Ambulatory Family Medicine/Orientation

All first year residents spend the month of July together in the Family Medical Center, getting to know one another, the faculty, and staff of the clinic. Residents are taught the intricacies of the clinical setting and how they will function as residents. Many common clinical and procedural skills are intensively reviewed to ensure a common background for new graduates from diverse medical backgrounds. ACLS, PALS, and NRP courses are taught during this month. 3rd year residents take in-house call at the first year residents’ side to ease the transition.

Family Medicine (inpatient service)

Residents will spend 3 months on the family medicine inpatient service in their first year. Residents care for the patients admitted through the clinic or from patients assigned to the service through the Emergency Department. These patients will represent the full spectrum of care from adolescents to elderly adults, with any and all medical problems represented. Two upper level residents and two first year residents, along with 2 faculty members will make up the medicine team.

Pediatrics

A 2 month inpatient and outpatient experience at Sparks Regional Medical Center and the Family Medical Center is required. Direct supervision is provided by Family medicine faculty and by our full time pediatric faculty mentor for inpatient, outpatient and NICU experiences.

Obstetrics

Complete obstetrical training is one of the major strengths of this program. Residents will spend 2 months on the OB service their first year. During the first year, residents are expected to learn to manage normal pregnancy, normal labors and deliver uncomplicated patients. First year residents will also learn to recognize abnormal pregnancies and labors and interventions necessary to promote good outcomes. An upper level resident will always be available to assist the first year resident, as well as family practice and obstetrical faculty back-up.

Emergency Medicine

Each first year resident will spend one month in the busy Emergency Department either at Sparks Regional Medical Center or at St. Edward Mercy Medical Center. Residents function as an ER physician, and are always under the supervision of competent ER staff. Residents achieve cognitive and procedural skills in all types of emergency medicine, trauma, acute behavioral crises and major and minor emergency surgery. The first year resident will not have call responsibility during this month.

Surgery

Residents work with a surgeon at the hospital and at his office, on both inpatient and outpatient surgical problems for one month in each of the first two years. Emphasis is placed on pre- and post-operative care and management of complications when they arise. The resident is not expected to become a surgeon, but to be familiar with surgical techniques and procedures, pre-and post-operative care, and to manage the surgical patient in consultation with a surgeon.

Cardiology

Residents will spend one month with a cardiologist, learning the intricacies of caring for the cardiac patient in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Emphasis is placed on caring for the cardiac emergencies, such as acute MI. Residents polish their skills on ECG interpretation and are exposed further to treadmill stress testing, the Cardiac Cath lab, echocardiography and other evaluations of cardiovascular function.

Orthopedics

Residents will spend one month in their first year with an orthopedist. Residents are not expected to perform orthopedic surgery, but will gain experience in pre- and post-operative care, evaluation, stabilization and management of common orthopedic problems, casting and splinting.

Psychiatry

All third year residents spend one month with a psychiatrist, either in the hospital inpatient setting or with the local mental health center outpatient clinics. This experience is to complement the considerable longitudinal experience the resident will encounter in his own panel of patients the Family Practice Center. Emphasis is placed on common problems such as depression, anxiety, panic disorders, behavioral problems, and drug and alcohol dependence.