Didactic half days held on Monday mornings constitute the core didactic training experience for residents. They are designed to comprehensively cover the biologic basis of disease, including the physiology, pathophysiology, and molecular biology of disease. Complementary conferences that address moral, ethical, professional, society, and systematic (systems-based practice) issues are also thoughtfully incorporated into this forum. There is also a weekly ambulatory session focused on outpatient topics. Residents are excused from clinical duties for this session. Sessions are generally case based and interactive.
Topics in Internal Medicine, or TIME, occurs Monday through Thursday at 10:45 a.m. This is a 15 minute conference that represents daily and deliberate practice of core skills for the internist. On EKG Monday, we read a single EKG systematically with a focused learning point, usually with electrophysiology faculty present. On Imaging Tuesdays, we read a single imaging study in depth, the majority of them being chest X rays. Wednesdays are mini morning reports where a resident presents a summary of a routine case and we form a differential diagnosis systematically. Thursdays are mini journal clubs.
Held Monday through Friday, Medicine Noon Conferences represent the opportunity for residents to put learned materials into practice. Sessions include faculty lectures to cover high yield topics through interactive sessions. Resident and intern reports are given on Tuesdays which are the main avenue to practice diagnostic reasoning. Thursdays and Fridays are resident case conferences, Journal Club and Senior Resident Lectures. Lunch is provided for residents.
Journal Club:
This is where residents learn the skills to critically appraise the primary literature and think about applying evidence to patient care. Journal clubs are conducted in two forms. The first is a short review of landmark trials or relevant guidelines as a part of the weekly Thursday morning Topics in Internal Medicine session. The other journal club is a monthly in depth review where residents critically analyze a recent study and debate the implications of the results on patient care. This is usually done with an expert faculty member on the relevant subject present.
Recent journal clubs:
- ACTT-1 trial for Remdesivir vs placebo for COVID-19 with Dr. Sarah George, principal site investigator for the SLU site of the trial.
- ISCHEMIA trial of invasive vs conservative stable coronary disease with Dr. Bernard Chaitman, chair of the clinical events adjudication committee and author for the trial
- CANVAS trial of canagliflozin vs placebo for cardiovascular outcomes in diabetes with Dr. John Edwards, faculty in the division of Nephrology.
Senior Resident Lecture:
An opportunity for PGY3 residents to prepare and give a grand rounds style lecture for learners and faculty on a topic of their choosing. Residents are expected to do an in-depth literature review and review their presentation with a faculty mentor. They are given an evaluation by attendees, do a self-reflection of a recording of the lecture and get individual feedback from an APD or PD. The top three talks based on evaluations are recognized during graduation. The first-place talk is selected to give grand rounds at the John Cochran VA at the end of the year.
Recent winners and topics include:
- CIN: Much Ado About Nothing? by Dr. Jad Tabbara, Class of 2020
- Uncertainty: or How I Learned to Start Worrying by Dr. Paul Kunnath, Class of 2019
- Sickle Cell Disease by Dr. Sayo Adeyemo, Class of 2018
Internal Medicine Grand Rounds conferences form the cornerstone of the department’s educational programs. Held every Friday at 7:30 a.m. (and Wednesdays at 12 p.m. at John Cochran VA), these conferences highlight important advances in basic and clinical sciences, as well as state-of-the-art reviews of core medicine topics. Select residents also have the opportunity to present original research and cases at Grand Rounds throughout the year.
Recent grand rounds include:
- Coagulopathy and COVID by Dr. Martin Schoen, Associate Program Director for the IM Residency and Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology, Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapies
- Facilitating Diversity by Dr. Daniel Blash, Vice Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer
- Expanding Kidney Transplant Access in 2020: Challenges and Opportunities by Dr. Krista Lentine, Mid-America/Jane A. Beckman Endowed Chair in Transplantation and Professor of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology
Mentorship is the cornerstone of career development. The main formal mechanism for mentorship is the SLU IM Internal Guidance Program (IGP), through which each resident is assigned an Associate Program Director to be their mentor throughout their time in the program. Residents meet at least biannually with their IGP mentor to discuss professional, educational and personal goals. Informal avenues for mentorship include chief medicine residents, career and research mentors.