Medicine Curriculum

The Internal Medicine residency program at Stamford Hospital consists of six categorical and two preliminary PG-1 residents (interns), six PG-2 residents, and six PG-3 residents.  Of the six third-year residents, two are selected as Chief Residents. The Chief Residents oversee the medical service and have an important leadership position in both clinical and educational roles.

The on-call schedule averages every fourth night for the first year, and approximately every fifth to sixth night for the second and third years. There is a night float system in place.  Each year, all residents have the opportunity to take electives in various subspecialties including dermatology, neurology, ophthalmology, geriatrics, cardiology, renal, infectious disease, gastroenterology, rheumatology, allergy/immunology, endocrinology and hematology/oncology.

All residents prepare throughout the three years for board certification by the American Board of Internal Medicine.  Senior residents additionally take a comprehensive off-site board review course in the spring of their third year, the cost of which is paid for by the Department of Medicine.

Clinical research is strongly encouraged for all residents and residents, in all years of training have traditionally been involved in such studies that have resulted in formal publications and presentations. There is a very active Institutional Research Club, which comprises formal lectures and interactive programs. Each senior resident is required to complete a research/scholarly project for presentation both at the Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Chapter of the American College of Physicians, and at Medical Grand Rounds.

Medical students, on assigned rotation from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, are an integral part of the teaching program. Students take call with medical residents, and residents play a meaningful role in their clinical education.  Graduates of the Stamford Hospital Internal Medicine residency program are trained to become skillful physicians who practice medicine with compassion and depth.  Approximately 60% of each graduating class choose to practice General Internal Medicine and 40% continue on to subspecialty fellowships.