Curriculum & Conference Highlights

The Medicine/Pediatrics curriculum consists of several elements:

Ambulatory Curriculum

The ambulatory curriculum is implemented for all residents in the Medicine/Pediatrics Primary Care Center (MPPCC). A conference is held during protected time in the first half-hour of each clinical session, co-facilitated by a resident and Med/Peds faculty member. Residents play a leadership role in conducting the sessions. Each topic is identical for all sessions during a single week so that all residents and faculty cover the same material. An Introductory Series of 12 core topics is repeated each July, August and September. Topics include basic approaches to adult and pediatric patients aimed at new interns and students who are beginning their continuity experience in the Med/Peds Clinic. Following the Introductory Series, the remaining sections of the Ambulatory Curriculum consist of broad content areas selected from adult and pediatric materials. The curriculum is web-based, making it accessible from any networked or Home/VPN computer.

Transitional Illness Curriculum

With the support of a Picker Institute/Gold Foundation Challenge Grant, we are partnering with the Rhode Island Department of Health and Hasbro Children's TALC (the Adolescent Leadership Council) Program to develop a transition clinic and resident curriculum. The "Transitional Curriculum" which specifically deals with illness that begins in childhood and continues through adolescence into adulthood is incorporated into existing ambulatory rotations. Med/Peds faculty and residents have developed pilot modules with generalist faculty as well as sub-specialists in a collaborative effort to develop a curriculum focusing on health concerns which transcend the traditional age-defined cutoffs separating the two disciplines. Topics include care of the patient with congenital heart disease, diabetes, Down's Syndrome, cystic fibrosis and other chronic conditions, domestic violence and learning disabilities. This exciting and unique aspect of our curriculum is a work in progress and we anticipate residents playing a major role in the development of this program.

Medicine/Pediatrics Forum

The Medicine/Pediatrics Forum is a conference series conducted by the residency program in which literature and topics relevant to the practice of both specialties are discussed and integrated. The series is conducted in both journal club and didactic formats. Residents and faculty jointly contribute to the topic selection and content of each session, with oversight the responsibility of a PGY4 "Forum Chief Resident". The format reflects a respect for the role of residents as faculty colleagues, and allows the content to adapt to current interests and educational needs. The series allows for 2-3 monthly meetings of residents, faculty and other interested colleagues for formal and informal interactions and learning.

For conference forums, the resident or faculty leader select a topic and invite guest speakers from the Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics. This conference series has enabled internists and pediatricians, as well as generalists and specialists to confer and collaborate in presenting educational material. The synergy that emerges within these forums has furthered their success and led to the enthusiastic participation of faculty in both departments. Responsibility for journal club forums rotates among resident/faculty pairings, each of whom selects an article pertinent to either medicine or pediatrics or to Med/Peds and works with a faculty member to present the topic and critique of the article.

Conferences

Medicine/Pediatrics residents attend conferences that are conducted within each department depending upon the specialty in which they are rotating for that particular trimester. Med/Peds specific conferences, which are conducted throughout the year, consist of:

• Med/Peds Clinic conference and curriculum
• Med/Peds Forum conducted twice monthly
• Quarterly Med/Peds program meeting
• Annual Medicine/Pediatrics retreat

The Medicine/Pediatrics residents also participate in the retreats and individual program curriculum committees within the Department of Internal Medicine as well as the Department of Pediatrics. Med/Peds residents are fully integrated into each of these departments and are regarded as peers with residents in each of the individual residency programs with respect to education, responsibility, program feedback and participation.