Caring for All Ages
The UAMS combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Program consists of four years of training in the care of patients of all ages. Our residents are involved in patient care and educational experiences which are advanced in a graduated fashion as residents broaden and deepen their knowledge and skills in all of the ACGME core competencies.
The education of each Medicine-Pediatrics resident is fully integrated with the UAMS categorical Internal Medicine and Pediatrics programs. We have a 12-month internship at UAMS. While we have fellows in many different subspecialties, we pride ourselves on not being a “fellow-driven” program; junior and senior residents have primary responsibility in caring for patients, performing general internal medicine and pediatric procedures, leading interprofessional teams, and teaching medical students and interns. Residents participate in educational conferences with both categorical programs, and each program also maintains an electronic archive of lectures and related educational materials for reference.
What to Expect
Our Med-Peds residents transition from blocks of Internal Medicine experiences to blocks of Pediatrics experiences every three months for the first two years. The duration of blocks of Internal Medicine (IM) and Pediatrics (Peds) rotations may be altered in the later years of training for valid educational reasons, but it will generally be three to four months in length. Float systems and/or limited overnight call are in place across all of our rotations/services to maintain compliance with the ACGME work hour regulations. Our program does not include any at-home call.
Our residency uses a “4+1” block schedule to limit interference between inpatient and outpatient patient care activities. Residents spend four weeks rotating through inpatient, intensive care unit, or consult services followed by one week on ambulatory services. The one-week ambulatory block includes Med-Peds continuity clinic, Peds continuity clinic, subspecialty clinic, and dedicated didactic time in both IM and Peds. We have separate Peds continuity clinics that are integrated with the categorical residency. There is one “golden weekend” in each ambulatory block.
The weekly requirements for wards/ICU/consults (the “4” in “4+1”) in each year are as follows:
Pediatric Requirements
| Peds | MP1 | MP2 | MP3 | MP4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursery | 4 | |||
| ED | 4 | 2 | 2 | |
| Intensive Care Nursery (ICN) | 4 | 4 | ||
| Gen Peds/Subspecialty Wards | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Cardiology Wards | 2 | |||
| Cardiology Clinic | 2 | |||
| Developmental Pediatrics | 4 | |||
| Primary Care (offsite) | 2 | |||
| PICU | 4 | 4 | ||
| Adolescent (longitudinal) | ||||
| Electives | 12 | 10 | ||
| Totals | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Medicine Requirements
| Medicine | MP1 | MP2 | MP3 | MP4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAMS MICU | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| VA MICU | 4 | |||
| UAMS ED | 4 | |||
| Gen Med Wards | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| Geriatrics/Neurology | 4 | |||
| VA Consults | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 |
| Totals | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Conferences and Curriculum
Pediatrics Conference Schedule
The Department of Pediatrics has established a large variety of educational opportunities to present residents with a comprehensive core of pediatric knowledge throughout training. Educational experiences occur in a variety of forums: direct patient care with one-on-one faculty supervision, teaching rounds, conferences, scientific presentations and personal study.
Internal Medicine Conference Schedule
Our noon conferences are based on a 12-month curriculum, ensuring that all specialties and topics deemed necessary by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) are covered. In addition, we have a bi-weekly board review conference designed to help prepare our residents for the ABIM certifying exam. From 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, our residents participate in our version of morning report called Afternoon Case Discussion. This discussion is moderated by the program director, one of the associate program directors, or faculty with a unique knowledge of the case.
Med-Peds Conference and Journal Club
The Med-Peds program coordinates a midday Med-Peds conference during the ambulatory week. We practice and teach evidence-based medicine, and our program maintains a scholarly environment in which keeping up with current literature is expected and lively debate is encouraged. To that end, we also have a monthly Med-Peds journal club that meets at a resident or faculty member’s home or local restaurant.
Retreats
Pediatric Retreats
Each year our residents have the pleasure of participating in a Pediatrics Retreat. Learn more about our Pediatrics Retreats at the Department of Pediatrics website.
Internal Medicine Retreats
Information coming soon!
Faculty Advisors
Our program offers an established resident mentoring program aimed at promoting individual professional development. From the beginning of internship, residents are paired with faculty passionate about resident education and the training program. Regular, semi-structured meetings with the mentor provide the resident with valuable advice on career plans, research and elective opportunities, areas of concern regarding performance and/or competency, and readiness for certifying examinations. In addition, the resident mentoring program seeks to provide personal support during the demanding years of residency training. The mentoring program is a structured and trusting relationship that brings residents together with caring faculty aimed at developing the competence and character of the resident. Med-Peds residents have Med-Peds trained advisors.
Board Preparation
Here at UAMS, you will be provided with multiple tools to assist you in preparing for the Internal Medicine and Pediatric board exams. All interns receive MedStudy from Pediatrics and MKSAP from Medicine. Residents receive monthly issues of Pediatrics in Review, a yearly subscription to PREP study materials for Pediatrics, and access to Pedialink through the AAP.