Program Highlights

From electives to interdisciplinary simulation training, our curriculum is structured to give our residents not only the solid foundation of the ACGME core competencies, but also opportunities that allow residents to focus on their personalized professional goals.

Check out these highlights of our three-year curriculum.

Advocacy

New for the 2011-2012 academic year, an 18-month rolling curriculum for child advocacy has been implemented as part of the PUSH program. Residents meet monthly during noon conference for 30 minutes of didactic teaching followed by 30 minutes of planning for PUSH's next been endeavor.

Quality Improvement

In 2011, the program implemented a formal Quality Improvement curriculum consisting of didactic lectures, experiential learning on the inpatient wards, and further experiential learning integrated into the outpatient setting. On the inpatient wards, the residents vote on a problem they've encountered within the hospital and use QI methodology to create and trial a solution. In the outpatient setting, residents complete a chart review and a brief PDSA cycle during their ambulatory rotations. Residents may also participate in QI projects as part of their Scholarly Activity.

Customizable Pathways

When residents expressed their desire to have a career-focused track in their training, we added the Customizable Pathway system. Each year, a number of residents in good standing can enter one of two pathways:  Fellowship Training or Primary Care. In these pathways, residents are able to adapt their schedules to gain extra experience in fields they ultimately wish to pursue.

International Rotation

Residents are able to go global with their training during a four-week elective international rotation. We have collaborative agreements between University of Louisville and medical schools and teaching hospitals at two sites - Ecuador and Ghana. We are in the process of developing a Global Health Track that will include a Certificate in Global Health to be available in 2012. Read more about the international elective rotation.

Communication Curriculum

Delivering difficult news is never easy, but our communication curriculum gives residents the skills necessary to handle this challenging responsibility as well as more routine tasks such as phone consults and patient handoffs. Through the use of several teaching methods, such as small group sessions and recorded simulation training, residents learn not only how to be effective communicators and active listeners but also how to apply these skills in a variety of settings.

Evidence-Based Medicine

Our 18-month rolling Evidence-Based Medicine curriculum, including Journal Club and Morning Report, requires residents to critically evaluate articles related to patient care and share their critiques with the group both as a presentation and a publication.