UF Health Central Florida to create internal residency program

UF Health Central Florida announced Tuesday that it will establish an internal residency program at UF Health The Villages® Hospital, an important step in training the next generation of health care providers.

Kevin Behrns, M.D., chief medical officer for UF Health Central Florida, said the general internal medicine residency program is slated to welcome its first class of residents in July 2024, and will eventually include 40 to 50 residents at the hospital. The program is the first initiative in expanding the UF Health education mission in The Villages and will create physician training opportunities to meet the increasing demand for primary care physicians in the region.

UF Health officials expect to have a residency program director in place by spring, and that director will immediately begin work to develop the plan for resident rotations and training.

The new residents will help advance health care and wellness services for The Villages, which seeks to become America’s “healthiest hometown.” Behrns said physician trainees in the hospital environment will bring energy, enthusiasm and curiosity while raising the standard of care for patients, and ultimately, influencing residents’ access to high-quality medical care in the region.

UF Health Central Florida hospitals include UF Health The Villages® Hospital and UF Health Leesburg Hospital, inpatient rehabilitation services at UF Health The Villages® Rehabilitation Hospital, adult inpatient psychiatric services at the UF Health Leesburg Hospital Senior Behavioral Health Center and diagnostic laboratory services at several locations.