Training Overview: Pathways

Haiti Global Health

While the Internal Medicine Training Program at Virginia Commonwealth University Hospital offers a number of training tracks to fulfill the interests and career plans of our trainees, each individual, regardless of track, receives excellent training in Internal Medicine and, at the completion of residency, is eligible for the American Board of Internal Medicine examination.

Categorical Track (NRMP Program Code: 1743140C0)

The Categorical Track is a traditional track in the Internal Medicine program is designed for those individuals seeking a rigorous training course preparing them for careers in general adult internal medicine or any of its subspecialties.

All categorical residents will be asked to identify a training pathway in the winter of their intern year; this selection will be made based on individual resident career goals.  Pathway selection allows for tailoring for the training curriculum to meet individual goals and needs.  One to two months per year in the PGY2 and PGY3 years will differ content based on the track selected.  Pathway options will include:

Generalist Pathway Pathway Director: Amanda George, MD

Generalist Pathway

Designed for those individuals preparing for a career as a practicing internist or in academic general internal medicine.  This track offers increased exposure to ambulatory practice through on-site ambulatory care blocks, the VCU faculty practice, and community-based preceptorships.  General medicine educational projects are encouraged.

  • One block community preceptor- PGY-2 year
  • One block transition to practice (Faculty Practice)- PGY-3 year
  • Generalist seminar series (monthly)
  • Funding to attend regional or national SGIM conference (MUST submit general medicine scholarly work or case presentation to receive funding)
  • Requirement to complete specific electives for "certification" in general medicine pathway, including sports medicine, dermatology, ophthalmology

Pathway Director: Amanda George, MD

Hospitalist Pathway Pathway Director: Laura E. Paletta-Hobbs, MD

Hospitalist Pathway

Designed for those pursuing careers in inpatient/hospitalist positions.  This track emphasizes the inpatient management experience and will consist of clinical experience on our extensive hospitalist service, a community hospitalist rotation, and involvement in the Quality Improvement Council.  In addition, trainees in this track will be offered education experiences health care delivery systems, business and management aspects of medicine and quality improvement opportunities in order to better prepare them to become the hospitalists of tomorrow.

  • One block community hospitalist rotation- PGY 2 year
  • One-two block transition to practice (faculty hospitalist service)- PGY 3 year
  • Hospitalist seminar series monthly
  • Additional procedure training options/programs
  • Requirement to participate in longitudinal Quality Improvement project with hospitalist pathway peers
  • Funding to attend regional or national Society for Hospital Medicine conference (MUST submit hospitalist-oriented scholarly work, PI work, or case presentation)
  • Journal Club presentation during Hospital Medicine Grand Rounds – PGY 3 year
  • Requirement to complete specific electives for “certification” in hospital medicine pathway-to include-hospitalist rotations (times two as noted), neurology consults, medicine consults, and palliative care.

Pathway Director:  Laura E. Paletta-Hobbs, MD

Sub-Specialty Pathway Pathway Director: Rebecca M. Forrest, MD

Sub-Specialty Pathway

Designed for those interested in pursuing subspecialty careers.  The curriculum will emphasize exposure to research opportunities, subspecialty inpatient and outpatient electives, and additional ICU experiences.

  • Each resident is offered electives in their future specialty
  • Each resident should participate in a research month in PGY 2 year
  • Each resident is offered an opportunity to participate in a second research month
  • Each resident must participate in an introduction to clinical and translational seminar series and will have clinical coverage to do so
  • Each resident will be provided with a textbook in clinical and translational research
  • Residents will be mentored in fellowship program selection
  • Funding for presentation at national specialty meeting if scholarly work is accepted

Pathway Director:  Rebecca M. Forrest, MD