Didactics and Conferences
Residents participate in protected didactic time every Wednesday from 1–5 p.m. Each afternoon includes three to five sessions, depending on the topic and format. The curriculum combines structured teaching with interactive, case-based and hands-on learning.
Didactic topics are organized within an 18-month cycle designed to cover the breadth of family medicine. Sessions address common and complex issues in inpatient and ambulatory medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and women’s health, emergency care, geriatrics, behavioral health, procedures, evidence-based medicine, practice management, leadership and professional development.
Teaching is provided by family medicine faculty, subspecialists, residents and members of the interdisciplinary educational team. Our clinical psychologist/resident educator and clinical pharmacist each contribute regular sessions that bring behavioral health, communication, wellness and medication-management perspectives into the curriculum.
Hands-on workshops, clinical cases, procedure training, point-of-care ultrasound and other interactive formats allow residents to apply what they learn.
Structured board review is incorporated into didactics every week. Topics are selected to reinforce core family medicine knowledge, identify important learning needs and support residents as they prepare for the in-training examination and eventual board certification.
Board preparation is longitudinal rather than limited to a short period before an examination, helping residents steadily build and retain the knowledge needed for both clinical practice and certification.
Residents take an active role in teaching and learning from one another. Resident-led sessions include clinical case presentations with focused teaching pearls, journal clubs, and morbidity and mortality conferences.
Every PGY-2 resident completes an M&M presentation and analysis focused on understanding clinical events, identifying contributing factors, and recognizing opportunities to improve care. Journal clubs are held approximately five to six times each year and emphasize critical appraisal of medical literature and thoughtful application of evidence to patient care.
Every other month, residents meet in small groups by training year with the program’s clinical psychologist for facilitated Reflective Practice sessions. Residents are invited to bring challenging, complex, or stressful clinical experiences for group discussion and consideration from different perspectives.
These sessions explore clinical and interpersonal dynamics, assumptions, and decision-making. Their purpose is to strengthen reflective practice, perspective-taking, professional growth, and patient-centered care.
