PGY
Encyclopedia
PGY, short for post-graduate year, refers to a North America
n numerical scheme denoting the progress of post-graduate dental, medicine, or pharmacy residents in their residency
program. It is used to stratify responsibility in most training programs and to determine salary
. The grade of the resident is denoted with a numeral after the PGY designation, such as PGY-3 for a third year resident.
The length of residency depends mostly on the field a graduate chooses to take. Medical specialties such as family medicine
and internal medicine
often require only three years, whereas surgery
usually requires a minimum of five, and neurological surgery is the longest at seven years. Subspecialization (vascular or orthopedic spine surgery as a branch of surgery, for example) in any field will add time to post-graduate training.
For more information on specific medical residency programs, see the American Medical Association's
Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database
.
Dental residencies for general practice
, known as GPRs, are generally one year, with a possibility of a second year at some facilities. Dental specialties, such as Oral and maxillofacial surgery
also require further training (4-6 years). Most specialty programs do not require students to have completed a year of GPR, but it most definitely increases the chances of the applicant.
Pharmacy residencies are usually one year, but a PGY-2 can be completed, often as an option, for pharmacy specialties such as critical care, cardiology, oncology, etc.
In some teaching institutions, trainees are required to indicate level of training on all signatures (John Doe, M.D., PGY-1 or R-1).
Residencies are also offered for those in the Physician Associate (assistant) profession in a variety of specialties such as surgery and emergency medicine. Controversy exists as to whether this should be mandatory for subspecialty work.
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n numerical scheme denoting the progress of post-graduate dental, medicine, or pharmacy residents in their residency
Residency (medicine)
Residency is a stage of graduate medical training. A resident physician or resident is a person who has received a medical degree , Podiatric degree , Dental Degree and who practices...
program. It is used to stratify responsibility in most training programs and to determine salary
Salary
A salary is a form of periodic payment from an employer to an employee, which may be specified in an employment contract. It is contrasted with piece wages, where each job, hour or other unit is paid separately, rather than on a periodic basis....
. The grade of the resident is denoted with a numeral after the PGY designation, such as PGY-3 for a third year resident.
The length of residency depends mostly on the field a graduate chooses to take. Medical specialties such as family medicine
Family medicine
Family medicine is a medical specialty devoted to comprehensive health care for people of all ages. It is a division of primary care that provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and family across all ages, sexes, diseases, and parts of the body...
and internal medicine
Internal medicine
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...
often require only three years, whereas surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
usually requires a minimum of five, and neurological surgery is the longest at seven years. Subspecialization (vascular or orthopedic spine surgery as a branch of surgery, for example) in any field will add time to post-graduate training.
For more information on specific medical residency programs, see the American Medical Association's
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database
FREIDA
FREIDA Online, or Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database, is an online database of all graduate medical education programs in the United States that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, provided at no charge by the American Medical Association...
.
Dental residencies for general practice
General Practice Residency
There are two forms of institution-based training for general dentistry available for dental school graduates in the United States:* General practice residency, often abbreviated as GPR...
, known as GPRs, are generally one year, with a possibility of a second year at some facilities. Dental specialties, such as Oral and maxillofacial surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is surgery to correct a wide spectrum of diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. It is an internationally recognized surgical specialty...
also require further training (4-6 years). Most specialty programs do not require students to have completed a year of GPR, but it most definitely increases the chances of the applicant.
Pharmacy residencies are usually one year, but a PGY-2 can be completed, often as an option, for pharmacy specialties such as critical care, cardiology, oncology, etc.
In some teaching institutions, trainees are required to indicate level of training on all signatures (John Doe, M.D., PGY-1 or R-1).
Residencies are also offered for those in the Physician Associate (assistant) profession in a variety of specialties such as surgery and emergency medicine. Controversy exists as to whether this should be mandatory for subspecialty work.