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Training Overview

The OU department of combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Program consists of four years of training in the care of patients of all ages. Our residents are involved in patient care and educational experiences which are advanced in a graduated fashion as they broaden and deepen their knowledge and skills in all of the ACGME Core Competencies.

The education of each Medicine-Pediatrics resident is fully integrated with the OU department of categorical Internal Medicine and Pediatrics programs. Med-Peds training begins with a 12 month term as an intern, composed of direct patient care responsibility under the supervision of faculty physicians and senior residents. This is followed by 36 months of education at junior and senior resident levels.  Junior residents spend most of their time as managers of direct patient care under the direction of faculty physicians; while senior residents combine patient care activities with increasing responsibility for supervision of medical students and less experienced housestaff.  Opportunities to participate in scholarly activities are available throughout the training program; but are emphasized to a greater degree in the 3rd and 4th years of residency.

Our Med-Peds residents transition from blocks of Internal Medicine experiences to blocks of Pediatrics experiences every 3 months for the first 2 years.  The duration of blocks of IM and Peds rotations may be altered in the later years of training for valid educational reasons; but will generally be 3-4 months in length.  Float systems and/or limited overnight call are in place across all of our rotations/services to maintain compliance with the ACGME work hour regulations.  At this time our program does not include any at-home call.

Elective experiences in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics are chosen from the electives available to categorical residents in each specialty. Integrated adult and pediatric educational and clinical experiences are available on many of these elective rotations and they are strongly-encouraged for our Med-Peds trainees.

Once our residents complete the four-year program, our Internal Medicine-Pediatrics graduates are eligible to sit for both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics certifying examinations. The goal of our program is to prepare well-trained and flexible Med-Peds specialists.  Our graduates are expected to participate in life-long learning and to maintain their knowledge and skills at a level to facilitate ongoing maintenance of certification and superior patient care.  Our graduates will be qualified and knowledgeable for independent practice in inpatient, ambulatory and mixed practice settings; and/or to enter a subspecialty training program with a solid foundation of knowledge for the medical care of patients through the age continuum– from birth through advance age.