Residency Program

Rotations

FIRST YEAR

Coronary Care Unit  Residents are involved in the care of CCU patients.  Activities include the diagnosis and management of acute myocardial infarction and its complications.

Dermatology  Family Medicine residents become acquainted with common dermatological problems frequently seen in primary care.  Outpatient procedures related to dermatological conditions are learned.

Family Medicine I  During December, residents are oriented to Family Practice.  Emphasis is placed on the common problems of patients through the lifecycle.

Family Medicine Ward  One month is spent on the Family Medicine Service at UHA.  Under the supervision of Department faculty and an upper level resident, the first year resident learns to care for the hospitalized patient and functions as an integral member of the ward team.

Geriatrics  The resident spends one-month on the inpatient geriatric service at UHA.  Activities include didactic sessions with the staff, home visits, and rounding with the geriatric team. 

Gynecology  One-month is spent in the UAMS Community Women’s Clinic gaining competency in the diagnosis and management of gynecological conditions and contraception problems.

Internal Medicine  The goal of this rotation at the VA is to become familiar with and competent in the treatment of hospitalized patients with a variety of diseases and common illnesses.

Obstetrics  There are two months devoted to training in obstetrics, both at University Hospital.  One month is during the PGY-1 year, the other is during the PGY-2 year.  During the two-month rotation, the resident gains experience in the management of prenatal care and the detection of high-risk pregnancies.  Obstetrical experience is obtained.

Pediatrics  One month each is spent on the inpatient wards and in the outpatient clinics of Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH).  In addition, one-month is spent at the Term Nursery at UHA.  The resident gains valuable experience learning the preventive aspects of pediatric health care, working with consultants and agencies related to child and family care, and managing the basic health care needs of children.

Surgery  One-month of general surgery gives the resident experience with surgical diagnosis and patient management.  The resident assists with inpatient surgery, pre-operative and post-operative care under the direction of surgeons at Baptist Medical Center, Little Rock, AR.

First year residents carry a patient load of 25-50 families.   They spend one to two half days per week in the clinic.

SECOND YEAR

Cardiology  At the Arkansas Heart Hospital, Little Rock, AR, residents are involved in the diagnosis and management of common cardiac problems and the interpretation of results of diagnostic procedures including cardiac catheterization, echocardiography, treadmill stress tests, and EKG’s.

Emergency Medicine  Second year residents become competent in diagnosing and managing emergency conditions while working with Emergency Medicine physicians in the UAMS Emergency Department.  This facility, which is JACHO level I accredited, has 25 beds for major and minor trauma, major medicine, a decontamination suite, an orthopedic suite, and a minor surgery suite.

Family Medicine Clinical   Residents spend one-month in the Family Medical Center intensively involved in the evaluation and management of patients. 

Family Medicine II  This rotation exposes the residents to issues related to Family Medicine.  Curricular elements include behavioral science, preventive medicine and practice management.

Family Medicine Ward  The second year resident spends one-month on this rotation working with faculty and an upper level resident.

General Orthopedics Skills in office orthopedics including sports medicine are developed while working with private physicians in a community-based orthopedics practice.

MICU  Further experience and knowledge in the treatment of medical conditions in the MICU is learned as the resident is an integral member of the intensive care team.

Neurology  This is a 2-week rotation.  Activities occur at UHA and its clinics, and include the enhancement of the resident’s skills in basic neurological exams and the management of common neurological problems.

Obstetrics  There are two months devoted to training in obstetrics, both at University Hospital.  One month is during the PGY-1 year, the other is during the PGY-2 year.  During the two-month rotation, the resident gains experience in the management of prenatal care and the detection of high-risk pregnancies.  Obstetrical experience is obtained.

Outpatient Surgery  This rotation  provides opportunities to participate in a variety of surgical procedures including excisions and biopsies of superficial lesions, EGD, colonoscopy, TMST, cryotherapy, and cervical and endometrial biopsies.  Residents will also participate in deliveries and Cesarean sections.

Pediatric Clinic  The resident practices diagnosis and problem solving related to the child and his/her family in the outpatient clinics and emergency department of ACH.  Activities include history-taking, physical examination and specific technical procedures.

Psychiatry Two-weeks is spent on a busy outpatient service at the Veteran's Hospital.  Emphasis is placed on diagnostic assessment and psychopharmacologic management of the patient.

Quality Improvement Research  The research experience provides the residents the opportunity to gain insights into how to identify best practices in a clinical or administrative area of family medicine.  This rotation is spread out longitudinally over the year to give the residents time to work on their individual research projects.

During the second year, residents spend two to three half days per week seeing an increasing number of patients.

THIRD YEAR

Family Medicine Clinical   Residents spend one-month in the Family Medical Clinic intensively involved in the evaluation and management of patients. 

Family Medicine III  This rotation, which is tailored to the individual learning needs of the resident, combines didactic and other educational activities in Behavioral Science, Practice Management and Community Medicine.  

Family Medicine Ward  Third year residents assume a major responsibility for the administration and organization of the patient service.  They share teaching responsibility for lower level residents with the faculty preceptors.

Internal Medicine Selective  This rotation may be done at UHA, VAH or ACH.

Ophthalmology  Family Medicine residents develop skills in how to approach and manage ophthalmologic problems as well as perform ophthalmologic examinations.

Orthopedic Specialties  The resident builds on earlier orthopedic skills in this rotation through clinics at UAMS and ACH.

Otolaryngology  The resident will develop skills in the examination and management of common ENT problems.  Residents will also learn how to detect head and neck tumors.

Pediatric Clinic  This rotation at ACH provides more experience with outpatient childhood illnesses and problems.  Residents also learn the management of emergent pediatric problems.

Radiology  Indications for x-rays and scans, limitations of x-rays and scans, preparation of the patient for various studies, complications of x-ray procedures and interpretation of chest, abdomen, GI and urinary tract x-rays are included in this rotation.

Urology  Evaluation and management of common urological conditions in the outpatient setting are learned.

Third year residents spend three to four half days per week in preparation for entering practice upon completion of the Residency Program.

ELECTIVES

Residents can select from a variety of established elective rotations at UHA, VAH, ACH, or with private physicians.  These include Sports Medicine, Prevention, Nutrition, Patient Education, Cardiology, Pulmonary Medicine, Psychopharmacology and many others.  The resident is also encouraged to develop new elective experiences in areas of special interest to the resident with the assistance of the Residency Director.