Help shape the program
Your ideas matter. From clinical workflows and educational conferences to wellness initiatives, founding residents help shape the identity and culture of the residency.
Begin your residency journey with Sharp in San Diego
Sharp Grossmont Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program
We look forward to welcoming ERAS applications for postgraduate year one (PGY1) positions for the 2027-2028 academic year
Program mission and overview
The Sharp Grossmont Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program is dedicated to training and retaining exceptional family physicians who are committed to advancing health care quality, equity and education in the East County region of San Diego. Rooted in the values of reflective practice and lifelong learning, our program fosters a culture of clinical excellence, scholarly inquiry and community engagement
Our mission is to prepare residents for autonomous practice through a rigorous curriculum that integrates evidence-based medicine, scholarly activity, interdisciplinary collaboration and structured quality improvement initiatives. Supported by faculty mentorship and institutional leadership, our family medicine residents will become compassionate, resilient and socially accountable physicians who will serve as leaders in primary care and remain deeply rooted in the region they serve.
Welcome to our family medicine residency program in San Diego
Dr. Ravishankar Rao
Program Director and SharpCare Physician
Dr. Gregory Apel
Designated Institutional Official and Chief Medical Officer, Sharp Grossmont Hospital
Welcome to the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program. This is a moment of immense pride and excitement for us, and we are thrilled that you are here to share it.
We are launching this brand-new program with a singular, vital mission: to train the next generation of family medicine physicians dedicated to serving the vibrant, diverse and deserving communities of East San Diego County
Our vision is simple yet profound. We want to cultivate physicians who are not only technically excellent but also deeply embedded in the fabric of this region — physicians who will not just work here but live here, thrive here and make a lasting impact here.
This is more than a residency; it is an opportunity to be a pioneer. By joining our inaugural class, you will play a critical role in shaping the culture, the priorities and the legacy of this program.
If your professional aspiration is to become a true community physician — one who provides high-quality, continuous, and compassionate care to those who need it most — then this is the place for you.
We invite you to learn with us, grow with us and dedicate your skills to the health and vitality of San Diego.
Ravishankar Rao, MD, FAAFP
Program Director
Welcome and thank you for your interest in the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program.
We are excited to build a program that trains compassionate, skilled family physicians while serving the diverse communities of East San Diego County. As a community-based teaching hospital, Sharp Grossmont offers a rich clinical environment, dedicated faculty, and a culture rooted in collaboration, quality and patient-centered care.
Residents will train in a high-acuity community hospital alongside supportive, committed mentors and an interdisciplinary care team. You’ll care for a diverse patient population, gain hands-on experience and grow as both a clinician and a leader in population health, quality improvement and community engagement.
Just as important, we are deeply committed to resident wellbeing. Our Graduate Medical Education team and hospital leadership work closely to ensure you have the support, resources, and mentorship needed to thrive — professionally and personally.
We look forward to welcoming our inaugural class and building a program that prepares outstanding family physicians for a meaningful, lasting impact in our region.
Gregory Apel, MD
Designated Institutional Official and Chief Medical Officer, Sharp Grossmont Hospital
Program leadership
Ravishankar Rao, MD
Program Director and SharpCare PhysicianGregory Apel, MD
Designated Institutional Official and Chief Medical Officer, Sharp Grossmont HospitalKaren Chouinard, CPMSM, CPCS
Director of Medical Staff Services and Graduate Medical EducationMagdalena Bonilla
Program CoordinatorErika Billings
GME Program Assistant
Cush Medical Plaza
A look ahead at the future home of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program
Why join the inaugural class?
Choosing a residency program is one of the most meaningful decisions of your career. As a member of the founding class at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, you’ll do more than receive outstanding clinical training — you’ll help build something special.
Founding residents play a pivotal role in shaping the culture, values and clinical excellence that will define this program for years to come.
At Sharp Grossmont Hospital, we envision a residency program grounded in clinical excellence, compassionate care and a deep commitment to the communities we serve.
For physicians excited to help build something meaningful while receiving exceptional training, joining the founding class offers a truly unique and rewarding experience.
Close collaboration with leadership
Work directly with program leadership, faculty and hospital administration, gaining rare access to mentorship and collaboration across the institution.
Leave a lasting legacy
The traditions and standards set by the first residents endure. As a founding resident, your impact will be felt long after graduation.
Grow as a leader and innovator
New programs encourage creativity and initiative. Founding residents often lead quality improvement projects, develop educational content and help design new clinical experiences.
Personalized, supportive training
Enjoy a close-knit learning environment with strong faculty engagement and a focus on your individual growth and success.
Make a difference in community health
This program was created to address the need for primary care physicians in East San Diego County. Founding residents will play a direct role in expanding access to care and improving community health.
Your residency program home base
Grossmont Medical Arts Building
While the Cush Medical Plaza is under construction, this location will serve as our welcoming home for resident training and education.
Curriculum
Family medicine residency: 3-year block schedule
Block
1 - Introduction to family medicine
2 - Family medicine practice, radiology
3 - Surgery
4 - Cardiology, ICU
5 - Behavioral health, OUD, SUD
6 - Obstetrics (OB)
7 - Obstetrics (OB)
8 - Newborn nursery
9 - Inpatient adult medicine
10 - Inpatient adult medicine
11 - Emergency medicine
12 - Elective
13 - Geriatrics
Block
1 - Pediatric subspecialty
2 - Population health
3 - Pediatric emergency medicine
4 - Women's health, gynecology
5 - Inpatient, night float
6 - Inpatient adult medicine
7 - Pediatric outpatient
8 - Community medicine
9 - Pediatric inpatient
10 - Medical subspecialty selective
11 - Palliative care, pain management, inpatient adult medicine
12 - Elective
13 - Elective
Block
1 - Family medicine practice, POCUS
2 - Orthopedics, sports medicine
3 - Inpatient adult medicine
4 - Inpatient adult medicine
5 - Dermatology
6 - Behavioral health, OUD, SUD
7 - Health systems management, QI
8 - Surgical subspecialties
9 - Rural family medicine clinic
10 - Scholarly activity
11 - Elective
12 - Elective
13 - Elective
Sample rotation schedules
Sunday
AM - Off
PM - Off
Monday
AM - Dermatology clinic
PM - Dermatology clinic
Tuesday
AM - FMP clinic
PM - Dermatology clinic
Wednesday
AM - FMP clinic
PM - Didactics
Thursday
AM - FMP clinic
PM - Dermatology clinic
Friday
AM - Dermatology clinic
PM - FMP clinic
Saturday
AM - Off
PM - Off
Sunday
AM - Inpatient medicine
PM - Inpatient medicine
Monday
AM - Inpatient medicine
PM - Inpatient medicine
Tuesday
AM - Inpatient medicine
PM - Inpatient medicine
Wednesday
AM - FMP clinic
PM - Didactics
Thursday
AM - Inpatient medicine
PM - Inpatient medicine
Friday
AM - Inpatient medicine
PM - Inpatient medicine
Saturday
AM - Off
PM - Off
Rotation locations
The Lantern Crest Senior Living community in East County offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care in a resort-style setting focused on comfort, engagement, and support.
Maven Dermatology, a Sharp‑affiliated dermatology practice, provides medical and surgical dermatology care for patients of all ages, with locations in San Diego’s Central and East County communities.
A community-based health and resource center in Campo, Mountain Health Community Center is operated by San Ysidro Health, offering primary care, preventive services, food access programs, and community activities for residents of rural East County.
A nationally ranked pediatric academic medical center, Rady Children’s Hospital – San Diego is the region’s only hospital dedicated exclusively to children, offering comprehensive specialty and subspecialty care from birth through young adulthood.
A federally qualified health center and Native American nonprofit organization, Southern Indian Health Council provides medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, and community services to tribal nations and the broader East County community
Application and eligibility
The ERAS application program code is coming soon. We look forward to sharing details with you shortly as we get closer to the application season.
Application requirements
Applications are considered complete when all of the following are received:
ERAS application and personal statement
Medical school transcripts and USMLE/COMLEX scores
Two letters of recommendation
Medical school dean's letter (or equivalent summative evaluation)
Application timeline
1
Early September 2026
Applicants may begin submitting MyERAS applications
2
Late September 2026
Program begins reviewing applications
Interview invitations are issued
4
February 2027
Ranking opens in ERAS
Eligibility
Board exams
Passing scores on USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 or COMLEX Level 1 and Level 2
Completion of Step 2 (USMLE or COMLEX) is strongly encouraged before January 1 of the fourth year of medical school
Medical school graduation
Graduation within the past two years from an accredited U.S. or international medical school
Exception applies to U.S. military personnel serving as general medical officers
Citizenship requirement
Applicants must be U.S. citizens. The program does not sponsor visas or accept employment authorization documents (EADs).
U.S. citizens who graduated from international medical schools and hold Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification are welcome to apply.
Salary and benefits
Salary
Salary details will be shared soon and are designed to be competitive with residency programs across Southern California, while supporting life in beautiful San Diego.
Benefits
Insurance including medical, dental and vision
Paid vacation
CME
Education allowance
About our sponsoring institution — Sharp Grossmont Hospital
For more than 70 years, Sharp Grossmont Hospital has proudly cared for the East San Diego County community with compassion, excellence, and a commitment to putting patients first. As the region’s largest not-for-profit, full-service acute care hospital, Sharp Grossmont offers 562 beds and a wide range of services designed to support people at every stage of life.
Patients receive high-quality care across emergency and critical care, heart and cancer services, surgery, stroke care, orthopedics, neuroscience, behavioral health, women’s and newborn’s health, rehabilitation, and hospice care. A broad array of outpatient and preventive services — including pulmonary medicine, sleep care, wound care, home infusion, and hyperbaric medicine — helps patients stay well and manage chronic conditions close to home.
Sharp Grossmont is nationally recognized for delivering compassionate, person-centered care. The hospital has earned Planetree’s Gold Certification for Excellence in Person-Centered Care and MAGNET® designation for nursing excellence. Patients also benefit from integrative therapies, spiritual care, and advanced facilities, including a modern emergency department, critical care center, and the Burr Heart & Vascular Center.
In 2025, Sharp Grossmont expanded its commitment to advanced care with the opening of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital for Neuroscience — San Diego’s first comprehensive center dedicated to complex brain and spine conditions. Additional honors include a Gold Standard Level 1 Accredited Senior-Friendly Emergency Department and recognition on Newsweek’s Best Maternity Hospitals list.
Connect with the Sharp Grossmont Family Medicine Residency team
Interested in our community-based family medicine residency at Sharp HealthCare? Reach out to learn how we prepare compassionate, well‑rounded physicians to serve our San Diego community.