

Entertainment: From zoos and museums to festivals and art, there is a new experience around every corner.

Shopping: West Michigan has a diverse assortment of shops for everyone.

Outdoors and sustainability

Outdoors: With trails, lakes and more, there is so much of West Michigan to explore.

Sustainability: Located along the shore of Lake Michigan, West Michigan has many initiatives to protect our natural resources.

Resources

Identities matter and so do you! Our residency and fellowship programs offer social activities, wellness programs, and a diversity council to foster respect, personal health, and community.

Internal medicine/pediatrics residency bios

Meet Our Residents

Get to Know Our Graduates

Program Director

Richard Switzer, MD

Internal medicine and pediatrics

Residency: Corewell Health - Butterworth Campus

Richard Switzer, MD

Internal medicine and pediatrics

Residency: Corewell Health - Butterworth Campus

Richard Switzer, MD

Internal medicine and pediatrics

Residency: Corewell Health - Butterworth Campus

Richard Switzer, MD

Internal medicine and pediatrics

Residency: Corewell Health - Butterworth Campus

Associate Program Directors

Lisa Lowery, MD

Adolescent medicine

Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University
Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University

David Tiesma, MD

Internal medicine and pediatrics

Residency: Spectrum Health/Michigan State University

Lisa Lowery, MD

Adolescent medicine

Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University
Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University

David Tiesma, MD

Internal medicine and pediatrics

Residency: Spectrum Health/Michigan State University

Lisa Lowery, MD

Adolescent medicine

Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University
Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University

David Tiesma, MD

Internal medicine and pediatrics

Residency: Spectrum Health/Michigan State University

Lisa Lowery, MD

Adolescent medicine

Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University
Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University

David Tiesma, MD

Internal medicine and pediatrics

Residency: Spectrum Health/Michigan State University

Core faculty

Meet our Med/Peds Teaching Faculty

Anacleto Diaz, MD

Internal medicine

Residency: St. John Hospital and Medical Center

Callie Kilpatrick, MD

Pediatrics

Residency: Hackensack University Medical Center

Anacleto Diaz, MD

Internal medicine

Residency: St. John Hospital and Medical Center

Callie Kilpatrick, MD

Pediatrics

Residency: Hackensack University Medical Center

Anacleto Diaz, MD

Internal medicine

Residency: St. John Hospital and Medical Center

Callie Kilpatrick, MD

Pediatrics

Residency: Hackensack University Medical Center

Anacleto Diaz, MD

Internal medicine

Residency: St. John Hospital and Medical Center

Callie Kilpatrick, MD

Pediatrics

Residency: Hackensack University Medical Center

PGY 1

Ciara Brennan, MD

Central Michigan University

Jordan Murman, MD

University of Nebraska

Maxwell Olson, MD

Western Michigan University

Jenna Slone, MD

University of Cincinnati

Ciara Brennan, MD

Central Michigan University

Jordan Murman, MD

University of Nebraska

Maxwell Olson, MD

Western Michigan University

Jenna Slone, MD

University of Cincinnati

Ciara Brennan, MD

Central Michigan University

Jordan Murman, MD

University of Nebraska

Maxwell Olson, MD

Western Michigan University

Jenna Slone, MD

University of Cincinnati

Ciara Brennan, MD

Central Michigan University

Jordan Murman, MD

University of Nebraska

Maxwell Olson, MD

Western Michigan University

Jenna Slone, MD

University of Cincinnati

PGY 2

Abigale Oltman, MD

University of Nebraska

Mauli Patel, MD

Wayne State University

James Southard, MD

Western Michigan University

Bradley Wilson, MD

University of Cincinnati

Abigale Oltman, MD

University of Nebraska

Mauli Patel, MD

Wayne State University

James Southard, MD

Western Michigan University

Bradley Wilson, MD

University of Cincinnati

Abigale Oltman, MD

University of Nebraska

Mauli Patel, MD

Wayne State University

James Southard, MD

Western Michigan University

Bradley Wilson, MD

University of Cincinnati

Abigale Oltman, MD

University of Nebraska

Mauli Patel, MD

Wayne State University

James Southard, MD

Western Michigan University

Bradley Wilson, MD

University of Cincinnati

PGY 3

Rebecca Koopman, MD

Wayne State University

Jackson Mesick, DO

Touro University

Gabriel Tallent, MD

Western Michigan University

Grace Tsaloff, MD

Michigan State University

Rebecca Koopman, MD

Wayne State University

Jackson Mesick, DO

Touro University

Gabriel Tallent, MD

Western Michigan University

Grace Tsaloff, MD

Michigan State University

Rebecca Koopman, MD

Wayne State University

Jackson Mesick, DO

Touro University

Gabriel Tallent, MD

Western Michigan University

Grace Tsaloff, MD

Michigan State University

Rebecca Koopman, MD

Wayne State University

Jackson Mesick, DO

Touro University

Gabriel Tallent, MD

Western Michigan University

Grace Tsaloff, MD

Michigan State University

PGY 4

Kristina Byers-Spencer, MD

Western Michigan University

Paige Cassidy, MD

Indiana University

Matthew Hollowell, MD

Indiana University

Katie Lomeo, MD

Wright State University

Culinary medicine scholar

Kristina Byers-Spencer, MD

Western Michigan University

Paige Cassidy, MD

Indiana University

Matthew Hollowell, MD

Indiana University

Katie Lomeo, MD

Wright State University

Culinary medicine scholar

Kristina Byers-Spencer, MD

Western Michigan University

Paige Cassidy, MD

Indiana University

Matthew Hollowell, MD

Indiana University

Katie Lomeo, MD

Wright State University

Culinary medicine scholar

Kristina Byers-Spencer, MD

Western Michigan University

Paige Cassidy, MD

Indiana University

Matthew Hollowell, MD

Indiana University

Katie Lomeo, MD

Wright State University

Culinary medicine scholar

Ready to apply?

Review the “Application Requirements” tab on the program page to learn more about the application process.

Apply Now