Program Summary
General Structure of Internal Medicine Core Residency Program by Year
The overall structure of the Internal Medicine program is designed to provide residents with graded responsibility as they progress from the first to the final year. Within the core program, PGY1 residents are expected to function predominantly in a direct primary care role, largely on in-patient clinical teaching units, under the supervision of a senior medical resident and faculty. During the second postgraduate year, PGY2 residents are responsible for supervising and teaching junior house staff as well as function in a leadership role on the in-patient teaching units and consultation services. During the third postgraduate year, PGY3 residents are expected to function as an Internal Medicine consultant in multiple areas including ambulatory care clinics, the emergency room and on in-patient consultation services.
The General Medicine rotations, during the three core years, illustrate this graded responsibility. PGY1 residents assigned to the General Medicine Clinical Teaching Units (CTUs) are all expected to provide primary care for 4-7 in-patients. This primary care role is designed to provide PGY1 residents with an opportunity to acquire and to consolidate their medical knowledge and clinical skills, as well as learn an approach to the investigation and management of medical problems (including medical emergencies). PGY2 residents assigned to the General Medicine CTUs function as the Senior Ward Resident responsible for the clinical care decisions of patients admitted to the service under the supervision of the attending physician(s). The PGY2 resident is the leader of the team and is expected to teach and supervise the junior team members. The PGY3 resident assigned to the Consult / Triage service has 2 major responsibilities: 1) screening and assessing patient referrals from the Emergency Room, and; 2) providing consultation and follow-up care to patients on the General Medicine Consultation Service.
The rotational structure in several subspecialty rotations facilitates the PGY2 and PGY3 residents functioning as a consultant on the in-patient services and the ambulatory care. The rotational structure of these subspecialty rotations has reduced the primary care role of the PGY2 / PGY3 resident on subspecialty rotations.
PGY 1
Total Blocks - 13
Required Rotations - 7 Blocks
CTU - 4 Blocks |
Emergency - 1 Block |
ICU - 1 Block |
Cardiology - 1 Block |
Selective Rotations - 6 Blocks
Cardiology- 1 Block |
Nephrology - 1 Block |
Medical Oncology - 1 Block |
Hematology - 1 Block |
Neurology - 1 Block |
Open Choice - 1 Block |
PGY 2
Total Blocks - 13
Required Rotations - 8 to 9 Blocks
CTU - 3 to 4 Blocks |
Consult / Triage - 1 to 2 Blocks |
Cardiac Care Unit- 2 Blocks |
Electives* - 1 to 2 Blocks |
*Upon approval of PD, electives may be completed internally or externally at another training hospital and may include a Research Elective.
Selective Rotations - Any combination of the following to a total of 4 to 5 Blocks
| Clinical Allergy & Immunology (external) |
Geriatrics | Neurology |
| Hematology | ||
| Dermatology | Infectious Diseases | Palliative Care |
| Endocrinology | Medical Oncology | Respirology |
| Gastroenterology | Nephrology | Rheumatology |
PGY 3
Total Blocks - 13
Required Rotations - 9 to 10 Blocks
Ambulatory Care - 1 Block |
Cardiac Care Unit- 2 Blocks |
Community GIM - 1 Block |
Consult / Triage - 4 Blocks |
Electives* - 1 to 2 Blocks |
*Upon approval of PD, electives may be completed internally or externally at another training hospital and may include a Research Elective.
Selective Rotations - Any combination of the following to a total of 3 to 4 Blocks
| Clinical Allergy & Immunology (external) |
Geriatrics | Neurology |
| Hematology | ||
| Dermatology | Infectious Diseases | Palliative Care |
| Endocrinology | Medical Oncology | Respirology |
| Gastroenterology | Nephrology | Rheumatology |