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.
Categorial 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.
Residents interested in a career in primary care medicine will follow a curriculum designed to teach the core aspects of outpatient medicine and population health. They will also be exposed to the latest advances in ambulatory health.
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.
Health Systems Science Curriculum
The three pillars of medical education are basic science, clinical science and health systems science. While traditional medical training has often overlooked health systems science, an understanding of its key domains and tenets is essential to training healthcare leaders and innovators. The Cedars-Sinai Internal Medicine Health Systems Science curriculum provides longitudinal, experiential training in this important area across all three years of residency
The five key domains of health systems science are explored:
- Healthcare policy and management
- High-value care
- Healthcare improvement
- Clinical informatics
- Population health
Unique curricular experiences will include:
- Case-based workshops
- Journal clubs
- Morbidity and mortality conferences
- Quality improvement projects
- Interdisciplinary collaboration with Cedars-Sinai's healthcare leadership
Ultrasound Curriculum
Our point-of-care ultrasound curriculum provides a longitudinal educational experience incorporating online modules, technique mastery through simulation and ultimately clinical application. This multifaceted approach is designed to equip internal medicine residents with the foundational clinical skills needed to implement point-of-care ultrasound in their future practices. This broad curriculum includes diagnostic and procedural ultrasound techniques that can be used in various subspecialties and applied to hospital and clinic settings alike.
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. Medicine grand rounds features internal, local and national experts discussing cutting-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.
Becker Bldg., Suite B113
Los Angeles, CA 90048