INTERNAL MEDICINE RESIDENCY

The Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine is a regional and national leader in educating students and residents in primary care.  Residents are fully integrated into both medical education and patient care, often experiencing one-on-one interaction between teacher and student. 

The focus of the Internal Medicine Residency Program is comprehensive training in general medicine and its subspecialties throughout the required three postgraduate years.  Internal Medicine residents participate in every aspect of patient care and assume increasing responsibility appropriate to the level of training.  All requirements and recommendations of the American Board of Internal Medicine for experience and instruction are satisfied during the three years of training. 

The Inpatient Care Team is composed of senior residents, PGY-1 residents, and third and fourth year medical students.  The participation of senior residents in teaching medical students is encouraged to promote self-education as well as the education of others.  Many times a clinical pharmacist rounds with our teams.  We adhere to national policy guidelines regarding primary responsibility for residents and do not exceed the national guidelines for the average number of patients assigned per resident. 

The faculty of the Department of Medicine recognizes the importance of establishing an environment conducive to learning for residents in medicine.  Accordingly, the residency adheres to guidelines providing for: 

• No more than 80 hours of work each week, averaged over four weeks

• One 24-hour period off from work each week

• The assignment of no more than 12 inpatients to each PGY-1 resident

• No more than five admissions for a PGY-1 resident on call

• A maximum of one-in-four night call schedule for residents in all years of training

• A maximum of 30 hours when on call (24 hours call and up to 6 additional hours for continuity patient care).

RESIDENT SCHEDULES

The PGY-1 resident schedule includes the following:

• 6-7 months of hospital service
• 2 months of intensive care unit (ICU)
• 1 month of ambulatory clinic
• 1-3 elective rotations (if vacation is used in a 2 week block can be paired with an elective)
• 3 weeks of vacation and 1 week of educational leave (partially funded by the Department of Medicine).

The PGY-2 resident schedule includes the following:

• 4-5 months of hospital service
• 1 month of ICU
• 1 month of ambulatory clinic
• 1 month of emergency medicine
• 1 month of night float
• 2-3 months of elective rotations
• 3 weeks of vacation and 1 week of educational leave

The PGY-3 resident schedule includes the following:

• 2-3 months of hospital service
• 1 month of ICU
• 1 month of ambulatory clinic
• 1 month of emergency medicine
• 1 month of night float
• 2 weeks of geriatric medicine
• 2 weeks of adolescent medicine
• 3-4 months of elective rotations
• 3 weeks of vacation and 1 week of educational leave

FACULTY AND RESEARCH

Our faculty members complete attending and teaching rounds on a daily basis.  The faculty physicians of the Department of Internal Medicine are full-time university faculty committed to educating residents and students.  All inpatients cared for by residents are admitted to the university teaching service.

Internal Medicine residents are encouraged to collaborate with faculty of the Department of Medicine in their clinical research activities.  The Department has a considerable range of research activities supported by intramural funds and grants.  Residents in the Department have presented thier research at national meetings such as the American College of Physicians, Society of General Internal Medicine, and the American Gastroenterology Association. 

Our Center for Pharmacologic Studies is an excellent example of research activities in the Department of Medicine. Multiple clinical trials in the area of pharmacology are conducted with the participation of our residents.  These projects follow multidisciplinary activities enhancing basic science and clinical research principles for residents. 

CLINICAL SITES

The Internal Medicine Residency has affiliations with St. Mary’s Hospital, Cabell Huntington Hospital and the Veteran Administration Medical Center (VAMC).  The three hospitals are geographically close to Marshall University Medical Center and each other (no more than 15 minutes apart).  The Department of Internal Medicine and its residency provide inpatient services at all three hospitals. 

The inpatient service at the Veterans Administration Medical Center comprises approximately 70 beds and includes acute care, intensive care and intermediate care.  Two teaching services of residents and medical students, and one intensive care team of residents and medical students provide direct patient care for patients.  

Approximately 100 beds are devoted to the care of internal medicine patients at St. Mary’s Hospital.  The University  Service and the Department of Internal Medicine comprises approximately 30 beds.  The University Cardiology Service  comprises an additional 30-40 beds.  There is one teaching service of residents and medical students and one  cardiology teaching service in this hospital.  

The University Service of the Department of Medicine comprises approximately 40 beds at Cabell Huntington Hospital.  A single team of residents, junior residents and medical students participate in patient care activities on this service.  There is a separate intensive care unit team consisting of an intensivist, senior resident, and intern. 

We are committed to excellence in ambulatory care  experiences for our residents.  All residents have a 1/2 day continuity clinic per week of the three years of residency.  One half of this time is spent in the Marshall University Medical Center and the other half is spent either at the VAMC or St. Mary's Hospital clinic.  Residents are given graduated levels of responsibility in the clinic as they progress through the residency.  Residents complete a structured monthly ambulatory curriculum geared toward ambulatory topics, including MKSAP style questions, a case of the month, and the Resident Forum.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

	Resident Level    Salary              Paid Vacation/wks           Paid sick leave/days PGY-1                    $39,000     4 weeks   15 days PGY-2     $40,000     4 weeks   15 days PGY-2     $41,000     4 weeks   15 days