Primary care residents complete 13 primary care blocks during their three-year residency, in addition to the inpatient curriculum. Each block has a specific topic focused patient care session, as well as increased continuity clinic session.
In addition, the curriculum comprises conferences, feedback, and video review to build knowledge and to train residents to be effective teachers. The curriculum is reviewed and improved upon annually by the residents and the faculty at our day-and-a-half retreat.
First Year Curriculum
Second Year Curriculum
Third Year Curriculum
Primary Care Conferences
FIRST YEAR
During the first year, the focus is on core clinical skills integral to becoming a primary care physician. Interns learn deductive reasoning, establish patient continuity, develop psychosocial skills and build working relationships with their colleagues and staff.
Psychosocial Medicine
Residents dedicate 10 weeks to learning about the medical interview, the doctor-patient relationship, medical ethics, and psychosocial aspects of patient care. They master the knowledge and skills needed to manage common psychiatric problems, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and somatization. Residents also participate in a week long substance abuse training program as well as the palliative care consultation service for Bellevue Hospital during this time. A variety of innovative methods are used to teach residents these skills, including group interviews, use of videotape, role-playing, and extensive resident centered literature review and discussion.
ENT and Ophthalmology
Lecture Schedule
Interns spend 4 weeks in both private and clinic settings, gaining knowledge that is particularly relevant for the general internist, including the development of key examination skills and familiarity with common eye and ear conditions, including: The Head & Neck Examination, Vertigo, Tinnitus & Hearing Loss, Allergic Rhinitis & Sinusitis, Cough, Pharyngitis & Upper Respiratory Infection, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Glaucoma, and Voice Disorders & Head and Neck Cancer. The highlight of the block is an interactive educational experience that teaches the optholomalogical exam in depth.
SECOND YEAR
Residents concentrate on sharpening their ambulatory care skills and integrating evidence-based medicine and clinical practice through a variety of outpatient experiences.
Evidence-based Medicine: Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Decision-Making
Residents build a strong foundation in evidence-based medicine – the basic science of clinical medicine – and learn how to critically appraise the medical literature, employ quantitative decision-making techniques, and effectively ask and answer clinical research questions. Residents use medical informatics and computers effectively and complete an in depth research project by the end of the intensive 6 week course. Many residents go on to present their projects at national meetings.
Dermatology
Residents spend 4 weeks in the outpatient dermatology clinics at the VA Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital. Through patient care sessions and didactics, residents learn about diagnosis and management of common dermatological problems and procedures in primary care.
Women's Health
Lecture Schedule
This 4 week block combines clinical experiences and workshops to expand and refine knowledge of issues particular to the primary care of women. Residents devote time to sharpening pelvic and breast exam skills, contraception counseling, and domestic violence screening and invervention. Through resident- and faculty-led didactics, they examine topics such as sexuality, medical complications of pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy, common gynecological problems and breast cancer. Curriculum includes: PAP Smears, Contraceptives, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Vaginitis, Domestic Violence, Hormone Replacement Therapy & Menopause, Breast Health, Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Pregnancy & Lactation, Medical Abortion, and Lesbian Health.
This block builds on the skills developed during the clinical epidemiology block. It is designed to allow the student to further explore their research project and learn basic skills to implement a project. The residents will be mentored on applying for an IRB and will have a faculty advisor to aid in completion of the project. It is expected that the resident will present their project at a National meeting.
THIRD YEAR:
Residents are given an opportunity to strengthen their knowledge base and hone leadership and teaching
skills.
Geriatrics and Palliative Care
This 4 week block provides residents with a unique opportunity to master the special skills needed to care for elderly patients. Residents learn these skills through attendance in geriatric clinics, home visits, didactics, and field trips to nursing home and hospice facilities. They also revisit palliative care through consults and academic sessions.
Health Policy and Economics
Lecture Schedule
This unique 8 week course is designed to enhance the knowledge, skills and ability of the physician to advocate for patients and participate in the shaping of healthcare systems. Residents examine the complexities of the changing healthcare system and learn how to influence decisions about it. Taught by NYU faculty, politicians, managed care executives, and hospital administrators, the course is structured as a seminar series with project goals. The course culminates in lobbying trips to Albany and Washington, where residents meet with their representatives and advocate for various healthcare issues. These projects have served as a focus for future work and projects, such as the creation of a weight management clinic.
Neuro-Musculoskeletal
Residents spend 4 weeks improving their skills in the evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. They see patients in the private practices of orthopedic and rheumatology attendings, as well as in rheumatology and neurology clinics at Bellevue. They attend lectures, work with primary care faculty in the evaluation of common joint complaints and learn common procedures such as joint injections.
Endocrine and Multispecialty
During this block, residents spend time in endocrinology clinics and their choice of 2 additional specialties. This provides the opportunity to fill perceived gaps in knowledge and prepare for the challenges of board exams and their new jobs.
Leadership and Professionalism
Midway through the PGY3 year residents spend 4 weeks learning the key skills of teaching and leadership. The learner centered approach to this block enables content and teaching to reflect the career choices of each particular class. Curriculum has included clinic precepting, workshops on how to run effective meetings and observing medical student clinical skills examinations.
PRIMARY CARE CONFERENCES
Primary Care 4 p.m. Conference
This 90-minute, department-wide seminar provides an opportunity for residents to learn a topic in-depth and to practice teaching skills. These conferences cover a wide variety of topics chosen by the presenting resident. The resident works with a faculty member and the chief resident to develop their talk and create a highly educational and researched lecture.
Pre-Clinic Talks
This is a grassroots feel, resident led lecture series designed
to cover workup and management of core ambulatory topics.
Psychosocial Case Conference
This weekly conference provides a forum to discuss psychosocial diagnostic challenges, reinforcing and advancing skills developed during psychosocial medicine in the first year. The group works together under the guidance of psychosocially expert faculty to develop an effective management strategy.
Clinical Case Conference
This weekly conference provides a forum to discuss challenging ambulatory questions and cases with Dr. Mitchell Charap.
Journal Club
Journal Club Schedule and Selected
Articles
This exciting and educational weekly conference allows residents and faculty to stay current with the medical literature through a structured, evidence-based approach.
Outpatient Morning Report
Primary care residents on ambulatory block participate in a bi-weekly outpatient morning report where the residents present challenging cases to be discussed by the core faculty as well as guest Attendings.
Resident Faculty Forum
Primary care residents and faculty gather to discuss the Residency Program, its curriculum, and other matters of importance to residents and faculty during these semiannual sessions. Residents are encouraged to discuss any topic they feel is relevant and to use this time to help the faculty identify areas for change within the program.
Primary Care Retreat
Annually, the entire faculty and all 24 residents go away together for our 2-day primary care retreat. During this highly charged, exciting and insightful program we come together for review, reflection and adaptation of our program. It is considered a highlight of the year and it results in many of the innovations and changes to the program.
National Meetings
Third-year medical residents, as well as residents of any year with accepted projects, are funded for travel to national meetings. Support is also provided for residents to participate in an intensive one week training course at with PACE or Hazelden House in New York, internationally known organizations for the treatment of addiction; regional Society of General Internal Medicine conferences; and other local meetings.
