Curriculum & Didactics

The academic year consists of 13 blocks, each four weeks in length. A sample of the internal medicine curriculum is listed below.

Outpatient Continuity Clinic

Residents participate in a longitudinal outpatient continuity clinic, serving as a primary care provider for their own panel of patients under the supervision of faculty. On most rotations, clinic will either be one day a week or one week out of the four-week block. At times, clinic is schedules for a half-day per week to meet ACGME requirements. Residents also participate in a panel management/population health project yearly, and they have the opportunity to serve at a community free clinic.

Research & Quality Improvement Projects

Residents are given time to explore one or two projects during their three years, with dedicated block rotations in the second year. They enlist the support of a faculty advisor for a QI project or other scholarly activity. They have the support of our research department, complete online IHI modules, and meet regularly with the program director. By the end of three years, they are required to present/poster at a conference or submit a paper for publication.

Didactics

Formal classroom teaching takes place during a half-day didactic session once weekly, a protected learning time required for all residents. The topics are generally organized around one subspecialty per month with a yearly curriculum. There are medical knowledge topics presented by faculty and residents. There are also opportunities for workshops related to all the core competencies, as well as time for journal club, M&M, wellness curriculum, Board Review and resident meetings. There are also two all-GME resident education days yearly.

Educational & Wellness Resources

Residents receive the latest edition of digital/print MKSAP in their first year. They also receive access to board style question banks, as well as an educational stipend to attend an educational conference during their three years.

The program takes resident well-being seriously:

• It adheres to all guidelines related to daily, weekly, and monthly duty hours. Residents have adequate sleep facilities and safe transport options at all the sites.
• Residents have access to mental health assessment and self-screening tools.
• The program offers two all-resident retreats annually.
• There is ongoing attention to a safe learning and work environment, including attention to supervision, accountability, professionalism, well-being, interprofessional learning, and transitions of care.

There is now a dedicated Mentoring/Advising Program led by a dedicated faculty member that meets with each resident quarterly, and also coordinates a three-year faculty mentor for each resident. The program focuses on the whole spectrum of resident needs, from emotional support to career advising.