University at Buffalo Program

Program Overview and Philosophy

The University at Buffalo Program in Internal Medicine/Public Health and General Preventive Medicine is a prestigious and comprehensive four-year residency combining internal medicine with preventive medicine. Fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), this program is meticulously designed to equip physicians with the skills to integrate health and wellness promotion for both individuals and populations1. Graduates are prepared to influence public health through clinical, academic, research, and service activities1. With a focus on preventive medicine, the program emphasizes the influence of social and environmental determinants on health outcomes, shaping physicians capable of advancing the wellness of entire communities2.

Curriculum and Rotations

The curriculum of this program is divided into two distinct phases: the academic phase and the practicum phase.

Academic Phase

The focus of the first two years is on intensive internal medicine residency training. Starting around the third postgraduate year, residents embark on the academic phase, which encompasses coursework leading to either a Master of Public Health (MPH) or a Master of Science (MS) in epidemiology3. The MPH program offers concentrations in:

• Biostatistics
• Community Health and Health Behavior
• Environmental Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Services Administration

Core coursework covers both introductory and advanced topics such as epidemiology, biostatistics, health behavior, organization of healthcare, and environmental health3.

Practicum Phase

The practicum phase is a personalized training experience involving supervised clinical practice in various primary care clinics, public health programs, and managed care settings4. Residents have the opportunity to tailor their practicum according to professional interests, participating in rotations that include a maternal health rotation focusing on social determinants of health, and a lifestyle medicine rotation emphasizing behavioral counseling and lifestyle medicine treatment plans5. Resident education is further enriched through continuity clinic experiences in internal or family medicine practice settings5.

Training Sites and Facilities

The program utilizes a network of prestigious affiliates for resident training, including:

• Buffalo Cardiology and Pulmonary Associates
• Buffalo Psychiatric Center
• Community Health Center of Buffalo
• Erie County Health Department
• Independent Health Association
• Jericho Road Family Practice
• Kaleida Health
• New York State Department of Health
• Niagara County Health Department
• Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

These sites provide residents with invaluable exposure to diverse patient populations and a variety of healthcare delivery models, further cementing their practical skills in public health settings4.

Application Requirements and Competitiveness

Candidates intending to apply to the program must submit applications via the ERAS system, including a dean’s letter, transcript, and three professional references6. Eligibility requires the completion of three years of postgraduate training in a primary care residency, with candidates being board-eligible or board-certified in family medicine, general internal medicine, or related fields6. The program admits only two to three residents annually, maintaining a competitive and selective process adherent to the Standards of Accreditation in Professional Education (SAP)6.

Research Opportunities

The program fosters a robust research environment, encouraging residents to actively engage in projects across various domains such as epidemiology, biostatistics, and healthcare program quality improvement. Residents participate in Scholarly Exchange Day and are provided with financial support to attend local, regional, and national conferences, especially when presenting their research7. This robust engagement promotes leadership and innovation in public health studies

Unique Program Features

One unique aspect of the program is that it provides grant funding that covers the entire cost of the MPH program, allowing residents to attain their degree without financial burden3. This advantage ensures that residents can focus on their education and training without encountering monetary obstacles. Additionally, the MPH program's coursework is accessible in both on-site and online formats, providing flexibility to accommodate diverse learning preferences and schedules3.

Resident Wellness and Support

Resident wellness and support are key components of the program's philosophy. Each resident is granted 20 vacation days annually, with recommendations to schedule these breaks during semester intervals to prevent conflicts with coursework4. The program strongly emphasizes work-life balance by arranging free weekends and evenings to allow residents to focus on their personal projects and coursework without compromise.

This carefully structured program yields physicians equipped with the medical expertise, preventive strategies, and public health knowledge necessary for tackling contemporary health challenges and fostering healthier communities.