Medical Economics

This is a two week course for upper level residents taught by Dr. David Fallaw.  This curriculum encompasses all things residents wish they were taught in medical school and residency to prepare them for practice upon completion of training.

The goal of this elective is to improve learner’s knowledge of the economic, business and regulatory issues involved in the practice of clinical medicine in the United States.

The objectives are:

  • Understand the basics of starting and operating a private medical practice.
  • Become familiar with key economic and policy issues affecting the practice of medicine.
  • Learn the principles and processes of quality improvement as they apply to outpatient and inpatient medical practice.

Simulation Lab (SIM)

Simulation training has been around for years in all types of professions, but there is a growing, modernized footprint in medicine that many fellowship and residency training programs are beginning to embrace more fully.  The opportunity to practice and familiarize oneself with situations that are not often encountered, remain challenging, or involve high-acuity scenarios is unquestionably priceless. 

We are fortunate to have access to a state-of-the-art Simulation Center where our trainees can practice a near infinite number of clinical scenarios with high-fidelity mannequins and standardized patients, perform bedside procedures in skill labs, and integrate Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) skills into experiences.

Our SIM curriculum has grown considerably over the last several years, and currently includes a series of clinical learning cases that are woven into our noon conference lecture series.  We challenge our students, interns, and residents to become comfortable in uncomfortable situations – to teach or to perform at levels they may not have yet experienced.  These are opportunities to receive feedback and to grow without the additional stress of outcomes in a live situation.


Ultrasound

The Center for Ultrasound Education in conjunction with the Internal Medicine Residency is proud to offer an integrated ultrasound curriculum as part of residency training.

This curriculum consists of didactic training, hands-on ultrasound scanning labs and scanning rounds, and proficiency assessment and tracking. The goal is for every resident to have access to Point-of-Care Ultrasound training and the opportunity to develop life-long skills to advance their medical practice.

2022-2023 Ultrasound Curriculum 

 


Board Prep Curriculum

Board Preparation:

Internal Medicine Residents at AU have the foundations for excellent board preparation with their strong clinical experience and dedicated time for educational conferences. The spring Board Review Course series, personalized for each PGY-3 class, is a capstone for board preparation each year.

Clinical Experience:

A foundation of board preparation is clinical experience and here at AU, we are fortunate to have a diverse range of patients, pathologies and elective rotations in each Internal Medicine specialty, we also have academic faculty, in both internal medicine and each specialty, who are dedicated to teaching.

Educational Conferences:

Each week there is dedicated time for educational sessions, including Noon Conference, Morning Report, M&M, outpatient ambulatory morning conferences, and others. 

MKSAP:

Residents are each given MKSAP Complete (books and online access) as PGY1s.

Board Review Course:

In addition to these foundations, our program also has an additional Board Review Course for residents in the spring of each academic year, to aid in their board preparation. This board preparation series is focused on the ABIM examination and is taught by our academic faculty in General Internal Medicine and each specialty.

It is case and question based, interactive, and personalized for each PGY-3 class. The focus of topics for the course is based on data regarding the areas of strength and weakness of the current PGY-3 class from their standardized In-Training Examination taken earlier in the year.

Starting in 2020, our spring Board Review Course encompassed 24 conference sessions, all taught by different academic faculty from each specialty. Residents of each PGY level are welcome and encouraged to attend. This course is adjusted and improved each year by asking for feedback from our graduated residents, after they take their ABIM examination. 

 


Residents as Teachers

Our residents actively participate in teaching their peers and medical students.  This can include leading the residents through analyzing a journal article, presenting an interesting overnight case in morning report,  or presenting a more formal presentation during the Case of the Week. 

Residents also have more impromptu discussions on patients or salient clinical topics.

Bite Size Teaching (BeaST)

In 2021, we initiated BeaST mode teaching.  Residents work with faculty to develop a 10 minute high impact, evidence-based, board relevant topic.  A panel of faculty evaluates each speaker, give verbal feedback, and ultimately, choose a winner.  The residents also pick a “viewers-choice” award.  Topics have included:  asthma, SIBO, pneumonia, Barret’s esophagus, hepatorenal syndrome, and GERD.

R2 Leadership Retreat

Each year, the rising PGY2s participate in a R2 Leadership Retreat. The goals of this leadership retreat is to: 

  1.  Empower residents with basic leadership skills that are directly applicable to their clinical work.
  2. Recognize different leadership styles and execute those that foster an inclusive, patient­-centered, and generative educational and work environment.
  3. Improve communication and teamwork amongst residents.
  4. Promote residents' personal and professional development.

R3 Leadership Retreat

Each year, our PGY3s participate in a R3 Leadership Retreat. The goals of this leadership retreat is to: 

  1. Explore life goals and the anxieties of leaving residency
  2. Promote group camaraderie and a culture of teamwork
  3. Cultivate, maintain, and recharge wellness

 

Resident Luncheon with Program Director & Department Chair

 Once a month residents meet with the Program Director and DOM Chair:

  • To get to know the new interns 
  • For the interns to get to know the residents 
  • To listen and identify any concerns the residents may have