Our residency offers both tacks and pathways to help residents customize their training. Tracks are longitudinal, multi-year learning programs that residents can elect to pursue throughout their training. Pathways are optional, year-long programs that allow residents to deepen expertise in a particular focus.  Both are entirely optional and resident-directed, allowing you to shape your residency experience around your individual goals and interests.

Primary Care Track

The Primary Care Track is designed to enhance the outpatient experience of residents planning a career in ambulatory general medicine while still providing a strong inpatient/subspecialty education. The track guarantees participating residents the opportunity to experience key outpatient rotations with fewer inpatient experiences while still providing robust training and individualized learning plan.

Curriculum

Beginning in the PGY-2 year, Primary Care Track resident curriculum will diverge to provide enhanced exposure to rotations specific to a career in primary care, including:

• Pain Medicine
• Ophthalmology
• Women’s Health
• Outpatient Orthopedics
• Psychiatry
• Urology
• Dermatology

Primary Care Track residents will also receive an additional month of dedicated research and/or career planning time in the PGY-3 year, with a highly customizable PGY-2 and PGY-3 schedule that allows for outpatient electives in clinical rotations of your preference.

Additional information

As part of the track, participants are encouraged to work on a research, leadership and/or advocacy project. Primary Care Track residents will be assigned a primary care mentor. Categorical interns may apply for acceptance into the Primary Care Track in early spring of the PGY-1 year to commence in July of their PGY-2 year. Primary Care Track residents will have the opportunity to rotate in various primary care practice settings, including (but not limited to):

• Federally Qualified Health Centers
• Indian Health Services
• Critical Access Hospitals
• Private Practice

Words from participants

	Brian Parker, M.D., M.B.A. Internal Medicine Resident, Class of 2026 The Primary Care Track at Mayo Clinic has inspired me to embrace a bold vision of what primary care can accomplish. While most residency programs teach residents how to manage patients in the hospital, this track goes further—it has equipped me with the skills and knowledge to keep them out of the hospital altogether. At Mayo, the philosophy is simple: just as I tailor medical care to the needs of my patients, my education is tailored to me. There is no other program in the country that customizes your education and empowers you to tackle healthcare's toughest challenges like the Primary Care Track at Mayo does.
	Nathan Delafield, M.D. Current Associate Program Director and Primary Care Track Graduate, Class of 2019 The Primary Care Track equipped me with the skills and experience needed for a successful career in primary care internal medicine, enabling me to begin my journey at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) before returning to Mayo Clinic Community Internal Medicine. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to focus on outpatient-based care within the track while refining the competencies essential for excellence in this field. This track also provided valuable exposure to the diverse career paths within primary care, including education, administrative leadership, research, and community engagement.
	Bob Horsley, M.D. Current Faculty and Primary Care Track Graduate, Class of 2019 My first job was providing primary care at a Ryan White-funded clinic for people living with HIV. Mayo Clinic's Internal Medicine Primary Care Track gave me the opportunity to experience specialties we normally don’t see in a traditional Internal medicine residency program, like ophthalmology and dermatology.  These rotations provided the experience and tools to diagnose issues like Kaposi Sarcoma, something I never saw clinically prior to my work as an attending at that clinic. In addition, the primary care track gave me these experiences in a way that I did not feel compromised my other Internal Medicine training, and I felt well prepared if I decided to change career paths to hospital internal medicine or fellowship

Health equity track

The Mayo Clinic Health Equity Track aims to cultivate physician leaders dedicated to advancing health equity through exemplary clinical care, innovative education, community-driven research, and sustained advocacy. This program equips residents with the tools, experiences, and networks necessary to address health disparities and promote justice within healthcare systems and communities.

Curriculum

• Clinical rotations in underserved settings: Residents complete rotations in diverse underserved practice environments, including at least one month at an Indian Health Service (IHS) facility such as Winslow or Tuba City, with opportunities for additional rotations during PGY-2 and PGY-3.
• Health equity certificate through Arizona State University: Residents have the opportunity to earn a Certificate in Health Equity through a partnership with Arizona State University.
• Teaching and mentorship opportunities: Residents participate in curriculum development and teaching for students at the Arizona State University College of Health Solutions and Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, with opportunities to mentor pre-medical and medical students.
• Community-engaged research: Residents collaborate with the Center for Clinical and Translational Science’s Community-Engaged/Diversity Science Research Program to conduct community-driven health equity research.
• Dedicated research time: Residents complete at least one month of dedicated research time, with mentorship from Arizona State University and Mayo Clinic faculty.
• Diversity Science Program participation: Residents participate in monthly Diversity Science Program meetings through the Kern Center.
• Advocacy and community engagement: Residents engage in local and regional initiatives focused on improving healthcare access and addressing health disparities.
• Longitudinal service project: Residents complete a longitudinal advocacy or community service project aligned with community health needs.
• Community service requirement: Residents complete at least 20 hours of community service during the PGY-2 and PGY-3 years.

Words from participants

Alyssa Ishimoto, M.D. Internal Medicine Resident, Class of 2028 The Health Equity Track at Mayo Clinic enables me to combine clinical care, community engagement, and scholarship focused on reducing health disparities in Arizona. Through this track, I have the opportunity to gain experience in providing culturally competent care to Native American patients while learning about the historical and structural factors that shape health outcomes in tribal communities. The program also offers the opportunity to conduct mentored research on a health equity topic of my interest and collaborate with experts in the field. Through this track, I have also been fortunate to connect with Vitalyst, a nonprofit organization that aims to improve community health in Arizona. With its customizability and vast opportunities, the Health Equity Track enables me to customize my training to address and learn more about the healthcare disparities that affect Arizona’s diverse populations and grow into a well rounded physician.

Innovation in Medicine Track

This 24-month track during PGY-2 and PGY-3 years of Internal Medicine residency will prepare residents to become physician-innovators, equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to drive advancements in healthcare.

Learning objectives

• Articulate and employ the fundamentals of the biodesign process, including identification and screening of clinical needs.
• Understand how to test and validate concept solutions.
• Acquire skills in product design and prototyping.
• Apply a variety of ideation and design thinking methodologies.
• Understand the regulatory environment for medical technologies.
• Perform market and stakeholder analyses and learn business model fundamentals.
• Explore startup methodologies, fundamentals of fundraising and develop skills in pitch presentations.
• Undertake an innovative project to apply this knowledge and gain practical experience through partnerships with Mayo Clinic strategic alliances.

Eligibility

Application to the Innovation Track is open to all rising PGY-2 or higher Mayo Clinic in Arizona Internal Medicine residents in good standing in our program.

General requirements

Residents must regularly attend residency conferences and participate in the innovation curriculum.

• Residents should meet with their innovation mentor frequently and on a regular basis, with the cadence to be set by the resident and mentor partnership.
• Present findings/projects to Mayo leadership and share knowledge with other trainees.
• Develop and implement an innovation project and/or submit a patent.
• Present at national conferences, publish in academic peer-reviewed journals.
• Residents must maintain good standing within the program throughout the Innovation Track. They must comply with work hour policies, regular conference attendance requirements, and continue to progress academically and clinically, achieving expected milestone progression.

Artificial Intelligence in Medicine Research Track

The Artificial Intelligence in Medicine Research Track is a cutting-edge initiative designed to offer internal medicine residents exceptional training in data science and artificial intelligence. The program provides a strong foundation through a structured curriculum, focusing on essential skills in AI and data science, with emphasis on programming, healthcare data infrastructure, and AI applications in clinical practice.

Residents will engage in longitudinal, mentored research in leading AI and data science labs at Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University, gaining hands-on experience in innovative projects. Additionally, the program offers dedicated career development opportunities, preparing residents to become leaders in the rapidly evolving intersection of medicine and data science technology.

Curriculum

• One Month Dedicated Research Time Each Year: Residents are provided with one month each year to immerse themselves in AI and data science research.
• Elective Options for Track Trainees: Trainees can choose from specialized electives in tracks in Clinical Informatics and Data Science.
• Programming Fundamentals in Python: Develop essential coding skills for AI research.
• Data Infrastructure at Mayo Clinic: Learn how to manage and utilize large healthcare data sets.
• Key Principles of AI in Healthcare: Gain an understanding of how AI can transform clinical practice.
• Deployment and Testing of AI in Clinical Practice: Learn the practical steps to implement and evaluate AI tools in real-world clinical settings.
• Ethics in AI and Healthcare: Address important issues like bias, privacy, and responsible AI development.
• Explainable AI: Understand and communicate complex AI models to patients and colleagues.
• AI for Health Equity: Explore how AI can address healthcare disparities in US and worldwide.

Goals of the track

Residents will demonstrate success as early-career physician-data scientists by achieving milestones such as:

• Longitudinal AI Research Project: Participate in a multi-year research project, culminating in a first-author publication by the end of residency.
• Presentation at a National Conference: Present research findings at national conferences, contributing to advancements in AI and medicine.
• Development of a Data Science/AI Application: Gain practical experience by developing a real-world AI or data science application.
• AI in Medicine Education Initiative: Create content to educate the public about AI in healthcare as part of a patient education or community outreach program.

Words from participants

Bobak Seddighzadeh, M.D. Internal Medicine Resident, Class of 2025 In 2023, a Nature paper by Google revealed that large language models are approaching expert-level clinical capabilities, showcasing their transformative potential in healthcare. Yet, these advancements bring ethical and societal challenges, underscoring our duty as physicians to uphold the patient’s best interest. This innovative three-year program blends structured mentorship, targeted didactics, and hands-on training to prepare residents to become leaders in AI and medicine upon graduation.

Samarth Rawal, M.D. Internal Medicine Resident, Class of 2027 Before joining Mayo Clinic, I worked at the forefront of developing generative AI models with applications in healthcare. Now, as the inaugural participant in the AI and Medicine Residency Track, I am excited to elevate my expertise to the next level. The AI in Medicine Track at Mayo Clinic in Arizona combines clinical excellence with physician-engineer collaboration, robust technical infrastructure, and an organization-wide investment in bringing clinical AI innovations to the bedside. I am thrilled at the opportunity to be part of this innovative track and to contribute meaningfully to the future of medical AI, both during my training and throughout my career.

Resident Leadership Academy Pathway

The Mayo Clinic Fellow Leadership Academy prepares residents and fellows for leadership roles and faculty positions. Through interactive workshops and networking, participants develop essential skills in financial literacy, executive communication, strategic decision-making, contract negotiation, and academic career building. The program runs over four sessions throughout an academic year. It's designed for trainees who recognize that intentional leadership development is critical before transitioning to attending roles.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Academy

Structured as a year-long course across the Mayo Clinic Enterprise, learners will meet with a group of peers for monthly sessions to learn fundamentals and application of innovation skills to take forward in future project ideas, in dedicated innovation fellowships or as Mayo Clinic faculty. The Academy is designed to serve as a bridge for trainees to learn and apply the fundamentals of clinical innovation and entrepreneurship through a longitudinal program. The program will leverage expertise internally and externally on the topics of innovation, commercialization, entrepreneurship, AI, and communication.

Clinician Educator Pathway

The goal of the Clinician Educator Pathway is to train clinician educators to be patient-centered clinicians, inspirational teachers, and servant leaders in medical education at Mayo Clinic and beyond. It does this by providing a community for future clinician-educators through small group sessions, peer coaching, innovation, and scholarship.

Curriculum

Trainees are given one day a month to take part in virtual didactics and small groups on various education topics such as education theory, curriculum development, small group teaching, feedback, and so on.

Trainees participate in a capstone project relating to medical education.

Words from participants

Matt Biondi, M.D Internal Medicine Resident, Class of 2025 The Clinician Educator Pathway has been instrumental in increasing my understanding of medical education and providing me with tools to maximize my effectiveness as a medical educator. As someone who is heavily invested in medical education and wants to make it a significant part of my career, the pathway is a great way to network with leaders at all three Mayo Clinic sites. Sessions are dynamic, engaging, and manageable even with a busy resident schedule.