Medical Education Grant Ensures Excellent Training for Arizona’s Future Physicians
(PHOENIX, October 2023) – Excellence in education has been a tenet of Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center ever since it was founded by the Sisters of Mercy more than 128 years ago. We have been a teaching hospital for more than 60 years, welcoming the physicians of tomorrow to learn alongside the finest physicians of today. We know firsthand that the quality of medical education provided is directly proportional to the quality of care that will be available to our community in the future.
MICA Medical Foundation, with similar core principles related to educating future physicians, is a key long-time partner in helping St. Joseph’s realize our medical education goals. By providing program support to promising students, MICA aims to ensure those students receive the most advanced training possible before they become full-time physicians practicing in Arizona.
Through St. Joseph’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program, part of the Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance, these residents earn unparalleled obstetrics and gynecology experience while training at both St. Joseph’s and Valleywise hospitals, where more than 10,000 newborns are delivered every year.
We are deeply grateful for the continued generosity shared by the MICA Medical Foundation and we are committed to maximizing the return on this investment—for the benefit of the community served by both organizations.
St. Joseph’s OB/GYN residents currently supported by MICA Medical Foundation are:
Diane Light, MD, who is in the fourth year of the program. In this last year of training chief residents are expected to complete their research studies, prepare to leave residency to begin practicing independently, all while still training intensively in high-risk obstetrics, gynecologic surgery, and ambulatory women’s care. Dr. Light is on pace to complete her fourth year of residency and begin practice this summer. She has now performed 284 deliveries, 198 cesarean sections, over 64 laparoscopies and 66 hysterectomies.
Nicole Segaline, MD, who is in the third year of the program. The third year of residency is marked by increasing experience in major gynecologic surgery, and increased leadership responsibilities. Surgical training includes robotic surgery, gynecologic oncology, and uro-gynecologic surgery. Dr. Segaline is about three months into her third year and she has already performed 299 deliveries, 152 cesarean sections, over 48 laparoscopies and 18 hysterectomies.
Nicolas Balbi Caruso, MD, who is in the second year of the program. The second year in residency is a time of moving from taking care of normal obstetrics and basic gynecology to managing high risk obstetrics, performing laparoscopic surgery, and beginning subspecialty training. Dr. Caruso has now performed a total of 219 deliveries, 50 cesarean sections, and over 26 laparoscopies.
Our newest MICA-supported resident is Isiah Romo, MD, who is in year one of the program. Dr. Romo is excelling as an intern on all his rotations during these three months of training which have included ambulatory care, obstetrics, and ultrasound. He is already delivering babies and is beginning to perform cesarean sections and gynecologic and obstetrical ultrasounds.
The program has already trained four additional physicians who are now practicing in Arizona.
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