Categorical > Women’s Health > Medicine/Pediatrics > Preliminary >Physician-Scientist Research Training Program
Residency program tracks
While the Internal Medicine Training Program at Virginia Commonwealth
University Medical Center offers a number of training tracks to fulfill
the interests and career plans of our trainees, each individual, regardless
of track, receives excellent training in internal medicine and, at the
completion of residency, is eligibile for the American Board of Internal
Medicine examination.
Categorical Track
The Categorical Track is a traditional track in the internal medicine program designed for those individuals seeking a rigorous training course preparing them for careers in general adult internal medicine or any of its subspecialties.
All categorical residents will be asked to identify a training pathway in the winter of their intern year; this selection will be made based on individual resident career goals. Pathway selection allows for tailoring of the training curriculum to meet individual goals and needs. One to two months per year in the PGY-2 and PGY-3 years will differ in content based on the track selected. Pathway options will include:
- Generalist Pathway — designed for those individuals preparing for a career as a practicing internist or in academic general internal medicine. This track offers increased exposure to ambulatory setting experience through on-site ambulatory care blocks, the VCU faculty practice, the Fan Free Clinic (indigent-care free clinic) and community-based preceptorships. In addition, experiences in general medicine research opportunities will be available as will additional educational opportunities in performance improvement and business aspects of medicine.
- PGY2 year includes one month community based experience
- PGY3 year includes one month faculty practice experience
- PGY2 and PGY3 year include additional longitudinal continuity clinic experience in a community-based practice
- Hospitalist Pathway — designed for those pursuing careers in inpatient/hospitalist positions. This track emphasizes the inpatient management experience and will consist of clinical experience on our extensive hospitalist service, additional time as the medical admitting resident and the possibility of increased ICU experiences. In addition, trainees in this track will be offered educational experiences health care delivery systems, business and management aspects of medicine and performance improvement opportunities in order to better prepare them to become the hospitalists of tomorrow.
- PGY2 year and PGY3 year include additional month of hospitalist experience and training in performance-based improvement activities. Residents are also involved in longitudinal performance-based improvement activities.
- Subspecialist Pathway — designed
for those interested in pursuing subspecialty careers. The curriculum
will emphasize exposure to research opportunities, subspecialty inpatient
and outpatient electives, and additional ICU experiences.
- PGY2 year includes one month research experience (may be deferred to PGY3)
- Additional research month in PGY3 year with approval of program director
Women’s Health Track
The Women’s Health Track is a three-year program offered for those individuals seeking traditional categorical medicine training with an emphasis on issues of unique significance to the health of women. This exposure is provided through opportunities at Virginia Commonwealth University’s community-based center, the Women’s Health Clinic at Stony Point. Focused educational experiences also are provided through ongoing experience in gynecology and mental health clinics, ambulatory blocks and special lecture series. The Women’s Health Track residents attend an additional journal club per month in which they discuss articles specific to the training focus. They also have the opportunity to participate in a specialized ambulatory teaching block that includes a lecture series on women’s health issues such as breast health, gynecology, osteoporosis, nutrition, disease prevention, bio-psychosocial issues and more. To learn more about this track, visit the Women’s Health Track Web site.
Medicine Pediatrics Track
The Medicine Pediatrics Track is a four-year program integrating internal medicine and pediatrics, with excellent training in both fields through hospital and ambulatory experiences, leading to dual board eligibility and numerous career options. For more information about this track, visit the Med/Peds Web site.
Preliminary Medicine Track
The Preliminary Medicine Track is a one-year program designed to provide a clinically rich hospital-based training experience that will serve as the knowledge and skill base for those seeking a variety of medical specialties. The one-year curriculum is a modification of the PGY-1 categorical year.
Physician-Scientist Research Training Program
The Phsysican-Scientist Research track is a is a five-seven year program for those individuals who want to practice both basic research and clinical medicine so that, as new faculty, they can bridge the two disciplines. These physician-scientists represent an important part of the future of the Institution and will serve pivotal roles in translational medicine in the 21st Century. The pathway’s core Internal Medicine training curriculum is a two-year modification of the current three-year VCU Internal Medicine Training Program Categorical Medicine Track Curriculum. For more detailed information about this track, visit the Physician-Scientist Research Training Program web page.
