Professional Growth

Personal and professional growth is an important issue for residents during training.

Mentorship

By dividing residents into small mentorship groups led by a specific program director, residents know that someone in the program administration has a strong personal and professional connection with of them. Constructive feedback and comprehensive evaluation is an essential element of personal and professional development. Each resident has semi-annual meetings with their assigned mentor to review evaluations and overall performance as well as to plan for the future by addressing issues such as finding a research project, choosing electives, fellowship applications, and looking for a job. Career focused small groups with residents, fellows and faculty are available. In addition, GIM faculty members Rita Lee, Rachel Swigris and Adam Trosterman will serve as a confidential mentor outside of the residency administration if any resident has issues that they would feel uncomfortable discussing with the official program administration.

Professionalism

In addition to addressing specific issues among residents and faculty, the confidential Department of Medicine Professionalism Committee including housestaff members is exploringmethods to promote professionalism in the stressful environment of patient care and academic medicine.We are proud of residents who serve as excellent teachers and role models for the University of Colorado medical students. In 2006, 2 of the 6 Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Awardees (selected by the medical students) were internal medicine residents; Chris Lieu and Geoff Connors. We are fortunate in that Chris and Geoff have both stayed on as chief residents during this academic year. In 2007, 4 of the 6 awardees were medicine residents; Didi Dingwell, Janna Huskey, Russ Heath and Alex Smart.

The residency program is actively involved in curriculum and policy development regarding our relationship with the pharmaceutical industry.

Resident Wellness

Physician, Heal Thy Self ....

University of Colorado Health Sciences Internal Medicine Residents are learning about the importance of their own personal wellness. Recently,some interested faculty and residents joined ranks to focus on maintaining and improving health during the rigorous training years of residency.

In addition to regular wellness noon-time lectures,a wellness newsletter will be distributed electronically. Features of the newsletter include a physician-of-the-month article, local outdoor activities and farmer's markets, and wellness tips. A physician health fair to encourage residents to sign up for a PCP, be reminded of their preventative screening, and learn about health services available on campus is being planned. Another exciting proposal is a volunteer/social evening each quarter where colleagues can come together around a service activity. Finally, an on-site work out/exercise room is proposed to provide a much-needed stress break from those long nights on call.

Creating a community of physicians who prioritize keeping themselves well in order to provide the best care for their patients is our vision and our hope.

Residents as Teachers and Team Leaders

In addition to an elective rotation described in the electives section above, a Transition to R2 seminar is presented to all interns in the spring. This annual session is presented at the end of internship and covers a variety of relevant topics such as “Residents as teachers and team leaders”, “Tips for running a COR”, and “Evaluation and feedback”. All senior residents prepare and present a lecture to their peers on a relevant medical topic. Seminars on preparing and giving an effective talk are presented to the senior residents annually. Residents teach in traditional team settings on inpatient services and also have opportunities to teach medical students at many of our continuity sites.

rev 8/7/07