The following information is available:

Program Specifics
Rotation Schedule
Research
Conferences and Didactics
Examinations and Evaluations
Salary & Benefits

Program Specifics

We have 10 Preliminary Interns in our first year and 16 categorical residents in each of three years for a total of 58 residents. We have been fortunate to have matched bright, hardworking, and dedicated young physicians who have worked cohesively toward providing excellent care and a wonderful collegial environment. Our residents work under the guidance and supervision of our dedicated faculty to provide state of the art medical care to our ethnically, culturally and economically diverse patient population. With approximately 20,000 medical admissions to our hospital last year alone, our residents have ample opportunity to see a broad spectrum of disease states and can choose which cases are the most interesting for them to manage. Our residents act as teachers and mentors to the many third and fourth year medical students who rotate through our hospital.

Residents rotate through and get exposure to all aspects of internal medicine. From ambulatory care to critical care and from general internal medicine to the myriad of subspecialist rotations, we have a broad curriculum that provides a rounded experience throughout the residency training. We offer the opportunity to do away elective rotations, so you can experience how medicine is practiced at other institutions in other parts of the country. Long before the ACGME introduced work hour restrictions, we recognized that a tired resident couldn’t learn or provide appropriate medical care. With a robust night float system, we are entirely a 24-hour call free program and few rotations require more than 65 hours per week, far less than the 80-hour per week restriction by the ACGME.

Clinical research opportunities continue to expand at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Every categorical resident is required to engage in a research project under the direction and guidance of a faculty mentor prior to completion of the program. Our administration continues to grow and support research at our institution, which has lead to numerous regional and national publications by our residents. Our robust journal club has helped teach excellent statistical analysis skills that our residents have used both to analyze the literature as well as compose it. We have a full time statistician available to the residents to help with their data analysis and final calculations.

Rotation Schedule

Long before ACGME work-hours rules, the Internal Medicine program at Jersey Shore University Medical Center embarked on a path toward a more sensible lifestyle for residents with the belief that learning cannot occur safely or effectively when trainees are exhausted. Today, a robust night-float system has eliminated over-night call and few rotations require more than 65 hours per week, far less than the 80-hour work restriction defined by the ACGME.

First Year:

General Medicine – 12 weeks
CCU – 3 weeks
ICU – 9 weeks
Night Float – 6 weeks
GI/ Pulmonary – 3 weeks
Primary Care – 7 weeks
Elective – 4 weeks
Vacation – 4 weeks
ER – 2 weeks
Didactics – 3 weeks

Second Year:

General Medicine – 4 weeks
Cardiology – 4 weeks
Night CCU/ICU – 3 weeks
Night MAR (Medical Admitting Resident) – 3 weeks
Geriatrics – 3 weeks
Primary care – 10 weeks
Elective – 5 weeks
Vacation – 4 weeks
ID – 4-5 weeks
Didactics – 3 weeks
Heme/ Onc – 2-3 weeks
Endo – 3 weeks
Nephrology – 3 weeks

Third Year:

General Medicine – 7 weeks
ICU – 3 weeks
Night CCU/ICU – 4 weeks
MAR – 4weeks
Geriatrics – 3 weeks
Primary care – 9 weeks
Elective – 9 weeks
Vacation – 4 weeks
Med-consult – 3 weeks
Didactics – 3 weeks
Pulmonary – 3 weeks
ER MAR – 1-3 weeks

Research

Working through the research process — formulation of a hypothesis/ preparing a research plan/ making final revisions to a manuscript — gives one a true feel for the complexity of clinical investigation and an appreciation for the work done by others. Personal engagement in the research endeavor provides a stronger basis for critical assessment of the literature, and residents who demonstrate proficiency and productivity in scholarly activities will stand apart from the crowd when applying for fellowships.

Our residency is unique in that it has resources available at few other programs. With the support of our hospital and residency administration, we have Michael Carson, M.D., Director of Research/Outcomes, whose priorities are to work with the residents and department members in order to develop original research projects. Dr. Carson offers experience and knowledge to guide residents through the processes of developing and focusing a research question, design of the protocol and data collection tool, and completion of the application to the Institutional Review Board (the committee that oversees all research at our institution). Additionally, Dr. Carson is able to assist in preliminary data analysis. Dr. Carson is a complement to numerous other faculty members, proven mentors, who actively engage residents in original research that is often accepted for presentation at national meetings.

In addition, YenHong Kuo PhD is a full-time Biostatistician on staff at Jersey Shore University Medical Center available for consultation regarding the specifics of study design and data analysis. This level of research staffing is something available only at University programs dedicated to facilitating resident research and academic projects.

Dr. Carson runs the Evidence-Based Medicine curriculum for the 3rd year medical students, and he and Dr. Kuo also supervise the department’s journal club utilizing an internationally accepted evidence-based medicine format.

We have also started to collaborate with New York University School of Medicine Center for Healthful Behavioral Change.

The NYU CHBC research elective is available to provide selected second and third year residents concentrated mentored exposure to Translational Research from faculty and fellows at the NYU Center for Healthful Behavioral Change, part of the NYU Clinical Translational Science Institute (CTSI). Residents who qualify for this rotation will commit to continue their project with their mentors at NYU after completion of the elective with expectation of submission of a scientific abstract for presentation at a national meeting or a manuscript publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Conferences and Didactics

Our educational framework consists of a combination of supervised clinical care and formal didactic teaching programs. The residents are expected to attend the various conferences and have ‘protected time’ so they can attend without distractions.

Morning Report

Morning Report is just one of the highlights of the learning opportunities in Medicine here at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. It is held weekly on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings.

The emphasis is on clinical medicine – the ability to take a thorough history, perform a comprehensive symptom-directed physical exam, synthesize the data into a logical differential diagnosis, and order appropriate laboratory and ancillary tests. Members of the faculty regularly challenge residents, and residents are expected to challenge faculty, to be consistent to the principles of evidence-based medicine and cost-effectiveness.

Internal Medicine Core Lecture Series

This continuing series of lectures is based on the educational objectives and curriculum established by Jersey Shore University Medical Center to provide a solid foundation in essential primary care and subspecialty topics. The lectures are given at noon time and are grouped on a monthly basis by field of medicine. Topics include:

Cardiology
Critical Care
Dermatology
Endocrinology
ENT
Gastroenterology
Gynecology
Hematology
Infectious Disease
Medical Ethics
Nephrology
Neurology
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Palliative Care
Primary Care
Rheumatology
Urology

Pathology Conference

Given monthly, Brian Ehler, M.D., chairman of Pathology, presents interesting cases for the residents to evaluate and discuss. The forum is interactive and educational.

Grand Rounds

This is a traditional academic grand rounds attended by the residents, medical students, faculty, voluntary faculty, and members of the Department of Medicine and physicians from other departments in the hospital. Distinguished educators from all around the nation present formal lectures. In addition to evolving issues in clinical practice, presentations cover such diverse topics as ethics, business, research, public health, risk management, professional liability, and cultural diversity.

Resident Research Day And Peer Review Meetings

These conferences are held monthly and allow residents to present to the faculty and the other residents. In order to hone research plans, study design and data and to foster an atmosphere of inquiry and scholarship. The culmination of these efforts is celebrated in June when residents, faculty and alumni from all departments convene to present papers and posters, with prizes awarded for exceptional achievement. Many of these projects are also published or presented at national meetings.

Journal Club

Articles from the current medical literature are chosen for presentation and discussion. Third year medical residents present interesting articles for discussion. We focus on how to critically and analytically review published articles. We expand our medical knowledge and our skills in systems based learning. We discuss statistics and study design and share practical advice about research design and publishing.

Clinical Pathological Conference

Held about once per month, this is a chance for our third year residents to present to the entire Department of Medicine in a “Grand Rounds” setting. Working with a faculty mentor, residents select an interesting case which they present as the starting point for a formal discussion of pathophysiology and clinical issues.

Board Review

The department sponsors a comprehensive six-month Board Review Course to help our residents prepare for the ABIM Board Certification Exam. Participation is open to all residents but the course is geared towards the third year class.

Optional Conferences

In addition to the required didactic program, residents are encouraged to participate in other conferences as time permits:

Subspecialty Journal Clubs
Tumor Board
Breast Cancer Conference
Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Conference
Nephrology CPCs
Regional Infectious Diseases Case Conference

Feedback Fridays

Once a month, the Program Directors or the Chair of Medicine hold Feedback Friday, during which residents receive cumulative feedback. This is also an opportunity for residents to provide feedback to the program. It is one of many innovative steps to address the concerns of our residents, to provide a supportive environment and conceptual space where residents can express not only their concerns but also ideas to improve the program further.

Examinations & Evaluations

Evaluations

We recognize the value of honest, constructive evaluations which help improve our skills and expertise. On a monthly basis, residents receive comprehensive written feedback through our online evaluation system called New Innovations. Feedback is provided frequently and informally on rounds, after conferences, or after any observed encounter. Clinical skills are formally assessed through mini-CEXs evaluations and OSCEs. Feedback from patients, medical students, and nurses also round out the evaluation process.

Conversely, residents are also given the opportunity to evaluate the program and faculty in an anonymous fashion through new innovations and yearly program surveys.

Exams

Once a year, all residents take the In-Training examination sponsored by the American College of Physicians, a comprehensive written examination in Internal Medicine. This exercise allows our residents to benchmark their knowledge base against their peers throughout the country and to evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses in particular aspects of Internal Medicine.

The department also administers weekly quizzes which help reinforce the knowledge gained from the core lecture series. In addition, we have an on-line database of thousands of questions for resident self-assessment exams. We also use the online John’s Hopkins Ambulatory Training Modules and examinations to compliment the in-training examination.

Mentors

Upon entering the program, each resident is matched with a faculty member as their advisor. They meet formally quarterly each year and informally as needed. It is a chance for the resident to develop a personal relationship with an experienced physician to discuss professional goals and individual issues.

Salary & Benefits

PGY1
Salary: $57,265
4 weeks vacation

PGY2
Salary: $61,146
4 weeks vacation

PGY3
Salary: $64,890
4 weeks vacation

Meal Card Allowance of $350 per month

Other Available Benefits

Child care available on site for a feeComprehensive Medical/Dental/Life Insurance
Computer access 24/7
Disability in accordance with the law and Board eligibility requirements.
Employee Assistance Program
Family leave
Time to attend educational meetings/conferences
Life support courses and certification
Malpractice Insurance
Maternity leave
Medical leave
On-call Living Quarters
Parking
Tax shelter annuity plan 401K
Temporary Disability
Uniforms
Wellness Program
Workers’ Compensation

Internal Medicine Residency

Program Details