Rotations follow an X+Y (6+2) scheduling format. An alternating four-month trimester-based schedule assures seasonal variation in exposure to both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. At least one half of the total experience is in ambulatory care, as required by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP).

“Internship” level rotations are scheduled for the first four trimesters of the residency, of which 12 are PGY1-level rotations and four are “PGY-neutral” rotations. As such, some PGY1-level experiences extend into the PGY2 year; this allows for more elective and ambulatory time in the PGY1 year and for residents to complete three inpatient ward rotations in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics before taking on senior roles.

Rotations are generally grouped as Internal Medicine and Pediatrics experiences over four months with two exceptions:

• The initial PGY1 trimester in which PGY1s complete two months and shift (an adjustment requested by our residents to avoid feeling “behind” their categorical peers when a first categorical ward experience occurs);
• The initial PGY2 trimester (again, requested by our residents so they are <2 months away from their most recent Internal Medicine or Pediatrics experience when they start their senior resident roles.)

Med-Peds residents have been an integral part in the planning and development process of all of the elements of our program, including didactics, and we take pride in their resulting sense of ownership in their education. Our residents are fully integrated into both departments and are regarded as peers with their categorical colleagues with respect to education, responsibility, program feedback, and participation.

Med-Peds residents attend academic half day (AHD) when on Y-Block, depending upon the specialty in which they are rotating for that particular block. AHD is protected educational time for residents. Didactic content includes lectures, small group discussions, POCUS training, and hands-on simulation across all areas of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics.

Department conferences are a long-standing fixture of didactics at Brown. Grand Rounds is held weekly and M&M once monthly for both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. Pediatrics also has a weekly case conference, led by a senior resident. 

Med-Peds Forum is our residency program's weekly conference in which literature and topics relevant to the practice of both specialties are discussed and integrated. Residents and faculty jointly contribute to the topic presentation and discussion for each session. Topics are chosen according to a four-year curriculum intentionally designed to explore the breadth of both specialties across a four-year residency. The format reflects a respect for the role of residents as faculty colleagues, and allows the content to adapt to current interests and educational needs. The series allows for weekly meetings of residents, faculty, and other interested colleagues for formal and informal interactions and learning. 

All residents participate in the ambulatory curriculum at our continuity clinic, the Medicine-Pediatrics Primary Care Center, consisting of multiple features:

• Program-wide teaching sessions on ambulatory topics at Med-Peds Forum, presented by both residents and core faculty;
  Focused didactic teaching sessions (core faculty member with 1-3 residents) for residents on Y-Block;
• Online didactic modules for independent study; 
• Ambulatory-focused quality improvement project starting in the PGY2 year.