In a first for University Physicians Hospital, the southside facility has become the newest academic medical campus in the Southwestern United States with the launch last month of seven new residency programs.

Aimed at helping to improve Arizona’s physician shortage, the UPH programs are being launched in collaboration with the University of Arizona College of Medicine and University Medical Center. They do not replace or compete with current UA residency programs at UMC, according to UA officials, but some UA College of Medicine departments may have two residency programs — one at UMC and the other at UPH.

As is typical with residency programs, the new UPH programs are being funded through special Medicare monies on a per -resident basis, and add-on payments for services that residents provide to Medicare patients. In addition, UPH is seeking financial support from special federal, state, county and other local sources.

Each residency program must receive accreditation through a peer review process based on established standards and guidelines from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

To date, internal medicine and psychiatry programs have both been accredited and began in July — internal medicine with eight residents, psychiatry with six. The radiology program has received full accreditation and is scheduled to start in July 2009 with five residents. Neurology also is now approved and expected to begin in 2009-2010 with two residents.

The remaining programs - emergency medicine, family medicine, ophthalmology and transitional medicine - are awaiting accreditation. It is anticipated there will be a total of 89 residents participating in the seven programs by the end of 2011.