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Graduate Medical Education: How HCA Healthcare is training the next generation of America’s physicians
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After medical students graduate and receive their Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree, the road to practicing medicine continues. Graduate Medical Education (GME) refers to the period of education in a particular specialty (residency) or subspecialty (fellowship) following medical school. HCA Healthcare is the largest sponsor of GME in the United States, committed to educating the next generation of physicians to positively impact communities and the quality of care provided to patients.
HCA Healthcare’s GME program is comprised of over 340 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited programs, more than 5,400 residents and fellows, and 79 teaching hospitals across 16 states.
Last year, HCA Healthcare welcomed 1,846 new residents and fellows to our GME programs for the 2024-2025 academic year. Residents and fellows at HCA Healthcare work with high-quality faculty focused on teaching them to provide high-quality, compassionate care. They spend time within their GME program treating patients in real-world environments across HCA Healthcare’s top-performing hospitals, surgery centers, practices, urgent care centers and free standing emergency rooms.
The United States is expected to face a significant physician shortage, with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projecting a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036. AAMC cited population growth, aging and a significant portion of the physician workforce nearing retirement age as key drivers for the impending national physician shortage.
“HCA Healthcare is continuing to address the critical physician shortage by growing our comprehensive graduate medical education programs,” said Dr. Monique Butler, president of HCA Healthcare’s GME. “We are grateful to our residents and fellows for training alongside of us to preserve our ability to continue delivering high-quality care to the communities we serve.”
HCA Healthcare’s network of teaching hospitals offers a broad spectrum of clinical experience and a range of excellent academic support services such as research, curriculum development and shared didactics.
Did you know? HCA Healthcare was founded by physicians with the intent of creating an environment where healthcare can flourish. By prioritizing physician input, clinical capabilities, growth and innovation, we strive to enable our more than 44,000 active and affiliated physicians to focus more on what they do best: caring for our patients.
Commitment to quality
HCA Healthcare’s dedication to delivering safe, high-quality care extends into every aspect of our organization, including GME. Fortune/PINC AI recognized 36 HCA Healthcare hospitals on its 2024 100 Top Hospitals list. The list is based on an analysis of publicly available Medicare data that reflect measures of clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, patient experience and financial health. Of those hospitals recognized, 18 were teaching HCA Healthcare teaching hospitals.
Dr. Mark McKenney is the director of the Surgery Residency GME program at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital. His Miami-Dade County hospital was recognized as a Top Major Teaching Hospital in 2024 by Fortune/PINC AI. Dr. McKenney remembers the designation only as a vision when he interviewed with the hospital almost 15 years ago. “At the time, there was no trauma center, no burn center and no residency/training programs,” Dr. McKenney said. “So, I decided to jump in and see if I could be a part of this vision.” Today, HCA Florida Kendall Hospital is not only a top-ranking teaching hospital with seven residency programs and one fellowship program, but also a Level I Trauma Center verified by the American College of Surgeons and a Burn Center verified by the American Burn Association. “This has been, professionally, my most rewarding years,” he added.
As the Surgery Residency Program Director, Dr. McKenney works to train the next generation of surgeons. “The top resident applicants in the country look for the best training programs,” he explained. “Being named a Top Teaching Hospital highlights the hospital’s commitment to both the best outcomes and the commitment to patient experience. When the potential residents interview, they get to see our commitment to great outcomes.”
“Surgery residents are very competitive men and women, and all the residents in the country take a competitive ‘in-training exam’ each year. I am proud to say that our HCA Florida Kendall Hospital Surgery Program residents were ranked above the 90th percentile for all surgery programs in the country.”
Mark McKenney, MD, MBA, Surgery Residency Program Director, HCA Florida Kendall Hospital
Dr. McKenney says that our HCA Healthcare’s mission is his daily inspiration: Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life. “Hospital meetings are routinely started by reciting our important mission,” he said. “It’s more than just words. Being centered on the patient outcomes has been my professional goal in life.”
Emphasis on mental health and well-being
In addition to competitive benefits and a care-first culture, residents and fellows across HCA Healthcare experience our commitment to physician well-being through our Physician Wellness Research Lab, developed in partnership with Claremont Graduate University. Colleagues in our Physician Wellness Research Lab collaborate with a team of organizational psychologists and researchers to understand and champion scientifically based approaches to well-being to help residents balance the demands of the job with the resources they need to be successful.
Dr. Greg Guldner, vice president of academic affairs for HCA Healthcare’s GME programs, is a nationally recognized leader in well-being and one of the architects of the Physician Wellness Research Lab. “The research expertise and positive organizational psychology insights provided by the Physician Wellness Research Lab, combined with the robust scale of our GME program, allows for unparalleled research and growth opportunities,” Dr. Guldner shared. “Together, we will be able to help create and foster a future with a focus on well-being for those who have dedicated themselves to the care and improvement of human life.”
Among other work, the lab has conducted three year-long studies of HCA Healthcare residents with a focus on variables such as psychological capital, meaning in work, autonomy supportive leadership, burnout and depression. The Physician Wellness Research Lab also aims to provide resources to increase help-seeking among resident physicians.
Related article: Prioritizing mental health for HCA Healthcare colleagues, patients and communities
To support our residents in the next phase of their clinical education, we are committed to creating a positive work and learning environment. In the 2022-2023 academic year, HCA Healthcare residents and fellows beat the national average on eight of the 12 items on the annual Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Resident and Fellow Well-Being Survey and tied on the other four items. In the 2023-2024 academic year, through our efforts, HCA Healthcare trainees beat the national average on all 12 of the items on ACGME’s well-being survey.
HCA Healthcare was invited to present our approach to creating optimal work and learning environments at several prestigious locations including the ACGME annual conference, the ACGME Symposium on Physician Well-Being, the National Association of DIOs conference, the HERO Foundation Healthcare Summit, the Association for Hospital Medical Educators and the Champions of Wellness Conference at the Mayo Civic Center.
Meet our residents and fellows
Read below to learn how residents and fellows across HCA Healthcare are embracing our mission to care for and improve human life.
Dr. Julia Ceglenski
Family Medicine Resident, Mission Hospital (North Carolina)
Dr. Julia Ceglenski’s passion for helping others and preventative care led her to the Family Medicine Residency program at HCA Healthcare’s Mission Hospital in Ashville, North Carolina. While in her early years of medical school, Dr. Ceglenski took on a leadership role at Saint Louis University’s student-run free clinic, where her experience further solidified her dedication to delivering patient care in a primary care setting.
“Family medicine proved to be one of the best stages for the humanization of medicine to take place,” Dr. Ceglenski said. “These physicians work hard to combat many systemic issues in medicine that I care deeply about, such as lack of access to quality care due to geographic location or financial disadvantage. It inspired me to be part of the solution to the ever-growing national problem of healthcare inequality.”
One of the most significant things Dr. Ceglenski says she has learned throughout her residency is autonomy. “Autonomy as a family medicine physician helps me to feel confident in my skills as a ‘jack of all trades’ so that I can provide high-quality care on a fundamental level,” she said. Through a wide variety of patient encounters, Dr. Ceglenski shared that her comprehensive GME training has prepared her to lead care teams, advocate for her patients and make positive contributions to medicine and healthcare delivery.
As she looks ahead to her future care as a physician, Dr. Ceglenski plans to continue to care for underserved populations through a federally qualified health center. She credits her residency training at Mission Hospital through MAHEC for equipping her with the skills and experience necessary for this next step.
“HCA Healthcare’s mission encompasses much of the same general goals of primary care. It resonates with me because, like all health care providers, family medicine physicians have the incredible opportunity to work with patients during some of the lowest points of a patient’s life, with the goal of restoring them to their former and even better selves using our understandings of medical science and of the patient as an individual.”
Dr. Julia Ceglenski, Family Medicine Resident, Mission Hospital
Did you know? Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC), a community-focused, not-for-profit established more than 40 years ago, serves as the sponsoring institution for graduate medical education at HCA Healthcare’s Mission Health. Collectively, Mission Health and MAHEC provide residents the opportunity to learn and care for patients in North Carolina’s 16 westernmost counties.
Dr. James Sprenger and Dr. Steven Sprenger
Psychiatry Resident and Chief Resident, TriStar Centennial Medical Center (Nashville)
If you page a Dr. Sprenger at TriStar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, you may have two GME residents respond to the call. Dr. James Sprenger and Dr. Steven Sprenger are not only residents in the hospital’s GME program together but also brothers. James is in his first year of the Psychiatry Residency program, and his older brother Steven is the program’s chief resident.
“It feels very natural,” Steven says of working alongside James. “We chose the same classes and studied together in college, but parted ways for our medical training. I am happy to come full circle and share residency together.”
“It has been an incredible experience working in the same program as my brother. Steven is an incredible inspiration to me in so many ways. He is honest, driven, dedicated, curious and compassionate. It was invaluable to me to have the opportunity to learn more about the program from him and thus solidify my choice to rank this program number one. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to be afforded the opportunity to work alongside my brother, as well as all other staff members, towards our mutually shared passion for providing the best possible care.”
Dr. James Sprenger, Psychiatry Resident, TriStar Centennial Medical Center
Both brothers credit HCA Healthcare’s GME at TriStar Centennial for fostering their growth as physicians. “While I have learned a great deal of useful techniques and styles from my various attendings and didactic sessions, I am most pleased with this program’s emphasis on collaboration between residents and other colleagues to foster an appreciation for a more holistic understanding of patient care,” James said. His brother Steven added, “I have learned to approach my patients with humility, and I have learned so much about humanity from them.”
As the brothers navigate their residency, they’re also preparing for their future careers. Steven aims to specialize in pain management from a psychiatric perspective. “The transition to pain medicine from psychiatry is uncommon, but my program allowed me to customize particular experiences to prepare myself for a pain fellowship,” he said. Meanwhile, James envisions a career that includes work in both an inpatient care setting and private practice in the Nashville area. “This program will allow me to better connect with the local healthcare system in which I hope to serve,” he explained.
Dr. Adnan Ahmed
Cardiovascular Disease Fellow, Overland Park Regional Medical Center (Kansas)
Dr. Adnan Ahmed, a cardiovascular disease fellow at HCA Healthcare’s Overland Park Regional Medical Center in Kansas, has always been driven by a passion for helping others. Dr. Ahmed dreamed of becoming a physician growing up in Karachi, Pakistan. “I never saw myself doing anything else,” he shared. “The sense of achievement in helping patients with cardiac conditions is a gratifying experience like no other.”
Dr. Ahmed’s journey in medicine began at Dow Medical College in Pakistan, where he graduated in 2009. His education led him to the United States, where he completed his residency at a Chicago hospital in 2017.
His interest in cardiology grew from the unique sense of fulfillment that comes from treating complex heart conditions—where science and compassion intersect to improve physical health, emotional well-being and quality of life. “Even though cardiology is a specialized field in managing cardiac conditions, I have learned and come to recognize its impact on a person as a whole and its effect on emotional health and physical ability,” Dr. Ahmed said.
As he continues his fellowship, Dr. Ahmed is focused on advancing his expertise and contributing to the medical field through clinical practice and research. “HCA Healthcare has provided me with all the resources to hopefully become a successful cardiologist with great clinical acumen and experience.”
Dr. Timbre Backen
General Surgery Resident, HCA HealthONE Swedish (Colorado)
HCA Healthcare GME resident Dr. Timbre Backen credits a hospital visit for a knee injury at the age of 10 with fueling her passion for healthcare. “I remember being fascinated by the environment – the efficiency of the hospital, the competency of the surgeons, the dedication of the medical team and the profound impact they had on my recovery,” Dr. Backen recalled. “I knew from that point forward that I wanted to be a physician, helping others the way I was helped at that age.”
Dr. Backen’s desire to help others grew during medical school at A.T. Still University and now as a general surgery resident at HCA HealthONE Swedish in Englewood, Colorado. “Residents have the unique privilege of connecting with patients in some of the most vulnerable points in their lives,” she said. “Empathy helps me connect with patients on a deeper level, ensuring they feel heard, supported and cared for. This experience will shape every future interaction I have as a physician.”
As for what is next, Dr. Backen plans to continue her education. “My HCA Healthcare GME attendings were instrumental in my success matching into a trauma and surgical critical care fellowship program,” Dr. Backensaid. She hopes to return to the Denver region to improve lives as a trauma surgeon.
“HCA Healthcare’s mission resonates with me because it encompasses the reasons why I pursued medicine. As a surgical resident, my daily work directly revolves around improving lives, whether it’s treating disease, alleviating pain or providing reassurance in times of uncertainty. This mission reminds me that our work goes beyond procedures to encompass the holistic care of the human spirit.”
Dr. Timbre Backen, General Surgery Resident, HCA HealthONE Swedish
Dr. Luis Angel Castelan
General Surgery Resident, Methodist Hospital (Texas)
Dr. Luis Angel Castelan’s journey into medicine is deeply rooted in his personal experiences as a first-generation Mexican American. Growing up in New York, he often accompanied his mother to her doctor’s appointments, serving as her translator. “For many, going to the doctor’s office is accompanied by stress and uncertainty,” Dr. Luis explained. “For my mom, these emotions were heightened, given the language barrier at the time. Being fluent in Spanish, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in medicine so that I could provide a sense of familiarity to my patients.”
Today, Dr. Castelan recognizes the unique, individual needs of his patients as a general surgery resident within the GME program at HCA Healthcare affiliate Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. “The same diagnosis can look very different depending on a patient’s social determinants of health,” he explained. This understanding has shaped his approach to care, emphasizing empathy and patient-centered treatment. “Understanding this makes it easier to evaluate every case through the lens of empathy, which I believe is crucial to building trust and delivering the best care.” To further his education, Dr. Castelan plans to pursue a fellowship in colorectal surgery.
“As a surgeon, my focus is not just on the technical aspects of performing surgeries but on improving the lives of my patients in a holistic way. HCA Healthcare’s mission serves as a reminder that behind every procedure is a person with unique needs and circumstances, and it’s our responsibility to treat them with the utmost respect, compassion and dedication.”
Dr. Luis Angel Castelan, General Surgery Resident, Methodist Hospital
Dr. Jennifer Grimm
General Surgery Resident, Trident Medical Center (South Carolina)
Dr. Jennifer Grimm, a general surgery resident in HCA Healthcare’s GME program at Trident Medical Center in Charleston, South Carolina, champions a team-based approach to delivering the safest, best possible care to patients. The South Carolina native’s journey to medicine was shaped by a strong interest in science and through a volunteer opportunity at a hospital while in college.
“I was able to speak to many different patients, and I learned about their fears and worries related to their health,” Dr. Grimm said. “I was then able to see how physicians could cure a patient’s underlying disease process while also encouraging and comforting them during their time of need by utilizing a holistic approach to their care.”
Throughout her residency, Dr. Grimm has embraced the collaborative nature of healthcare.
“One of the lessons that I learned early on is that healthcare is a team sport. Physicians play an important role in patient care, but we cannot do it alone. The roles of nurses, nurse techs, pharmacists, environmental services, radiology techs, surgical techs, lab techs, patient transporters, nutrition services, physical therapy or occupational therapy, social workers and many others are critical to patient care. I believe that patients benefit most when physicians collaborate with these providers and work to include them all in the care of their patients.”
Dr. Jennifer Grimm, General Surgery Resident, Trident Medical Center
Dr. Grimm plans to further her education by applying for fellowship opportunities to achieve her goal of becoming a vascular surgeon. Additionally, she envisions a career where she can share her expertise with others. “I see myself one day pursuing the role of a residency or fellowship program director to help encourage and develop future surgeons,” Dr. Ginn shared.
During her time in Trident Medical Center’s GME program, Dr. Grimm has been inspired by the culture of collaboration among colleagues. “I have seen how colleagues at our facility go above and beyond day in and day out to provide the best care for our patients,” she shared. “I have also seen how we show up and care for those working alongside us in times of need. It is wonderful to work in an environment where the welfare of both patients and employees is clearly supported and prioritized.”
Dr. Clay Ginn
Psychiatry Resident, Mission Hospital (North Carolina)
For Dr. Clay Ginn, Hurricane Helene left an impact not only on his personal life but also on his professional life. As a psychiatry resident at HCA Healthcare’s Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, Dr. Ginn had a front-row seat to the resilience of the Western North Carolina community he calls home.
“I was luckily in an area in the River Arts District at a high elevation where I could walk down the street and watch people create art in the face of adversity,” Dr. Ginn shared. Inside Sweeten Creek Mental Health and Wellness Center, Dr. Ginn said staying busy and helping others cope mentally with the aftermath of the hurricane helped him in return. “We, as psychiatrists, are poised and ready to help with the lasting ongoing effects.”
In addition to his patients, Dr. Ginn says the environment that his fellow HCA Healthcare colleagues provided a sense of normalcy amid the storm’s aftermath. “They were able to provide the basic comforts of food and meals,” Dr. Ginn recalled. “Every day, the chef created meals for the staff because they cared about the staff. At a time when many had nothing at home, at Sweeten Creek, everyone was looking after each other. I enjoyed going to work every day and would rather be at work than at home, which is crazy to say. HCA Healthcare made it that way for sure.”
For Dr. Ginn, seeing resiliency in the face of adversity keeps him motivated. From assisting Western North Carolina residents dealing with trauma following Hurricane Helene to helping people work through harmful behaviors or mental conditions, he is continuously amazed by his patients. “It inspires me and gives me hope that there are people who have been through so much and still get up every day and keep trying,” he said.
Dr. Atere Muhammed
Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellow, Overland Park Regional Medical Center (Kansas)
Dr. Atere Muhammed, a clinical cardiac electrophysiology fellow at HCA Healthcare’s Overland Park Regional Medical Center in Kansas, has been deeply interested in medicine since his childhood in Nigeria. Growing up with limited access to healthcare services, he shared that he was inspired to pursue a career where he could make a meaningful impact in people’s lives. This early determination shaped his journey, leading him to the University of Lagos in Nigeria, where he graduated from medical school in 2007, and later to Richmond University Medical Center in New York, where he completed his residency.
Within the Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship program at Overland Park Regional Medical Center, Dr. Muhammed is expanding his knowledge in various cardiac diagnostic imaging and testing, including electrophysiology studies, electrocardiograms (EKG), electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, cardiac stress tests, Holter monitoring and nuclear imaging testing.
Throughout this education, Dr. Muhammed has focused on the human aspect of medicine. He shared that the most significant thing he has learned in his fellowship is compassion for his patient’s concerns and needs. Dr. Muhammed believes that HCA Healthcare’s mission “serves as a motivation to always provide the best care to patients.”
Dr. Stefan Iverson
General Surgery Resident, HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge (Colorado)
Dr. Stefan Iverson’s journey to becoming a general surgery resident at HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge in Colorado began after witnessing a tragic accident. “I was too young at the time to understand and lend resources when I witnessed the drowning of a young girl,” Dr. Iverson shared. “As a result of that unfortunate event, I felt a God-given desire to help heal people and discovered my calling to medicine. For some time, I struggled with the thought that something bad had to happen for my interest in healing others to transpire. Over time, I have pondered the circumstances that brought me to my vocation, but with a different perspective. Because of that little girl’s death, I am unequivocally motivated to bring healing out of others’ poor circumstances by pursuing the life of a general surgeon.”
Dr. Iverson’s passion was solidified during his years at the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Iverson shared that the most significant lesson he’s learned during his residency at HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge is the profound vulnerability of patients. “In the operating room and on the surgical ward, I have witnessed patients at their most vulnerable – entrusting their well-being to the hands of a team of strangers,” Dr. Iverson said. This experience has instilled in him a deep sense of responsibility to honor that trust with compassion and integrity.
As he looks to the future, Dr. Iverson envisions himself joining a well-respected general surgery group within a well-respected hospital system, providing a broad spectrum of care while maintaining excellent surgical outcomes. “HCA Healthcare’s GME program has competently prepared me towards achieving these goals by cultivating long-lasting relationships with distinguished surgeons who are eager to reach residents, prioritize resident wellness and ensure a broad variety of surgical subspecialties in addition to extensive bread and butter general surgery experience.”
“The privilege of making a tangible difference in someone’s health and well-being, whether through surgery or patient care, motivates me daily. It’s a constant reminder that our work goes beyond medicine—it’s about honoring the trust patients place in us as we strive to enhance their quality of life in meaningful ways.”
Dr. Stefan Iverson, General Surgery Resident, HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge
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About HCA Healthcare
HCA Healthcare, one of the nation's leading providers of healthcare services, is comprised of 190 hospitals and more than 2,400 ambulatory sites of care, in 20 states and the United Kingdom. Our more than 300,000 colleagues are connected by a single purpose — to give patients healthier tomorrows.
As an enterprise, we recognize the significant responsibility we have as a leading healthcare provider within each of the communities we serve, as well as the opportunity we have to improve the lives of the patients for whom we are entrusted to care. Through the compassion, knowledge and skill of our caregivers, and our ability to leverage our scale and innovative capabilities, HCA Healthcare is in a unique position to play a leading role in the transformation of care.
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