Internal Medicine - Education

Educational Curriculum

Morning Report

Our morning report highlights the critical decision-making and analysis approaches that are characteristic of Internal Medicine.  Interns and upper-level residents choose thought provoking cases and provide a framework for the residents in attendance work through.  We combine both inpatient and ambulatory cases for a broad-based approach. With the expert guidance of our chief residents and faculty, differential diagnosis, appropriate diagnostic testing and effective management plan design are emphasized throughout these conferences. It is an interactive affair where we discuss pertinent labs, look at radiological studies, photos, EKG's, etc.  This conference highlights the pinnacle of clinical skills, combining the art of science of medicine. 

On the last Tuesday of each month, we have a joint meeting with the Department of Pathology.  Internal medicine residents present cases of patients who have died, and pathology residents review the autopsies on those patients.  Through the joint discussion and viewing of autopsy findings, important insights are often gained.

Noon Conference

Junior Curriculum (July)

During the month of July, all of our second year residents rotate on consult, elective and ambulatory services as they transition to being upper-level residents.  During the first two weeks of July, we have a curriculum designed to aid in this transition.  These small group discussions highlight the essential leadership and teaching skills that residents need as team leaders. 

The Basics (July)

During the last two weeks of July, we have ten sessions decided to review the basics that every resident needs to be effective and efficient.  These discussions focus on fundamental science and practical aspects of being a resident.

Core-Curriculum conference (Mondays)

Every Monday, the entire residency program meets to discuss core issues in residency training.  The first Monday of the month is dedicated to evidence-based medicine.  Over the course of the year, we review the classic and landmark journal articles in Internal Medicine.  As we critically review each article, residents develop the necessary foundation to understand and apply an evidence-based approach to clinical questions. 

The second Monday of the month is dedicated to Morbidity & Mortality review, which provides the arena to review our practice of internal medicine.  Complicated cases from our resident services are discussed with a focus on alternative management strategies, medical legal issues, and ethical matters.

The third Monday of the month is our program director’s meeting.  We discuss various programmatic and educational issues in a casual atmosphere, so everyone understands the program’s direction and any resident concerns.

The fourth Monday of the month is dedicated to ethics.  Cases from our resident services are discussed focusing on dilemmas or challenges in patient care.  Throughout the series, ethical principles are introduced and explored to provide an excellent foundation.

The fifth Monday of the month, when it occurs, is for medical Jeopardy.  A medical version of the popular TV show is composed by the Chief Residents, in which three teams of residents vie for the top score.

Level-Specific Conferences

A new component introduced in 2011.  We have redesigned our entire educational curriculum based on the ABIM and ACP In-Training Examination blueprints.  The objectives have been organized according to level, which build in complexity over the course of residency training.  We recognize that traditional lectures of basic concepts are often of little value to graduating residents.  Likewise, lectures on advanced concepts are often inappropriate for the interns in the audience.  Our interactive small group discussions are case-based discussions of the critical knowledge necessary to make difficult patient care decisions (and answer the ABIM questions!).

Board Prep Board Quiz Review (weekly)

Each week, we distribute a short (5-10 questions) quiz on a selected ABIM examination topic.  The following week, we review each question, explaining how to read the question and how to arrive at the correct answer. 

Ambulatory Care Workshops

One ½ day per week residents assigned to the ambulatory care block rotation attend a workshop on a common ambulatory topic or problem. Previous workshops have included "The Cardiac Examination", "Advanced Interviewing", "Sports Physicals", and "Coding and Billing".

Grand Rounds

Grand Rounds is the premier educational endeavor of the Department of Internal Medicine. Nationally known speakers from other institutions as well as notable faculty from the University of Kentucky present state-of-the art or cutting edge translational research or clinical reviews and updates on common Internal Medicine topics. Six clinical-pathological cases are presented as unknowns each year. There are also six sub-specialty updates each year.

Subspecialty Conferences

Each subspecialty has their own conferences. Residents rotating on the various subspecialties are encouraged to attend these conferences.