Medical Knowledge

Medical Knowledge	Monthly Test	9		PGY 1	PGY 2	PGY 3
	In training exam	9
	New Innovation Evaluations	9
Medical Knowledge Total Score		27		8.6	12	16

 

Description of the Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed based on an18 months cycle.
However, changes in the didactics and curriculum can occur
before the 18 months if the need arises such as following our
quarterly review of the curriculum by the curriculum committee,
or following review of the monthly tests and the
In-Training exam.

Core -Curriculum series are designed based on the:
a) American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) blue print objectives.
b) Harrison’s Textbook
c) Educational Objectives of the last 5 years of the In-Training exam.

At least 80 major topics is designated as Core . The didactics time is protected half a day every week. The didactics include once a month journal club.
Other Educational activities include:
1) Three times a week morning report,
2) Grand rounds once a week,
3) Evening Journal Club once month alternating between Dr Shapiro (Chairman) and Dr Assaly (Program Director) at their residence.
4) Subspecialty conferences.
5) Morbidity and mortality once a month.

Monthly Test
Rationale for the monthly test:
1) Quantifying medical knowledge competency using more than one objective method.
2) Use for promotion (Cannot use ITE alone).
3) Dynamic VS ITE (once a year). Allows changes in the curriculum at different times rather than waiting a year for the ITE.

One important use of the monthly tests is to identify residents who are at the lowest 30 % among their peers so as to initiate plans of improvements and remediation early.

As for the at risk third year residents defined as being in the lowest 30% among their peers or those who score 25% or below in the in-training will be participating in the high risk group sessions held in January.

The chairman and the program directors conduct these sessions at 7 am each Friday. That strategy was adopted last academic year and this year we had a 100% passing Rate in the ABIM.

As a result our overall three year rolling average went from 74% to 82%, 88%, 97%.

National In Training Exam (ITE)
The In Training is offered in October of each year Administered by a subcontractor to the American College of Physicians. It costs 100$ per resident (4500$). In 2009, 22000 residents took the exam. The ITE results are reviewed with each resident. The last three years our national average among participating programs improved significantly. The ITE difference from one level of training to the other is significantly higher than the national average.