Curriculum

Our 4+2 Model

We’ve transitioned to a modern X+Y scheduling model (4+2) to enhance both education and wellness. Residents spend four weeks (X) on core inpatient, ICU, or subspecialty rotations, followed by two weeks (Y) dedicated to ambulatory experiences, including continuity clinic and outpatient subspecialties.

Intern (PGY-1)

• 4–5 months on general medicine wards at the UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest and the VA San Diego Healthcare System
• 2-3 months on ICU/CCU
• 1 month on night wards
• 2 weeks of emergency medicine
• 2 weeks dedicated gender health rotation (for categorical and research interns)
• 2–3 months on ambulatory care rotations or consult rotations
• 4 weeks of vacation
• apply for any of the 6 optional specialized pathways

Junior Resident (PGY-2)

• 1-2 months on general medicine wards as the team leader
• 1-2 months on general medicine wards working 1:1 with hospitalists
• 2–3 months on ICU/CCU as the team leader
• 2 weeks of emergency medicine
• 2–3 months on ambulatory care rotations
• 2-month research block (optional, under the supervision of a research mentor)
• 2–4 months on elective consults including allergy/immunology, cardiology, endocrine, gastroenterology, gender medicine, infectious diseases, hematology/oncology, nephrology/hypertension, and pulmonary
• 1 month on geriatric medicine
• 4 weeks of vacation

Senior Resident (PGY-3)

• 1 month on general medicine wards as the team leader
• 1-2 months on general medicine wards working 1:1 with hospitalists
• 1 month on ICU/CCU as the team leader
• 5–6 months on ambulatory care rotations
• 2 weeks on outpatient neurology, neuro stroke, or neurocritical care
• 4 weeks of vacation

Chief Medical Residents

There are 7 chief medical residents each year, actively involved in resident and medical student teaching, inpatient and outpatient conferences, designing curriculum, and simulation workshops. The chiefs act as resident advocates and serve as the first-line resource for communications between residents and program leadership. They also rotate as teaching ward attendings 4 weeks out of the year.

Two chief medical residents will serve as a VA Chief Resident in Quality and Patient Safety, where they are responsible for participating in QI at the VA in addition to resident teaching.