Department of Internal Medicine

Internal Medicine Residency Program

The Internal Medicine Training Program aims to provide the knowledge and to develop the skills and attitudes that are necessary for the management of adult persons requiring a very broad range of general medical services and orientation. Training and education are aimed at a wide perspective of health and diseases, giving emphasis to general internal medicine. The residency training is of three years duration. After this, the physician may decide to go into practice or continue training in a great variety of medical subspecialties within the Department of Medicine or other training programs, both in Puerto Rico or in the mainland United States. Currently the Department of Medicine offers subspecialty training in: Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Geriatrics, Hematology-Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Nephrology, Pneumology and Rheumatology.

Educational Activities

All the educational activities are organized with the intention of providing a coherent, integrated and progressive academic program in the broad field of Internal Medicine throughout the three years of training. The Program offers the residents with an exposure to a rather broad patient population with a wide spectrum of diseases in various stages of acuity. Residents gain experience in the management of patients with an ample range of clinical problems. The etiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and natural history of various diseases is presented and residents have the opportunity to develop an advance their level of skill in diagnosis, as well as their judgment and resourcefulness in therapy.

The team approach and the sharing of responsibilities are emphasized throughout all clinical experiences, particularly in the ambulatory care clinics. Residents have the opportunity to function in harmony with their peers, faculty and with other members of the health care team. In most of the clinical rotations, the PG-I and PG-II residents form a working team and share the care of the patients in their services.

Residents are given the responsibility for decision-making and for direct patient care in all settings under direct supervision of the faculty and the senior house staff. Residents write all medical orders for the patients under their care and residents' responsibilities increase progressively during the three years of training. Residents with more training help with the supervision of more junior ones and that of medical students. It is also expected that with all the teaching activities, residents may become proficient as leaders in the organization and management of patient care.

Clinical Facilities

The clinical facilities utilized in the Training Program are the University Hospital, the central clinical facilities of the Puerto Rico Medical Center, the University of Puerto Rico Hospital in Carolina (UPRH-C), the San Juan Veterans Administration Center, the Puerto Rico Cardiovascular Center; and by special agreements, other hospitals, physicians' offices and clinics in the metropolitan area and nearby towns.

The University Hospital and the Puerto Rico Medical Center are the ultimate places of referrals for all medical services in the island. Both also respond as the safety net of the island's health care system. The University of Puerto Rico Hospital in Carolina offers a community based hospital experience. The San Juan Veterans Administration Center offers additional experiences in General Internal Medicine and is also a setting for specialty rotations. The Puerto Rico Cardiovascular Center is used for rotations in cardiovascular diseases, acute coronary care and intensive post of care.