Curriculum
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Rotation schedule
These are typical training schedules in the Family Medicine Residency.
- PGY-1
- PGY-2
- PGY-3
PGY-1
| Rotation | Length |
|---|---|
| Family medicine service | 8 weeks |
| Emergency medicine | 8 weeks |
| Community medicine | 4 weeks |
| General Surgery / Urology | 4 weeks |
| Intensive care unit | 4 weeks |
| Night float | 8 weeks |
| Obstetrics | 8 weeks |
| Orthopedics / Rheumatology | 4 weeks |
| Pediatrics (outpatient) | 4 weeks |
PGY-2
| Rotation | Length |
|---|---|
| Cardiology | 4 weeks |
| Clinic | 4 weeks |
| Family Medicine Service | 10 weeks |
| Geriatrics | 4 weeks |
| Gynecology | 4 weeks |
| Night float | 4 weeks |
| Pediatrics (Inpatient) - Rochester | 4 weeks |
| Rural rotation (Prairie du Chien, Sparta, or Tomah) | 4 weeks |
| Student Health Clinic / Research | 4 weeks |
PGY-3
| Rotation | Length |
|---|---|
| Clinic | 4 weeks |
| Family medicine service | 8 weeks |
| Night float | 4 weeks |
| Enhanced obstetrics or inpatient/outpatient medicine | 4 weeks |
| Pediatrics (2 weekends in Rochester) | 4 weeks |
| Health Systems Management | 4 weeks |
Other requirements (during year two or three)
| Rotation | Length |
|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal/sports medicine | 4 weeks |
| Dermatology | 4 weeks |
On-call frequency
We use a mini night float rotation the first block to orient new residents to our night float system. We then transition to a night float rotation that covers the remaining 12 blocks of the year. Outside of night float, first-year residents are on duty eight to nine Saturdays during their first year; second and third-year residents are on duty four to five Saturdays.
Moonlighting policy
Opportunities also exist for "moonlighting" for residents in good standing during second and third years.
Procedures
Our program offers a Procedure Day on a monthly basis during which procedures are taught in a workshop (hands-on) format. Some procedures you will experience include: GYN procedures (e.g., colposcopy, IUD’s, etc.), vasectomies, paracentesis/thoracentesis, hemorrhoidal banding, wound care, central lines, intubation, joint injections, IV insertions, splinting and casting, and newborn circumcision. Competency can be achieved in many of these procedures by the end of residency. Procedure Day also contains a segment for resident support and personal/professional development.
Specialized curriculum
Hospital medicine
We have an excellent inpatient family medicine service that is run by a first-, second-, and third-year resident, who are supervised by one of our full-time faculty. We work in tandem with our hospitalist program.
Obstetrics
We offer two options when it comes to obstetrical training. The required curriculum consists of two months of obstetrical training and combines experience working on labor and delivery along with some continuity obstetrical experiences. For those wishing to further develop their skills and obtain sufficient competence in order to include obstetrics in their future practice, we also offer an enhanced OB curriculum that is designed to assure competence in low-medium risk obstetrics and develop one’s skills in a variety of obstetrical procedures.
The majority of our faculty has extensive obstetric experience as well as expertise in breastfeeding, colposcopy, IUDs and endometrial biopsies, and other women’s health procedures. Perinatologists from Mayo Clinic in Rochester work directly with you on your high-risk patients. Nearly 60% of our graduates, especially those in rural areas, include OB in their practices.
Sports medicine
We offer a sports medicine rotation for interested second- and third-year residents who wish to enhance their knowledge and skill in this field. We also offer a sports medicine track for those wanting additional training. There are many local experts in sports medicine, and there is an internationally recognized exercise physiology/human performance program at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.
Patients and populations served
In the Family Health Clinic, we provide compassionate care for all people — men and women, newborn to elderly. We provide care for all medical needs from pregnancy care through to delivery, yearly physicals and well-baby checkups, to earaches and injuries. Our clinic specifically treats patients who come from underserved backgrounds with complex health needs.
Conferences
Case-based learning, seminars, small group discussions, journal clubs, board review, and skills workshops are integral parts of the Family Medicine Residency.
Our educational sessions are designed to facilitate the growth of your medical knowledge and practice skills throughout all three years of your training. We regularly rotate the types and styles of learning sessions throughout the week to provide a broader experience.
Practice board examinations
Each fall, residents take the American Board of Family Medicine's In-Training Examination. Scores for this exam can be predictive of your success on your official family medicine boards, so we use this practice exam to help guide your individualized learning goals.
Scholarly activities
Family medicine is on the front lines of delivering care to meet the daily needs of patients. We prepare you to be an innovator in health care delivery through extensive training in:
- Process and quality improvement
- Evidence-based medicine
- Information mastery
- Leadership and professional development
We also offer opportunities to explore your own research interests and have at our fingertips a wealth of Mayo Clinic support and expertise to assist with your research interests.