Professional Development

Retreats

Day-long retreats are held annually for each class outside the hospital every year. This day offers an opportunity for the class to develop as a team and discuss issues specific to their level of training, including transitioning to residency, residents as teachers, leadership styles, professionalism, wellness, time management and communication skills.

Topics include how to teach and mentor medical students, the evaluation and feedback process, case presentation skills, successful work and teaching attending rounds, and managing a team. Career planning, the changing environment of medical care, and reflective practice are also discussed.

PGY 1

August - The focus in the first year is on the transition to residency. Residents do some reflection on how things are going after a few weeks in their new roles. Emphasis is placed on team building and creating a positive and collegial environment.

PGY2

July - Goals of this retreat are to help residents transition to a leadership position within the residency. Sessions are held on leadership styles and nuts and bolts of running a team. Additional topics discussed include planning for a research project and job/fellowship application timeline.

PGY3

September - The focus for third year residents is on future planning. Sessions on how to conduct a job or fellowship search and how to assess a job offer as well as a financial planning seminar help support residents for their upcoming transition out of training.

Primary Care

May/June. Residents from all three years who are part of the primary care track spend a day to focus on particular primary care topics with guest speakers.

Board Preparation

All residents are provided with the following materials to ensure adequate preparation for the American Board of Internal Medicine Exam.

  • MKSAP (choice of books or on-line acess)
  • MKSAP Tracker (this feature of MKSAP links the in-training exam score of residents to MKSAP to allow the resident to review knowledge gap areas)
  • UWorld ABIM Board Prep (residents are able to receive a group discount and use their educational funds for this product)

National and Regional American College Physicians Meetings

Residents are encouraged to participate in the annual, Vermont/New Hampshire ACP chapter meeting each fall as well as the National ACP meeting in the Spring. Over the past several years, our residents have presented novel case vignettes, quality improvement projects and innovative research projects that have earned them the opportunity to present at the national level. We have also had several resident presentations at the national ACP abstract competition in recent years.

Other Conference Participation

Residents seek out their own opportunities to attend conferences every year depending on personal interests. Academic conference attendance is supported if residents have a poster or oral presentation accepted in the PGY2 and PGY3 year.

Some recent conferences residents have attended include:

  • American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
  • American College of Cardiology
  • American Society of Nephrology - Kidney Week
  • American Thoracic Society
  • Annual College of Rheumatology
  • Society of General Internal Medicine
  • American Heart Association
  • Annual Society for Hospital Medicine
  • American Association of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology
  • American Society of Hematology
  • Northern New England Clinical Oncology Society
  • American College of Physicians
  • American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
  • CHEST
  • ENDO Society

erika

Kidney Week

Akshee Batra conference presentation pic