St Barnabas Hospital Program

The Internal Medicine Residency Program at SBH is a fully ACGME-accredited program, recognized for its long-standing commitment to training adept internal medicine physicians. Critical to the program's success is its broad exposure of medical residents to various illnesses and pathologies through diverse clinical settings. Residents participate in an active inpatient medical service managed by full-time hospitalists, a substantial Medical ICU with full-time intensivists, and access to a complete range of inpatient and outpatient consultative services across multiple medical subspecialties.

Moreover, SBH boasts a comprehensive and integrated primary care service that spans multiple practice sites, including specialized programs in geriatrics, HIV/AIDS, congestive heart failure, asthma, and diabetes. Such a multifaceted clinical environment ensures that residents develop extensive practical skills crucial for their future careers.

Resident Wellness

Recognizing the challenges faced by residents, SBH prioritizes resident wellness by offering abundant resources to facilitate a smooth transition into the program. Various support systems are in place to maintain both the physical and mental health of residents throughout their training.

Curriculum Highlights

The curriculum includes multiple didactic components that enhance learning and practical application. Key elements consist of:

Morning Report

This monthly interactive session encourages residents to present recently admitted cases, fostering collaborative learning on differential diagnoses and management challenges.

Grand Rounds

Held weekly, Grand Rounds feature presentations from guest lecturers and faculty on pertinent medical topics, promoting continuous education among residents and faculty.

Morbidity & Mortality Conference

This crucial monthly conference focuses on case discussions highlighting educational shortcomings to improve clinical practice. It provides a platform for all patient care team members to analyze factors contributing to specific outcomes from a systems-based perspective.

Board Review

To aid in exam preparation, chief residents conduct monthly board review sessions addressing specific medical areas, complemented by quizzes to assess knowledge retention.

Residency Rotations

The structured residency rotations provide an extensive exposure to various fields:

PGY1: 5 blocks of General Medicine Inpatient Service, 3 blocks of Ambulatory Clinic, 2 blocks of Intensive Care Unit, 1 block of Admitting/Neurology, 1 block of Night Float, and vacation.

PGY2: 2 blocks of General Medicine Inpatient Service, 2 blocks of Ambulatory Clinic, 1 block of Intensive Care Unit, along with rotations in Rheumatology/Palliative, Endocrinology, Nephrology/Geriatrics, Infectious Diseases or Hematology-Oncology, and Emergency Medicine.

PGY3: Emphasizes primary care, infectious diseases, and subspecialties including Gastroenterology and Cardiology.

Research Opportunities

SBH fosters an environment conducive to research, allowing residents to engage in projects leading to case reports and studies often presented at medical conferences. The program encourages resident involvement in specialized journal clubs, providing mentorship and support from senior residents.

Application Requirements and Competitiveness

The program offers a non-pyramidal three-year categorical internal medicine residency, with an annual enrollment of 30 PGY1 positions. Applications must be submitted via ERAS and should include three letters of recommendation, a personal statement, Dean’s letter, and USMLE scores. The program specifically favors applicants with USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 scores of 245 and above on the first attempt, and requires the passing of USMLE Step 2 CS and Step 3 prior to residency start. It is worth noting that the program has no specific requirements for U.S. clinical experience.

Visa sponsorship is available for H1B and J1 visas, making the program accessible to international medical graduates and DOs, thus exhibiting a friendly approach towards a diverse applicant pool.

Benefits and Compensation

All residents receive a comprehensive benefits package, which includes health and dental insurance, professional liability coverage, vacation days totaling 20, and sick leave policy allowing for 1 day per month in the first year. The 2022 salary scale for residents ranged from $76,343 for PGY1 to $86,055 for PGY3, alongside an annual stipend of $1,000.