Clinical Experience

A strong foundation is the key to any successful academic institution. At Hackensack University Medical Center, we have built our Internal Medicine Residency program on that very principle. The tireless efforts of the physicians and staff have developed a program that is strong within every subspecialty within Internal Medicine, while allowing for unparalleled flexibility and input from residents. Serving a large, diverse, and high-acuity patient population, HUMC provides residents with extensive experience managing a wide range of medical conditions across various demographics. Resident feedback is a crucial part of the weekly discussions with faculty who foster an environment of teamwork and cooperation. With protected conference time, continual curriculum refinement, and customizable schedules tailored to individual goals, residents are empowered to shape their own education.

Core Rotations

Medical Teaching Service / Floors

While rotating on the inpatient medical teaching service, residents will have the opportunity to learn the essentials of inpatient medicine while working on one of three teaching teams. Working in conjunction with a supervising attending physician, residents will lead a team of interns and medical students to manage patients with complex medical needs and coordinate interdisciplinary care in a hospital setting. Daily teaching rounds ensure that day to day medical management is driven by evidence-based practice.

Night Float

The night float rotation is a demanding and essential aspect of training. Working in a team of one senior and one intern, residents work overnight shifts to admit new patients from the emergency room and provide care to patients who require medical attention during the night. Additionally, residents provide cross-coverage for the three teaching teams. This structure allows for the management of acute illnesses while teaching the skills needed to quickly and effectively respond to emergencies.

Intermediate Care Medicine / Step Down

The Step Down rotation provides hands-on experience working with a multidisciplinary team and managing patients with complex medical needs who require intermediate care between the ICU and the general medical floors. Residents will learn management of invasive and non-invasive ventilation and tracheostomy management.

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

During this rotation, residents gain crucial experience in managing critically ill patients and are challenged to develop critical thinking skills and make rapid decisions in complex and dynamic situations with the support of our critical care fellows and intensivists who are in house 24/7. Daily teaching rounds will educate residents to interpret and integrate clinical data when formulating appropriate treatment plans, including the use of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) during rounds. They will learn to manage potential complications, handle emergencies, and participate in or lead codes. They will also provide end-of-life care for critically ill patients while developing the interpersonal and communication skills needed to hold difficult conversations with patients’ families. Additionally, there are opportunities to develop procedural skills in central venous catheter placement, arterial line placement, lumbar punctures, thoracentesis and paracentesis. They will also get exposed to advanced interventions such as vvECMO, CRRT, Swan Ganz catheters and balloon pumps.

Ambulatory

The ambulatory clinic at Hackensack University Medical Center is run by our residents, offering a unique and immersive experience. With the 6 + 2 schedule, every six weeks of inpatient rotations is followed by two weeks of dedicated ambulatory medicine. This dedicated time allows residents to fully immerse themselves in the ambulatory setting while also enabling continuity of care. Residents learn to formulate and implement evidence-based treatment plans, manage chronic medical conditions, and provide preventive care, such as immunizations and health screenings. Residents will also have an opportunity to engage in quality improvement projects in the ambulatory setting. These projects enable residents to contribute to enhancing clinic operations, patient care processes, and overall healthcare delivery.

Elective Opportunities

Key Highlights

Customizable Rotations: Residents have the opportunity to tailor their rotations to align with personal interests and career goals, ensuring a personalized training experience.

Flexible Electives: We offer a range of elective options, including both outpatient and inpatient-focused experiences, developed based on resident feedback and preferences.

• Addiction Medicine
• Allergy/Immunology
• Behavioral Health
• Cardiology electives
  • General Cardiology
  • Cardiac Imaging
  • Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU)
  • Congestive Heart Failure
  • Electrophysiology
  • Structural Heart
• Clinical Informatics
• Dermatology
• Endocrinology
  • Obesity clinic available
• Gastroenterology
  • IBD clinic available
• Geriatrics
• Infectious Disease
  • HIV clinic available
• Hospitalist Medicine
• Benign Hematology
• Oncology
  • Bone Marrow Transplant
  • Leukemia
  • Lymphoma
  • Multiple Myeloma
  • Solid Tumor
• Nephrology
• Pulmonology
  • ILD clinic, multidisciplinary ALS clinic available
  • Interventional Pulmonology
• Neurology
  • General Neurology
  • Stroke Neurology
  • Neurocritical Care
• Pain and Palliative
• POCUS
• Rheumatology
• Sports Medicine