Curriculum

We have implemented an organ system based didactic curriculum that is based on ABIM blueprint. The innovative and interactive curriculum includes more than 7 hours of conferences per week, including Discovery Lecture Series (weekly; PGY-1), Morbidity and Mortality (monthly), Journal Club and Journal Watch (biweekly), Simulation (weekly), Faculty Didactics (weekly), Noon report (daily), Podcast Lecture Series (monthly), Clinical-Pathologic Conference (monthly), Visiting Professor Series (monthly), and Board Review (weekly). We conclude each month with a ‘wrap-up’ conference to ensure that key learning points are reviewed to maximize learning.

Month Organ System
July Cardiology
August Nephrology
September Infectious Disease
October Endocrine
November Pulmonology/Critical Care
December Hematology/Oncology
January Gastroenterology
February Neurology
March Rheumatology
April Dermatology/Geriatrics
May Psychiatry/Women’s Health
June Ophthalmology/Medical Ethics

We have an extensive board review series that utilizes NEJM (+), NEJM Resident 360, MKSAP, Yale Ambulatory Medicine, Johns Hopkins Ambulatory Medicine, and U-World.

Our residents participate in simulation sessions weekly. Herein, residents practice running a code, managing in-flight emergencies, learn procedures, practice point-of-care-ultrasound, and learn to lead difficult conversations. Our hospital boasts a brand-new Simulation Lab (completed in January 2023) with state-of-the-art equipment.

Finally, we place a strong emphasis on resident wellness and resilience. We are committed to preventing burnout of our residents. Our Wellness Committee is led by a resident and faculty member and hosts on- and off- campus events monthly. We also have an outreach committee that focuses on engaging our community and fostering relationships between our key strategic partners.

Rotation Schedule

Our Internal Medicine Residency Program offers residents an immersive rotation schedule designed specifically to help familiarize them with the ins and outs of a career in Internal Medicine. Our ACGME accredited three-year program is offered at HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood where residents have access to both inpatient and outpatient facilities, clinics and ambulatory centers.

The internal medicine program is structured as a 4+1 academic year where residents participate in four weeks of clinical care to an assigned rotation followed by one full week in the continuity clinic. Our brand-new continuity clinic is staffed by the program director and two faculty from the University of Houston. Every Wednesday afternoon, the clinic is closed for ambulatory clinic didactics. Residents have over 180 continuity clinic half-days during their 3-year residency which provides a solid academic and practical foundation for residents as they set out to better the lives of thousands of future patients.

Residents have the opportunity to rotate through many internal medicine subspecialties (e.g. Nephrology, Cardiology) during their first year, and improve overall medical knowledge via novel outpatient electives such as Dermatology and Women's Health. All of our teaching faculty are committed to educating our residents and embrace our family culture.

The scholarly pursuits residents follow in the program are essential to their growth. Our annual HCA Gulf Coast Division research day occurs annually in April. In 2022, an Internal Medicine resident and current Cardiology fellow, Dr. Haris Ahmed, won first place in both the division and state competition. In 2023, Dr. Hytham Rashid, former Chief Medical Resident, won second place at the division level. Our residency program and our academic affiliate, the Fertitta Family University of Houston COM, host a regular research forums, which are opportunities for residents to discuss ideas and present their research.

PGY1

Rotation Duration (weeks)
Inpatient Medicine 16
MICU 8
Night Float 4
Elective #1: Infectious Disease & Cardiology 4 ( 2 weeks each)
Elective #2: Nephrology & Gastroenterology 4 ( 2 weeks each)
Neurology 4
2-week non-IM Selective* 2
Continuity Clinic 10

PGY2

Rotation Duration (weeks)
Inpatient Medicine 12
Night Float 4
IM Subspecialty 4-week Elective 12
Hematology/Oncology 4
Emergency Medicine 2
Quality Improvement / Safety 2
2-week non-IM Selective* 2
Continuity Clinic 10

PGY3

Rotation Duration (weeks)
Inpatient Medicine 8
MICU 4
Night Float 4
Geriatrics and Rehabilitation 4
Hospital Administration 2
IM Subspecialty 4-week Elective 10
Endocrinology or Rheumatology 4
2-week non-IM Selective* 4
Continuity Clinic 10

*2-week Selectives: Dermatology, Women's Health, Ophthalmology, Outpatient Radiation & Oncology, Addiction Medicine

IM Subspecialty Electives: Pulmonary, ICU, Junior Hospitalist, Ambulatory Medicine, Nephrology, Infectious Disease, Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology, POCUS