Not on probation, program got full renewal something like 2 years ago. My understanding was that it used to be a rough program prior to all that. "New" program director is awesome guy (he's been there ~ two years) as are the co-program directors. I shouldn't ruin the secret for others, but this is an vastly underrated place given the previous "probation" label.
Residents are all very genuine people, attendings are approachable, lots of diversity and little of the neuroses that seems endemic at most IM places. Probably because it lacks reputation you end up with very genuine people both as faculty and as residents.
There is great support/backup for the interns. Schedule is benign for medicine programs - first year you only have one month of overnight q4 call (on MICU) but because of days off you end up only working about 16 days that month! You also get 1 2-week block of nightfloat, otherwise the latest you stay is 7pm q4 for 6 months (4 x inpatient med, 1 x nephrology and 1x cards). Typically, categoricals get 4 elective months and 1 month ambulatory, whereas prelims get 2 electives, 1 ER month and an additional 2 weeks nightfloat. $1000 meal card first year, $800 moving reimbursement, 41k/year salary, free health insurance (including "significant others") and $200 book fund.
Patient population is often the typical innercity composite of poor, noncompliant, hookers, prisoners, IVDUs, crack heads and demented NH residents, but lots of diverse pathology comes in.
Jacksonville will not please parochials from NE cities, but has an improving downtown scene, many excellent restaurants, some sports, beaches. Most residents live in the SE corner which is building up.
One caveat is this may not be the best place for people fixated on reputation or careers at prestigious academic institutions. It is on the upswing though and I don't think it would be a great handicap unless you aspire to be the chair at Hopkins. Otherwise I would recommend checking it out. I get the impression they are selective in a non-Ivy league way. However, the previous year the #1 person at UF (Gainesville) did their prelim year there prior to going to Derm. Ultimately though, from what I can tell, they seem to be looking for genuine, congenial people.
PM me if you want more information.
