The “integrated” in Phoenix Integrated Surgical Residency comes from the fact that it needed to be integrated with a fully approved three or four year program per the American Board of Surgery. Basic science instruction was included in the resident education plan since the residency was not affiliated with a medical school or university; the program instead was affiliated with the Phoenix VA Hospital and U.S. Public Health Service Indian Hospital (PIMC) for a more diverse patient population exposure. Older patients with more malignant and chronic conditions were seen at the VA, while women, children and traumas were covered at PIMC. A committee was then formed with surgeons from all three sites to maintain close integration of the three hospitals in the residency program. Below is a letter from David C. James, MD, one of the founders, defending the integrated program.
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