Testimonials From Our Residents

Why did you choose to come to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for your transitional year? What are the strengths of the program?

"I loved spending my intern year at Newton-Wellesley Hospital and I would make the same choice all over again. You will not find a more supportive group of individuals that will not only help you survive but thrive during intern year. My class was not only a group of phenomenal individuals, but also amazing teammates and friends. I expected to work hard during intern year but I had no idea how much I would enjoy it and it is 100% because of the amazing people at NWH. It is a truly unique program in that you get a very well-rounded experience. In my opinion it is the only true transitional year program in the Boston area. I felt capable in both medicine and surgery by the end of my year at NWH and had exposure to the ED, urgent care, and ample elective opportunities. The quality of teaching is excellent and I felt the attendings were eager to teach and engage residents. I always felt that there was someone available to help guide my clinical decisions to enable me to provide great clinical care. Overall, Newton-Wellesley is an amazing place to learn and start a medical career. My advice to applicants is that it should be your number one choice for intern year.”

"I'm going into radiology, and for my intern year I was specifically interested in a transitional program that offered the right balance between surgery and medicine. I also wanted to have the feeling at the end of the year that I had survived intern year. Newton-Wellesley provides both. In addition, the attendings and senior residents are incredibly friendly and totally committed to our learning, and I couldn't have asked for a better class of co-interns!"

"I chose a transitional year because I wanted a year that would provide experience in both medicine and surgery. Most transitional years have an abundance of one or the other. NWH, however, offers an almost even split. Another benefit of this program is the close-knit community hospital feel with the benefit of being affiliated with MGH. As such, the program is laid back while providing excellent educational opportunities. Finally, the faculty is amazing. I can't even imagine having more supportive attendings on every service. They really care about our well-being and education."

"I chose to spend my preliminary year at Newton-Wellesley Hospital because I wanted to work in a friendly, close-knit community hospital where I felt like I would truly get to know people and the place in my limited time there. I also wanted to be in a location that prioritizes the resident experience in terms of education, community, and lifestyle. Newton-Wellesley Hospital has met and exceeded all of my expectations, and I will surely look back on this year as a fabulous choice for the start of my residency."

"I chose NWH because I was looking for a smaller community hospital but still with some of the rigor (but definitely not all of it) of a large academic center. I feel like NWH is the perfect mix of both these things; the upper level residents and attendings are extremely knowledgeable and interested in teaching, but at the same time super nice as well. I definitely am very fortunate that I get to spend my TY here, training under such talented physicians and building the strong base I desire for the rest of my residency."

"I chose NWH based on its location and its culture. Its location is ideal: Newton is close enough to Boston/Cambridge that it is a manageable commute, but it also is a great option for people who want to avoid the city. Culturally, the hospital is rooted in academic medicine with its affiliation with MGH. However, NWH is much more manageable than other large, academic medical centers (smaller campus, smaller teams, smaller patient census, etc.). I wanted an intern year that would give me a solid foundation in medicine and NWH has done that without causing burn out. Finally, its affiliation with Partners comes with benefits, including a great salary as well as excellent healthcare options."

"I love the community atmosphere at NWH. The environment is warm and friendly and education is offered in a setting that truly fosters learning."

"I was really excited to be part of the Newton-Wellesley Hospital transitional year program for my intern year. The balance of excellent academic medicine and friendly staff throughout the whole hospital makes it a great place to come to work and the feeling is infectious. The opportunity to rotate through so many departments of the hospital allows for a unique experience. In just one year, this provides us with an understanding of how a hospital works and how the role of a physician plays a part in successful treatment of a large variety of patients."

“At NWH, interns get exposure to a wide range of pathology and get to work with excellent attendings and residents. There is significant exposure to common disorders found in the community setting.”

“I love that NWH has high-quality colleagues, administration, and faculty. They are approachable, willing to help out, work as a team, and are highly intelligent.”

"Reflecting back on my time at Newton-Wellesley Hospital is a surprisingly difficult task. For as many hours as I spent on the wards, in the ICU, ED, and everywhere in between, the thing that I remember most strongly is not the number of admissions I did, or the numbers of hours I logged, but the wonderful people who make up the NWH family. NWH is a very tight-knit community; you’ll find that by the end of your first month, you have formed relationships with a large chunk of the attendings in the hospital, and by the end of six months, everyone feels like family. There is a culture here of teaching—not only in formal didactics but in brief chalk talks and free moments. This is the hospital where people always wave and say ‘hey’ in the hallways. It’s the hospital where you never find yourself paying for a meal. It’s the hospital where you know that everyone from your co-residents to the pharmacy staff to the attendings all have your back. You will no doubt work hard and spend many difficult hours here, but you will be amazed at how fast you grow, and how proud others are to watch you do so. And a year later, when you look back, what you’ll really remember are the amazing people at NWH who helped make this happen."