Department of Medicine

Residency Program

Educational Pathways & Career Planning

Mentoring

Based on what we have learned about them during the preceding year, beginning interns are each paired with faculty members who will serve as their advisors. Advisors meet periodically with their advisees to offer career counseling, academic advice, or just a steady, supportive presence. Residents may change advisors at any time should their career plans or personal preferences dictate.

Pathways

We believe that residency programs should tailor training according to the individual needs of their trainees. Our pathways have been designed to provide the strong foundation that all general internists require, yet with flexibility to allow personal growth and development. The Pathways allow pursuit of individual career goals within the context of the traditional residency program, while meeting American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) training requirements.

Residents may select one of the Pathways described below during internship year so that formal Pathway planning can begin for the coming years.

• Research Pathway . During the PG1 year, residents interested in an investigative career, with the approval of the program director may opt to join either of two research pathways. The Internal Medicine Research Pathway takes five years of which two years are spent in clinical medicine, and three years in research training. This program leads to board eligibility in internal medicine. The subspecialty Research Pathway takes six to seven years, depending on specialty, of which three or four are spent in clinical training, and three in research. This program leads to board eligibility in Internal Medicine and a subspecialty. Clinical and basic science tracks are available for both the Internal Medicine and Subspecialty pathways, depending on the trainee's specific research interests. These pathways are in compliance with American Board of Internal Medicine training requirements, and offer a streamlined course toward an investigative career in medicine. For further information on the Research Pathway please see our website section on Resident Research Opportunities. 
• Hospitalist Pathway . Residents who choose this pathway will participate in specialized blocks for at least 2 months in each of the PGY-2 and 3 years during which they will be directly supervised by a hospitalist. Particular attention will be given during these rotations to geriatrics inpatient medicine, end of life care, cost effective practice and coordination of care-all issues identified as being particularly important to the hospitalist. In addition, the resident will participate in didactic conferences and journal clubs geared toward hospital medicine.
• Primary Care versus Subspecialty . Over the years, equal numbers of our graduating residents have entered careers as subspecialists and general internists. We seek to provide to all our trainees a broad foundation in internal medicine, regardless of whether they intend to be generalists or specialists. Nevertheless, many opportunities are available to modify training according to goals. The abundance of discretionary time in the second and third years, plus the variety of elective rotations in the subdisciplines and general medicine, allows residents to create their own subspecialty and primary care concentrations.
• Other pathways are under development focusing on public health, and medical administration. We expect these to be available for members of the residency class beginning in July 200l. For further details, please inquire at the time of your interview.

Dual Board Certification Programs

We currently participate in Medicine/Pediatrics and Medicine/Psychiatry dual board certification programs. Let us know if you are interested.

Shared and Part-time Residency Positions

We are receptive to those who, for personal reasons, wish to extend their training period. Again, let us know if you are interested.

Board Certification and Post-Residency Advancement

Year after year, the performance of our program graduates on the American Board of Internal Medicine Certifying Examination is excellent. Program graduates who choose to do subspecialty training receive outstanding fellowship appointments. Alumni electing to practice primary care can choose from a wide variety of job offerings. (A complete list of the current status of recent program graduates will be made available at your interview).

Preliminary Program

Our preliminary internship year provides broad exposure to clinical medicine for medical school graduates embarking on careers in dermatology, radiology, anesthesiology, and neurology, among other fields. Preliminary interns are not treated as "second class citizens" in our Department. The preliminary year curriculum is identical to that for categorical interns, with the exception that preliminary interns are not assigned a continuity clinic.