Education & Training

Inpatient and Critical Care Training

The Internal Medicine Residency provides core faculty-led inpatient training across all three years, anchored by 5.5 blocks of inpatient internal medicine in PGY-1 with continued inpatient and critical care experience through PGY-3. Daily attending rounds are collaborative and multidisciplinary, with 100% attending presence at didactics ensuring academic development runs parallel to clinical training throughout the week.

Critical care training spans all three years through a multidisciplinary ICU rotation led by pulmonary and critical care physicians.

Ambulatory and Continuity Care

The 6+2 curriculum is designed to promote continuity and excellence in outpatient care. Residents participate in three ambulatory blocks each academic year. The blocks are divided into six two-week outpatient rotations throughout each academic year, allowing residents to build relationships with their patients, gain experience managing chronic conditions over time, and develop the skills needed for comprehensive, patient-centered primary care.

Simulation, Procedures and POCUS

The residency program includes an on-site simulation lab for hands-on practice with acute care scenarios and procedural skills. Point-of-care ultrasound training is integrated into both clinical rotations and didactic sessions across all three years, supporting procedural competency development alongside real clinical experience.

Scholarly Activity and Academic Development

Residents engage in scholarly activity including poster presentations, case reports, publications, and quality improvement projects. The resident-as-teacher curriculum requires residents to design and deliver lectures, building a professional portfolio that supports fellowship and job applications. Residents also hold positions on hospital and program committees, gaining leadership experience beyond clinical training.

Board Preparation and Career Resources

The UH St. John Medical Center Internal Medicine Residency provides board review resources beginning in the first year of training. MKSAP is provided for PGY-1 through PGY-3, UWorld for PGY-2 and PGY-3, and a stipend supports an external board review course of each resident's choosing. Our didactic curriculum is mirrored off the ABIM-Certifying Exam blueprint to ensure material covered is both board and clinically relevant.

Subspecialty Training Opportunities

The UH St. John Internal Medicine Residency provides structured subspecialty exposure through required selectives and flexible elective rotations across all three years of training. Clinical experiences are available both on-site and within affiliated Westlake ambulatory centers, with additional rotations available at UH Cleveland Medical Center for residents seeking tertiary-level subspecialty depth. Most subspecialty rotations include a combination of inpatient and outpatient experience, though the structure varies by specialty.

Anesthesia

Anesthesia rotation is available as part of the residency curriculum, providing procedural and perioperative exposure that complements core internal medicine training.

Cardiology

Cardiology is the most heavily weighted selective in the program at 1.5 blocks, reflecting the clinical importance of cardiovascular medicine in internal medicine training. Residents complete cardiology exposure beginning in PGY-1 with additional selective time available in PGY-2 and PGY-3.

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology is a required selective that includes exposure to advanced endoscopy, providing residents with procedural and clinical experience beyond standard GI consultation. Additional elective time is available for residents seeking additional exposure and for those pursuing gastroenterology fellowship.

Hematology and Oncology

Hematology-oncology is a required selective available in PGY-2 and PGY-3. This rotation offers a mix of outpatient management and inpatient consultations. Residents can supplement the required selective with additional elective time to expand clinical exposure and mentorship relationships as desired.

Infectious Disease

Infectious disease is a required selective completed prior to graduation, providing residents with structured exposure to the diagnosis and management of complex infectious presentations. This rotation offers a mix of outpatient management and inpatient consultations. In addition to the general infectious disease rotation, the residents can utilize elective time to gain additional experience working with our antibiotic stewardship team.

Nephrology

Nephrology is a required selective completed prior to graduation, with additional elective time available for residents with additional interest. This rotation offers a mix of outpatient management and inpatient consultations. Rounding at community hemodialysis centers is integrated into the rotation, providing firsthand insight into the longitudinal care of patients with advanced kidney disease and the multidisciplinary approach required to optimize outcomes.

Neurology

UH St. John Medical Center is a designated Primary Stroke Center. Residents complete a 4-week neurology selective prior to completion of their training. This experience includes a variety of cases, such as stroke, epilepsy, and general neurology. The rotation includes both outpatient management of chronic neurologic conditions and the inpatient consultation service.

Pulmonology and Critical Care

Critical care training is required across all three years and is led by pulmonary criticial care intensivists in a multidisciplinary ICU setting. Pulmonology is available as a standalone selective, and residents with interest in pulmonary and critical care medicine may pursue additional elective time in that area. An interstitial lung disease clinic provides additional exposure for residents with subspecialty interest in complex pulmonary conditions.

Endocrinology, Geriatrics and Rheumatology

Endocrinology, Geriatrics, and Rheumatology are required two-week selectives that residents complete during PGY-2 or PGY-3, offering flexibility to align training with their interests and career aspirations. Additional elective opportunities are available for those seeking more in-depth subspecialty exposure. Through experiences in ambulatory clinics and skilled nursing facilities, residents develop confidence in chronic disease management, musculoskeletal conditions, and the comprehensive care of older adults across a variety of healthcare settings.