The best way in which new physicians can be trained is through hands-on experience. As a teaching institution, Lenox Hill Hospital places a great priority on its academic role offering some 19 residency and fellowship training programs in most of its clinical areas. As with all medical education programs nationwide, the hospital continually assesses its residency and fellowship training programs in light of changes in the health care environment. The goal is to balance the need for primary care physicians with doctors who can provide more specialized care, when called upon.