Scripps Mercy Internal Medicine Residency

Broad-based internal medicine training in San Diego

Members of the Scripps Mercy Internal Medicine Residency program gather for a photo.

Broad-based internal medicine training in San Diego

The Internal Medicine Residency Program at Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego provides outstanding clinical training for future internists, hospitalists and subspecialists.


Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego is the primary clinical education site for more than 50 residents annually from several GME programs. These include the internal medicine, transitional year, pharmacy and podiatric medicine residency programs. We’re also a secondary training site for residents from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD); Kaiser Permanente San Diego; Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista; Family Health Centers of San Diego; and the Naval Medical Center.


Located minutes from downtown San Diego, Scripps Mercy provides care to people from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Our curriculum provides a solid educational foundation with exceptional didactics and a culture that promotes professional growth and autonomy. In the inpatient setting, residents train in a busy, high-acuity environment with ample exposure to complex cases and pathology. Our outpatient experience combines core subspecialty clinics, private offices and a true continuity clinic, where residents manage their own panel of primary care patients over the course of three years.


Scripps Mercy’s department of medical education, faculty and hospital administration are committed to resident education and success. Our graduates are superbly trained and well-equipped for future careers in internal medicine. Residents have successfully matched into competitive fellowships in a variety of internal medicine subspecialties and landed competitive jobs in Southern California and across the country.

Please note: Some of the footage and images in this video were taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Scripps is currently following all CDC guidelines, and has implemented special protocols, to keep our facilities safe for our patients and staff. Read more about our precautions or watch the video

Program highlights

Message from the program director

Message from the program director

Our director summarizes how the internal medicine residency program at Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego offers trainees an exceptional experience.

Photo of Paul Han, MD, the program director for Scripps Mercy Internal Medicine Residency in San Diego.

Training sites

Residents complete their inpatient internal medicine training at Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego. Our continuity and core subspecialty clinics are housed across the street at Hillcrest Family Health Centers. We also offer rotations at the San Ysidro Maternal and Child Health Center, and support Audition/Away rotations.

Curriculum, rotations and didactics

Learn more about the comprehensive clinical and didactic experiences we offer our internal medicine residents.

Research opportunities

Internal medicine residents at Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego have access to numerous research opportunities within the institution and beyond. Our scholarly endeavors frequently result in significant publications and national presentations (PDF, 390 KB).


The Scripps Mercy Graduate Medical Education Research Committee, in partnership with The Scripps Hub Academic Research Core (SHARC) team, works very closely with residents to provide guidance in all aspects of clinical research. This streamlined process allows refining of study proposal, timely acquisition of IRB approval and necessary clinical data, and access to expert statisticians. Furthermore, residents receive financial support to present their research at both national and international meetings.  


Residents can pursue up to three blocks of research, which can be split up into different academic years or combined into a longer stretch to allow for completion of more time-consuming projects.


In addition to projects at Scripps Mercy, many residents take advantage of research opportunities at other local institutions, including the Scripps Research Institute and UCSD. Our program is also open to allowing residents to work on research projects at other institutions across the country.

Geller research competition

In May of each year, the annual Jack and Sue Geller Research Competition allows residents an opportunity to submit entries to the following categories:


  • Grand Rounds presentations of case reports or original research
  • Poster presentations of case reports
  • Original research
  • Medical arts (e.g., music, painting and poetry)
  • Culinary arts


The competition is named in honor of Jack Geller, MD, former director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, and his wife, Sue, who is a professional artist.

Faculty and residents

Scripps internal medicine residents learn and work alongside experienced physicians, researchers and other talented trainees.

Faculty

The faculty at Scripps Mercy San Diego is committed to resident success and excellence in medical education. Our teaching faculty come from programs all over the country, including Harvard, Johns Hopkins, University of Pennsylvania, UCSD and our very own Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego.

Current residents

The Internal Medicine Residency Program at Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego offers 14 first-year resident (PGY-1) positions each year. Our diverse group of residents come from all over the country and bring with them a broad range of experience.


View our resident highlights (PDF, 150 KB) to see why some of our residents chose Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego.


Resident life

Welcome barbecue

We kick off each year with the annual welcome barbecue, where current residents meet and greet the incoming interns. It’s usually held at the Mission Bay Aquatic Center where we enjoy water activities and fun in the sun. 


Halloween party

Residents dress up for this annual event, held at various local venues throughout the San Diego area.


Holiday party

The location varies each year, but recent venues have included Stone Brewery, the Shout House and 98 Bottles.


Graduation dinner

We end each academic year with a formal graduation dinner at Paradise Point Resort and Spa, where residents are recognized for their accomplishments. 


Resident wellness

Our resident wellness committee plans several exciting activities throughout the year, including hiking, bubble soccer and yoga on the hospital rooftop. Our residents also meet up frequently for brunch, beach volleyball, surfing and Padres games.

Fellowship and career plans

Scripps Mercy has a local and national reputation of producing excellent internists, hospitalists and subspecialists. On average, 40% of our residents pursue fellowship opportunities while 60% choose careers as hospitalists or in primary care. Many of our graduates remain in the Scripps system, while others land competitive jobs in markets across the country.


View a list of our graduates’ post-residency jobs (PDF, 95 KB).


View a list of our graduates’ post-residency fellowship positions (PDF, 27 KB).

Salary and benefits

Annual salary (2022-2023 academic year)

PGY-1 resident salary: $65,985 

PGY-2 resident salary: $68,289 

PGY-3 resident salary: $71,291 

Chief resident salary: $96,866 

How to apply

Our categorical, three-year internal medicine residency program offers 14 positions. The Scripps Mercy Hospital Residency Selection Committee reviews all applications, weighing academic performance, clinical performance, letters of recommendation, communication skills, motivation and professionalism.


In accordance with the Undergraduate Medical Education to Graduate Medical Education Review Committee (UGRC) and the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM), the Scripps Mercy Internal Medicine Residency Program will be hosting another 100% virtual interview experience for this application cycle.