Learning Environment
Conferences are fun! Didactics occur every weekday at the hospital sites in several formats: case presentations, workshops for CXR, EKG, and ABG interpretation, documentation and coding, journal club, and quality improvement/patient safety. We keep learning fun by using jeopardy and pictionary style formats to learn high yield board material. During the ambulatory block, residents of all PGY years participate in weekly academic half-day didactics. Topics during the academic half-day include:
- outpatient medicine curriculum
- board review
- communication
- business of medicine
- health law
- Scholars Council
Board Review
All residents participate in board review didactics during the ambulatory block academic half-day. Question and answer style board review occurs weekly at each hospital site. Our program creates “Big Picture” study guides for each resident to follow along during didactics. Third year residents are provided an in-house 4- day intensive board review. The combination of exceptional residents and longitudinal learning of material is reflected in our 99% four-year board pass rate.
X + Y
All categorical residents participate in the X+Y block model, or 6 + 2 model. After 6 weeks of core rotations (a mixture of wards, ICU, electives, and nights), our residents begin their 2-week block of ambulatory clinics. During the 2-week ambulatory block, continuity clinic is accompanied by exposure to outpatient subspecialties. Residents appreciate the dedicated exposure to ambulatory medicine this schedule affords.
Simulation
Simulation is integrated in the training in every year at the James A. Haley Veteran’s Hospital Simulation Center or the Center for Advanced Medical Simulation & Learning (CAMLS). Simulation training is used for procedure training, ACLS/BLS recertification, code team leader communication skills, and point-of-care ultrasound training (POCUS).
Dedicated Faculty
Our faculty are outstanding and dedicate themselves to teaching, mentorship, and resident professional development. The department is ranked in the top 4% by the AAMC ranking for undergraduate medical education preparation for residency. The Internal Medicine 3rd Year Clerkship consistently receives the award for “Best Clerkship” voted on by the graduating medical students. This is truly a reflection of dedicated clerkship faculty and the education provided on the ward services by attendings and residents.