Curriculum & Didactics
To prepare residents to become general internists, subspecialty fellows and/or medical researchers, Cedars-Sinai offers a well-rounded, flexible training program in internal medicine.
Training Pathways
There are three key categorical pathways in internal medicine that residents may take: traditional Categorical, Primary Care and Physician-Scientist Training Program. We also offer a one-year Preliminary Program.
Our traditional categorical pathway offers balanced training in the inpatient and outpatient settings and prepares residents to have successful careers as general internists, hospitalists and subspecialists. Our categorical pathway employs an X+Y (4+1) model of training, which allows residents to have consistent and protected ambulatory time every fifth week of their training. This training model also allows residents to focus on their inpatient duties when they are on inpatient services. In the hospital setting, residents will spend a large portion of time in the general wards and ICUs and will also rotate on subspecialized services such as the heart failure/heart transplant service and the hematology oncology wards. Rotations through inpatient subspecialty consult services provide experience with acutely ill patients and complex cases. In the outpatient setting, in addition to continuity clinic every fifth week, residents will rotate through a variety of community-based clinics and have ample exposure to subspecialty clinics.
Categorical residents have 12 weeks of elective time over three years, allowing schedules to be tailored to an individual resident's career interests and needs. Residents may use their 12 weeks of elective time to participate in research projects.
Our Primary Care Track also offers balanced training in the inpatient and outpatient settings with an increasing emphasis on ambulatory experiences over the three years. The Primary Care Track also employs an X+Y (4+1) model of training and provides additional ambulatory blocks, educational workshops, and monthly program and ambulatory education sessions. Residents in the track will have enhanced opportunities for clinical rotations in sports medicine, women's health, street medicine, population health, ambulatory palliative care, ambulatory geriatrics, weight management, LGBTQIA+ care, addiction medicine, HIV care and nutrition.
The Internal Medicine Physician-Scientist Training Program (PSTP) is intended for those graduates who wish to extend their clinical education to include research training. The PSTP focuses training in clinical, translational and/or basic science research and is comprised of two main tracks—general internal medicine or subspecialty. At the successful completion of the PSTP training, candidates who have successfully completed the requirements of the training program will have the opportunity to become a faculty member and continue to develop their careers, eventually establishing an independently funded research program.
Our Preliminary Medicine Program is an intensive, one-year pathway designed to prepare interns for success upon graduation as they continue training in their advanced residency programs. The curriculum closely matches that of our categorical intern year, though without continuity clinic.
We additionally offer five preliminary positions to residents who match into the Cedars-Sinai Neurology Residency Program and wish to complete their preliminary year at the same institution.
Cedars-Sinai Research and Investigation Specialty Experience (CS-RISE)
The objective of the CS-RISE Enhanced Research Elective Program is to support and contribute to the research mission of Cedars-Sinai by increasing research literacy among internal medicine residents and empowering them with the skills they need to conduct high-quality medical research, whether at the bench or the bedside. Led by S. Ananth Karumanchi, MD, the Medallion Chair in Vascular Biology, and Mariko Ishimori, MD, interns are invited to apply to the program during the intern year with a goal of four to five residents entering the program beginning in their second year. The program allows 12 weeks of dedicated research time concentrated in the second and third years of residency. Participants receive approximately $4,000 in seed funding for research projects and support costs for publication. The program offers access to research tools, intensive mentorship and educational opportunities relevant to individuals with strong interest in careers in research. An annual research competition will provide an opportunity for residents in the CS-RISE Program to showcase their scholarly work. The winner of the competition will be awarded a cash prize.
Immersive Point of Care Ultrasound (i-POCUS) Curriculum
The goal of this curriculum is for Cedars-Sinai internal medicine residents to acquire and hone POCUS and procedural skills with understanding of clinical concepts through immersive simulated cases, didactics and small- group learning activities. This fully immersive, longitudinal course is designed to train internal medicine residents at Cedars-Sinai in the widespread application of point-of-care ultrasound.
In partnership with the state-of-the-art Cedars-Sinai Simulation Center, internal medicine residents will have access to ultrasound training models, procedural equipment and standardized patients. Highly specialized instructors from pulmonary critical care, internal medicine, cardiology and other disciplines will provide in-depth training on the use of POCUS and its clinical application, while also teaching high-yield concepts through case simulations and hands-on activities. Built into this two-year course are opportunities for senior residents to work as near-peer facilitators, providing an avenue for those interested in becoming clinician educators.
For the current academic year, the following topics will be taught:
- Basics of ultrasound: FAST examination, echocardiography, lung ultrasound, vascular ultrasound, procedural ultrasound
- Procedures: paracentesis, thoracentesis, central line placement, lumbar puncture
- Topics in critical care medicine, cardiology, neurology and pulmonology
Psychiatry and Internal Medicine Collaborative (PIMEC)
We have partnered with the Department of Psychiatry to provide internal medicine residents with education, hands-on experience and resources to increase resident knowledge, comfort and competence treating mental and behavioral health conditions in the primary care setting. Resources include:
- A tool kit that includes screening tools and treatment algorithms for common mental and behavioral health conditions presenting in the primary care setting.
- A tool kit that includes patient resources for self-care and for external referrals when appropriate.
- Weekly presence of a psychiatrist co-located in one of the internal medicine resident clinics to train residents to treat common mental and behavioral health conditions in their continuity practices, to know the indications for referral outside of the primary care practice, and identify resources for patients who need a higher level of care or community resources.
- Full collaborative care at one of the internal medicine resident clinics that includes a team of psychiatrists, a case manager and a social worker to co-manage patients with residents.
Community Outreach Residency Engagement (CORE) Curriculum
Our current model of medical training focuses primarily on mastery of disease pathophysiology, diagnosis and management. In day-to-day clinical practice, however, we find that our training is not enough to overcome the socioeconomic barriers faced by our patients and this community.
The aim of the CORE program is to equip residents with tools to best help our community members by 1) understanding socioeconomic barriers and vulnerable populations in healthcare, 2) engaging in community-based programs and efforts addressing health disparities, and 3) advocacy.
Our sessions are divided into didactics, workshops and community events. Each month, we will cover various topics: housing insecurity, LGBTQIA+ health disparities, correctional medicine, human trafficking, advocacy, maternal/infant care, cultural appreciation and substance use disorder/mental health. The CORE program is an optional component of our residency curriculum that runs for a year at a time. While our goal is to include as many residents as possible who wish to participate in the CORE team each year, we do request interested residents to apply to this curriculum—so we understand their motivation and goals and can create as meaningful an experience for them as possible.
Didactics
Didactic sessions are conducted as a series of lectures and conferences which are essential to the educational experience of our internal medicine residents.
Daily Lectures & Conferences
Each academic year begins with an approximately two-month series of daily lectures covering emergency situations residents are likely to encounter in internal medicine. The lectures are then followed by daily conferences and cover:
- General internal medicine and subspecialty topics
- Morbidity and mortality conference
- Clinical pathologic correlation conference
- Journal club
- A weekly ambulatory lecture series
Grand Rounds
The Department of Medicine hosts Grand Rounds most Friday mornings. The Medicine Grand Rounds features internal, local and national experts discussing leading-edge clinical and basic science research and updates in clinical practice.
ABIM Certification Exam & Certification Preparation
The Department of Medicine provides American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certification exam review books for all internal medicine residents. In addition, the third-year residency class attends a three-day board review educational conference in the spring that focuses on board review topics for their upcoming ABIM exam.
Morning Report
Daily morning reports are built into all inpatient services and are moderated by the medicine chief residents or full-time faculty.
Have Questions or Need Help?
If you have questions or would like to learn more about the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Cedars-Sinai, please send us a message.
8700 Beverly Blvd.
Suite 5512
Los Angeles, CA 90048