Unity Health-White County Medical Center Program

The Unity Health Internal Medicine Residency Program is dedicated to educating and preparing residents for successful careers in primary care internal medicine. The program is ACGME-accredited and is proud of its comprehensive curriculum, which emphasizes teamwork among faculty and residents. The program's three-year training program equips residents with the skills needed for independent practice in primary care, hospitalist medicine, and subspecialty training. Serving a diverse eight-county area, the program provides residents with extensive exposure to a wide range of medical conditions.

Residents benefit from a curriculum that cultivates essential knowledge through various educational methods. These include formal didactics, simulation training, and asynchronous education, which together enhance the learning experience for residents. The program is designed to reinforce the practical applications of internal medicine learned through hands-on patient care in both teaching clinics and inpatient wards.

Curriculum Structure

The residency curriculum includes formal didactic sessions that take place daily. These sessions consist of traditional lectures, case presentations, and participation in monthly journal clubs and morbidity and mortality conferences. A typical weekly schedule consists of structured didactic sessions that include:

• Monday: 1-2 PM
• Tuesday: 12-1 PM
• Wednesday: 12-1 PM
• Thursday: 12-1 PM
• Friday: 12-2 PM

Importantly, the program incorporates simulation training on the first and third Fridays of each month. This dedicated time enables residents to train for emergencies, such as code blue situations, practice procedural skills, and develop Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) skills under the guidance of chief residents and attending physicians.

Asynchronous Education

The program additionally supports the self-directed learning of residents through access to resources including the Yale Outpatient Curriculum, Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program (MKSAP), Rosh Review, and for the PGY-2 and PGY-3 residents, the MedStudy Internal Medicine Audio Pearls. The program maintains a strong emphasis on research, with a dedicated director of scholarly activity available to assist residents in their research projects and involvement in quality improvement initiatives.

Rotations Overview

Residents engaged in the program will experience a comprehensive range of clinical rotations throughout their residency. The first year (PGY-1) primarily focuses on internal medicine, including:

• 4 months of Inpatient Internal Medicine
• 1 month of Cardiology Consults
• 1 month of Inpatient Nephrology
• 1 month of Critical Care Medicine
• 1 month of Night Float (split into two 2-week rotations)
• 1 month of Outpatient Internal Medicine
• 3 months of Electives

The second-year (PGY-2) structure allows residents to engage more deeply in outpatient subspecialty rotations while still reinforcing inpatient skills through core rotations. This year typically includes:

• 2 months of Inpatient Internal Medicine
• 1 month of Cardiology Consults
• 1 month of Critical Care Medicine
• 1 month of Night Float
• 1 month of various Outpatient Subspecialties (e.g., Endocrinology, Neurology)
• 1 month of Inpatient Infectious Disease, and more.

Advanced training during the final year (PGY-3) focuses on applying learned knowledge in real-world settings, including returning to serve as leaders in inpatient teams. Key rotations include:

• 3 months of Inpatient Internal Medicine
• 1 month of Inpatient Nephrology
• 1 month of Outpatient Geriatrics
• 1 month of Outpatient Oncology/Hematology
• 1 month of Emergency Medicine
• 3 months of Electives

Applicant Qualifications

The Unity Health Internal Medicine Residency Program is highly competitive and seeks applicants who demonstrate exceptional communication skills and a strong academic performance. Preferred qualifications include:

• Step 1 score of 205 or higher
• Step 2 score of 210 or higher, or COMLEX Level 1 and 2 scores of equivalent performance
• Applicants should ideally be within two years of medical school graduation
• Three letters of recommendation, with at least one from a physician who can attest to the candidate's clinical abilities
• ECFMG certification, if applicable

Additionally, students interested in applying for an audition rotation are encouraged. However, it's important to note that observerships are not allowed. The program accepts 12 residents per year.

Visa Support

The Unity Health Internal Medicine Residency Program provides adequate support for international medical graduates in need of visa sponsorship. Typically, the program sponsors J-1 visas, which are commonly used by foreign medical graduates pursuing residency training in the United States.

Conclusion

Overall, the Unity Health Internal Medicine Residency Program offers an engaging, rigorous environment dedicated to professional growth and comprehensive training for future internists, ensuring that residents emerge as skilled, independent practitioners ready for diverse roles in healthcare.