Resident Engagement and Enrichment

The Department of Medicine and the Internal Medicine Residency Program believe that every member of our community deserves a life filled with health and happiness, and we recognize that individual wellbeing is interconnected to the overall health of our community. We are committed to caring for every patient who enters our health system, regardless of background, identity, or socioeconomic status, with excellence and through a lens of curiosity and respect. Our residency strives to train caring, welcoming physicians who collaborate effectively as health team leaders and practice evidence-based medicine and structurally competent care. 

Our Actions

Dr. Jessica Stern, Assistant Program Director for Resident Engagement and Enrichment, plays a pivotal role in helping to ensure our Internal Medicine Residency’s actions align with the values outlined above. Over the past few years, we have pursued a number of interventions aimed at improving our Culture, Curriculum, Recruitment, and Support.

Culture

• We have implemented initiatives to promote cultural change at the department level including dedicated bystander training for medicine residents and core general medicine faculty.
• Our department developed a professionalism reporting system for trainees to share observations and experiences, enabling greater transparency and more timely intervention when behaviors do not align with professional expectations. 
• Residency leaders and core faculty have engaged in formal leadership and mentorship training and work closely with our departmental and institutional committees focused on improving community engagement and patient, staff, and trainee experiences. 
• All medicine faculty have the opportunity to participate in Crucial Conversations training.

Curriculum

• We have a longitudinal content strand in our residents' Ambulatory Curriculum, directed by Dr. Mahala Schlagman, that addresses the social determinants of health and health disparities. 
• Our QI curriculum, directed by Dr. Meghan Train, encourages residents to assess health outcomes across different populations, and many resident QI projects focus on improving healthcare disparities.
• During their ambulatory blocks, interns participate in Community Outreach experiences coordinated through the Hoekelman Center to learn about the services and supports available in the greater Rochester community, and senior residents have the opportunity to partner with local agencies to develop longitudinal projects. 
• Residents have the opportunity to collaborate with the Center for Community Health and Prevention, and engage with research partners in the Office of Health Equity Research.
• Residency-specific conferences and Departmental Grand Rounds have addressed critical historical topics that have impacted health care outcomes in our community (e.g., the history of redlining in Rochester, legal decisions impacting women’s health and reproductive rights). 

Recruitment

• The Internal Medicine Residency is committed to recruiting and training residents from all backgrounds to help develop a physician workforce that is representative of the community we serve.
• We engage in holistic review of residency applications and maintain a standardized interviewing process to promote fair assessment of all applicants.
• Approximately 15% of our residents self-identify in a URiM group. 
• Residents and faculty have opportunities to participate in medical center and community-sponsored mentorship programs.

Support

• The Medicine Residency and the Department of Medicine are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all residents.
• We support residents in accessing wellbeing, community building, educational enrichment, and professional development opportunities through a variety of mechanisms (providing coverage for critical meetings, hosting events, stipends for national conference attendance, etc.). 
• We collaborate with the Office of Disabilities as needed to ensure all residents have the access and resources needed to learn and thrive. 

Additional Resources

• Office of University Engagement and Enrichment
• LGBTQI+ at Rochester
• Center for Advocacy, Community Health, Education, and Diversity (CACHED)
• Connections to professional organizations
• Visiting Clerkship Program
• Association of Minority Residents & Fellows (AMRF)