Staff Reports | Community Updates
Abrazo Health’s Graduate Medical Education program celebrated its 2026 graduating class of primary care and specialty physicians and fellows, including the program’s first vascular surgery fellow.
A total of 38 physicians graduated during a ceremony June 6 at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.
The graduating class included physicians and fellows from emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, cardiology, infectious disease and vascular surgery, according to a press release.
The class of 2026 included:
Emergency medicine: 8 graduates
Family medicine: 7 graduates
Internal medicine: 16 graduates
General surgery: 3 graduates
Cardiology fellowship: 2 graduates
Infectious disease: 1 graduate
Vascular surgery: 1 graduate
“After watching our first Internal Medicine class graduate in 2022 to now being able to see our first Vascular Surgery Fellow graduate this year, it feels like a personal milestone to see these residents and fellows grow, and it gives me great pride knowing that Abrazo Health’s GME program is putting well-rounded physicians out into the community,” Angela Franco, C-TAGME, GME administrative director for Abrazo Health, said.
In order to offer fellowships, all core residency programs have to be in good standing and fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education,” Ms. Franco said. “It’s a testament to how our program has continued to expand and mature in recent years as we have added more residencies and fellowships.”
The 2026 class also marked a milestone for the program with its first vascular surgery fellowship graduate. Dr. Steven Marincel completed the two-year fellowship at Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital after beginning the program July 1, 2024.
“This fellowship was designed to prepare us to be the next generation of vascular surgeons. After four years of medical school, a five-year general surgery residency, and this two-year program at Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital, it’s a dream come true to be able to get out there in the community and take care of patients,” Dr. Marincel said.
Abrazo Health officials said the GME program continues to educate and mentor primary care and specialty physicians.
“We take great pride in the contribution Abrazo Health has made — and continues to make — to help alleviate the shortage of trained physicians nationally, regionally and within our own community,” Brian Elisco, Arizona group CEO for Abrazo Health, said.
