Tuesday, November 03, 2009
kudos
Congratulations to Sashi and Eric on achieving a passing score on the American Board of Integrative & Holistic Medicine exam!!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Description of our program
The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is a component of the University of Texas System and is located on beautiful Galveston Island, Texas. The Department of Family Medicine at UTMB was established in 1971. It was the first academic department of Family Medicine in the state of Texas. Since 1998, the Department of Family Medicine has been chaired by Barbara L. Thompson, MD.
The Residency Program was one of the first in the state and has graduated over 250 residents since accepting the first trainees in 1972. The program director is Lisa R. Nash, DO since 2003.
The program is structured as an 8-8-8 program accredited by the ACGME, for a total of 24 residents in training annually. The curriculum includes a diverse blend of campus and community based experiences to meet training requirements and provide a comprehensive view of contemporary Family Medicine.
A Rural Training Track was added to the program in 2000, located in Weimer Texas, a community with a population of 1800. In 2009 the RRC approved an expansion of the RTT curriculum, which will allow residents to spend approximately the first half of their training at the academic medical center in Galveston and the remainder at the RTT site in Weimar.
The UTMB-FMR curriculum also incorporates the “Integrative Medicine in Residency” curriculum. Residents receive over the course of their training an additional 200 hours of instruction in Integrative Medicine. At the completion of training, graduates qualify to sit for the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine exam.
Additionally, the program achieved certification by the American Osteopathic Association in 2007, qualifying all DO residents to sit for the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians exam.
Other notable features of our program:
• Area of Concentration Programs – an elective written program of individual study
• Maximum number of electives (six) allowed by the RRC for FM
• International Health program and strong history of approved electives for residents
• Behavioral Medicine program – recognized as one of the best examples of an integrated, skills-based curriculum in the nation
• Electronic Resident Portfolio – collection point and tracking mechanism for resident progress through training requirements
• Campus-wide integrated EMR (EPIC)
• Resident Research Program – with 18 national conference presentations and/or publications over the past five years
• Fellowship/Advanced Training – 11 graduates over the past five years have gone on to prestigious fellowships and other advanced training opportunities
For more information about our program, visit us here. Meet residents, alumni, faculty, staff and others on our UTMB Family Medicine Residency group on Facebook!
The Residency Program was one of the first in the state and has graduated over 250 residents since accepting the first trainees in 1972. The program director is Lisa R. Nash, DO since 2003.
The program is structured as an 8-8-8 program accredited by the ACGME, for a total of 24 residents in training annually. The curriculum includes a diverse blend of campus and community based experiences to meet training requirements and provide a comprehensive view of contemporary Family Medicine.
A Rural Training Track was added to the program in 2000, located in Weimer Texas, a community with a population of 1800. In 2009 the RRC approved an expansion of the RTT curriculum, which will allow residents to spend approximately the first half of their training at the academic medical center in Galveston and the remainder at the RTT site in Weimar.
The UTMB-FMR curriculum also incorporates the “Integrative Medicine in Residency” curriculum. Residents receive over the course of their training an additional 200 hours of instruction in Integrative Medicine. At the completion of training, graduates qualify to sit for the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine exam.
Additionally, the program achieved certification by the American Osteopathic Association in 2007, qualifying all DO residents to sit for the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians exam.
Other notable features of our program:
• Area of Concentration Programs – an elective written program of individual study
• Maximum number of electives (six) allowed by the RRC for FM
• International Health program and strong history of approved electives for residents
• Behavioral Medicine program – recognized as one of the best examples of an integrated, skills-based curriculum in the nation
• Electronic Resident Portfolio – collection point and tracking mechanism for resident progress through training requirements
• Campus-wide integrated EMR (EPIC)
• Resident Research Program – with 18 national conference presentations and/or publications over the past five years
• Fellowship/Advanced Training – 11 graduates over the past five years have gone on to prestigious fellowships and other advanced training opportunities
For more information about our program, visit us here. Meet residents, alumni, faculty, staff and others on our UTMB Family Medicine Residency group on Facebook!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Loan Repayment info
Texas Enacts Loan Repayment Program to Entice Primary Care Physicians to Practice in State's Underserved Areas
Participants Could Pay Off Student Loans Within Four Years
Click here to read the details!
Participants Could Pay Off Student Loans Within Four Years
Click here to read the details!
Monday, October 19, 2009
message from the Chairman of FM
I am pleased to announce that we are beginning our search for a new Director for the UTMB Center for International Health and WHO/PAHO Collaborating Center for Training in International health. Dr. Laura Rudkin will chair the search committee and Drs. Catalina Triana, Clinton White, Rebecca Wong, and Lexi Nolen have agreed to serve as search committee members.
The successful candidate for this position will have an MD or DO degree, will be boarded in a primary care discipline and will be eligible for a Texas medical license. He or she will have experience in global health as well as teaching medical, graduate, nursing , health professions, graduate students and/or residents. Rank and salary are commensurate with experience.
I invite you to nominate candidates for this position by providing their names and contact information to Dr. Rudkin or one of the members of the committee. I appreciate their support and yours as we look forward to identifying highly qualified candidates for this important position.
Barbara L. Thompson, M.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Family Medicine, Campus Route 1123
Primary Care Pavilion, Room 2.208A
Office 409-772-3125
Fax: 409-772-0497
The successful candidate for this position will have an MD or DO degree, will be boarded in a primary care discipline and will be eligible for a Texas medical license. He or she will have experience in global health as well as teaching medical, graduate, nursing , health professions, graduate students and/or residents. Rank and salary are commensurate with experience.
I invite you to nominate candidates for this position by providing their names and contact information to Dr. Rudkin or one of the members of the committee. I appreciate their support and yours as we look forward to identifying highly qualified candidates for this important position.
Barbara L. Thompson, M.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Family Medicine, Campus Route 1123
Primary Care Pavilion, Room 2.208A
Office 409-772-3125
Fax: 409-772-0497
Friday, October 16, 2009
underserved communities rotation - funding available!
Residents,
East TX AHEC has funding for residents (approx 5) to participate in a multi-disciplinary Community Health rotation in certain MUA/HPSA (underserved) communities. The site list is prioritized roughly in the following order: Community Health Centers, FQHCs, Rural Health Clinics and others. The final approved site list is still being determined. As soon as it is available, I will forward it, but you don’t have to wait on the list if you have an idea about a site you think will qualify. Let me know your idea and we’ll find out.
Anyone interested in potentially practicing after graduation in an underserved area is encouraged to apply. This could be urban underserved in addition to rural. Rural Track residents would certainly qualify for the program but this is not limited to RTT residents.
Please email me if you may be interested.
East TX AHEC has funding for residents (approx 5) to participate in a multi-disciplinary Community Health rotation in certain MUA/HPSA (underserved) communities. The site list is prioritized roughly in the following order: Community Health Centers, FQHCs, Rural Health Clinics and others. The final approved site list is still being determined. As soon as it is available, I will forward it, but you don’t have to wait on the list if you have an idea about a site you think will qualify. Let me know your idea and we’ll find out.
Anyone interested in potentially practicing after graduation in an underserved area is encouraged to apply. This could be urban underserved in addition to rural. Rural Track residents would certainly qualify for the program but this is not limited to RTT residents.
Please email me if you may be interested.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Recruiting update
Total Applications = 585
Scheduled to Interview (48)
USMD = 16
DO = 14
IMG = 18
Invited but not yet scheduled: 20
Scheduled to Interview (48)
USMD = 16
DO = 14
IMG = 18
Invited but not yet scheduled: 20
Friday, October 02, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
kudos
Congratulations to Rich Donaldson (R2) for his article "Integrative and Osteopathic Medicine" in the September 2009 edition of the Houston Medical Journal! Good work, Rich!
email from Dr. Epperly, AAFP President
Dear Colleague,
In less than three weeks, I will have the distinct privilege of installing Dr. Lori Heim as the 63rd president of the AAFP. As my time serving you as president winds down, I want to take this opportunity to talk with you one last time about the important efforts your Academy is taking to help ensure reform of our health care system.
What a year of change for our country! What a year for health care reform! I think we can all agree that we need to reform our ailing health care system. What kind of health care reform we want becomes the key question. As we have all witnessed, this debate over needs versus wants has left the arena of thoughtful discussion around policy and has entered the arena of major league "Politics" with a capital "P."
There are several pieces of legislation in play, and these bills are under rapid evolution. Before the August recess, they were literally changing by the hour. We don't have a finished product in either chamber of Congress. That's why we see this evolving process as being a critical time to be "at the table, so we don't end up on the menu." We want to help shape the debates around the critical principles and values that we hold dear as family physicians.
So what principles am I talking about? Where does the AAFP stand on health care reform? It's really quite simple. We believe that the key to designing a new health care system is to reemphasize the centrality of primary care by:
• Ensuring health care coverage for all and aligning financial incentives to support this system;
• Increasing payment for primary care services ;
• Redesigning the manner of primary care delivery modeled on a ‘patient-centered medical home' ; and
• Reinvigorating the primary care workforce
In addressing all of these principles, our approach has been one of "Yes, if." "Yes, we will support certain provisions, if the following principles are present." The health care system we have is unacceptable and not financially sustainable long term. The rapidly growing health insurance premiums and cost sharing measures (like higher co-payments and bigger deductibles) are making more of our patients limit their access to their family doctors. The status quo is not acceptable to us or to our patients.
I want you to know that we will stay at the table and continue to help shape a better health care system for our country. It's the right thing for us to fight for on behalf of our members and our patients. We will not get everything we want and there will undoubtedly be elements of the final reform proposal that we won't like. But I can guarantee the result will be much better for our having been so fiercely involved.
In this vein, your AAFP leaders have been busy recently, talking face-to-face and via conference call with members of the Obama administration and Congress to stress the need to enact health care reform legislation that improves health care quality, enhances patient access and lowers costs via a primary care-based system.
I met with Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office of Health Reform, and others in August. During this meeting, I told them that the AAFP continues it's commitment to the major principles of health care reform, including providing health care for all and the importance of better payments for family physicians and other primary care physicians. I stressed that adequate payment is key to building a primary care infrastructure in this country and that we must invest in the education and training of the primary care workforce so we have enough family physicians in our country.
In addition to the White House face-to-face meeting, I have participated in several conference calls with the White House, along with representatives of several other physician organizations, including the American College of Physicians, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association. We discussed what we could do collectively to move health care reform along. I am very optimistic and encouraged by the discussions with the White House and with our colleague organizations, and believe we need these exchanges to get good, solid, factual information to our members.
I also have been part of six town halls where I've had a chance to represent the AAFP to both members of Congress and to you. I have seen the fear, heard the concerns, and witnessed much about the character of America. It is important that America is having this dialogue. The AAFP must stay engaged in the health care reform process. Now is not the time to walk away from the table, if anything now is the time for us to be more engaged and to advocate for the way the health care system needs to be reformed.
The AAFP is going to continue to be engaged and advocating every second for the good of health care for this country. I would ask of you to do the following:
• Stay optimistic. Keep focused on changing our health care system for the greater good of our country.
• Use the AAFP's web page and the "Connect for Reform" icon in the upper right hand corner to join and have a front row seat as this debate and process unfolds.
• Download the AAFP-developed one page information sheet for your patients . Please distribute this as you see fit. Included are links to two historically bipartisan fact check sites where you and your patients can learn about which statements about health care reform are true and which are not.
• Please help settle down all the rhetoric, fear, and confusion that exist with your patients, colleagues, and communities.
I would like to just end with this. We have never been closer to meaningful health care reform in the history of our nation than we are right now. I remain optimistic that we will step forward as a nation for the good of health care for all. I wish you all the best as we move forward.
Regards,
Ted Epperly, M.D., FAAFP
President
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Family Physicians Division of Government Relations
2021 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036
(888) 794-7481 (202) 232-9033
In less than three weeks, I will have the distinct privilege of installing Dr. Lori Heim as the 63rd president of the AAFP. As my time serving you as president winds down, I want to take this opportunity to talk with you one last time about the important efforts your Academy is taking to help ensure reform of our health care system.
What a year of change for our country! What a year for health care reform! I think we can all agree that we need to reform our ailing health care system. What kind of health care reform we want becomes the key question. As we have all witnessed, this debate over needs versus wants has left the arena of thoughtful discussion around policy and has entered the arena of major league "Politics" with a capital "P."
There are several pieces of legislation in play, and these bills are under rapid evolution. Before the August recess, they were literally changing by the hour. We don't have a finished product in either chamber of Congress. That's why we see this evolving process as being a critical time to be "at the table, so we don't end up on the menu." We want to help shape the debates around the critical principles and values that we hold dear as family physicians.
So what principles am I talking about? Where does the AAFP stand on health care reform? It's really quite simple. We believe that the key to designing a new health care system is to reemphasize the centrality of primary care by:
• Ensuring health care coverage for all and aligning financial incentives to support this system;
• Increasing payment for primary care services ;
• Redesigning the manner of primary care delivery modeled on a ‘patient-centered medical home' ; and
• Reinvigorating the primary care workforce
In addressing all of these principles, our approach has been one of "Yes, if." "Yes, we will support certain provisions, if the following principles are present." The health care system we have is unacceptable and not financially sustainable long term. The rapidly growing health insurance premiums and cost sharing measures (like higher co-payments and bigger deductibles) are making more of our patients limit their access to their family doctors. The status quo is not acceptable to us or to our patients.
I want you to know that we will stay at the table and continue to help shape a better health care system for our country. It's the right thing for us to fight for on behalf of our members and our patients. We will not get everything we want and there will undoubtedly be elements of the final reform proposal that we won't like. But I can guarantee the result will be much better for our having been so fiercely involved.
In this vein, your AAFP leaders have been busy recently, talking face-to-face and via conference call with members of the Obama administration and Congress to stress the need to enact health care reform legislation that improves health care quality, enhances patient access and lowers costs via a primary care-based system.
I met with Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office of Health Reform, and others in August. During this meeting, I told them that the AAFP continues it's commitment to the major principles of health care reform, including providing health care for all and the importance of better payments for family physicians and other primary care physicians. I stressed that adequate payment is key to building a primary care infrastructure in this country and that we must invest in the education and training of the primary care workforce so we have enough family physicians in our country.
In addition to the White House face-to-face meeting, I have participated in several conference calls with the White House, along with representatives of several other physician organizations, including the American College of Physicians, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association. We discussed what we could do collectively to move health care reform along. I am very optimistic and encouraged by the discussions with the White House and with our colleague organizations, and believe we need these exchanges to get good, solid, factual information to our members.
I also have been part of six town halls where I've had a chance to represent the AAFP to both members of Congress and to you. I have seen the fear, heard the concerns, and witnessed much about the character of America. It is important that America is having this dialogue. The AAFP must stay engaged in the health care reform process. Now is not the time to walk away from the table, if anything now is the time for us to be more engaged and to advocate for the way the health care system needs to be reformed.
The AAFP is going to continue to be engaged and advocating every second for the good of health care for this country. I would ask of you to do the following:
• Stay optimistic. Keep focused on changing our health care system for the greater good of our country.
• Use the AAFP's web page and the "Connect for Reform" icon in the upper right hand corner to join and have a front row seat as this debate and process unfolds.
• Download the AAFP-developed one page information sheet for your patients . Please distribute this as you see fit. Included are links to two historically bipartisan fact check sites where you and your patients can learn about which statements about health care reform are true and which are not.
• Please help settle down all the rhetoric, fear, and confusion that exist with your patients, colleagues, and communities.
I would like to just end with this. We have never been closer to meaningful health care reform in the history of our nation than we are right now. I remain optimistic that we will step forward as a nation for the good of health care for all. I wish you all the best as we move forward.
Regards,
Ted Epperly, M.D., FAAFP
President
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Family Physicians Division of Government Relations
2021 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036
(888) 794-7481 (202) 232-9033
Monday, September 28, 2009
Recruiting Update
Total Applications = 527
Scheduled to Interview (34)
USMD = 13
DO = 9
IMG = 12
Invited but not yet scheduled: 20
October interview dates are FULL, so please contact us ASAP to schedule if you are in the "invited but not yet scheduled" category!
Scheduled to Interview (34)
USMD = 13
DO = 9
IMG = 12
Invited but not yet scheduled: 20
October interview dates are FULL, so please contact us ASAP to schedule if you are in the "invited but not yet scheduled" category!
Monday, September 21, 2009
ACGME site visit
Putting the last touches on our preparations for our ACGME site visit scheduled for Wednesday. Countless hours of hard work have gone into the documents preparation. Thanks to all - staff, faculty, residents and others - who have helped!
Applications for the 2010 Match are being reviewed through ERAS. Although the site visit preparations have taken some of the time I would have otherwise devoted to the Match, we have been able to screen many applications and have begun inviting applicants for interviews. I still have roughly 100 unscreened applications, so be patient! After the site visit this week, we will get caught up. If you have already received an invitation to interview, please contact Louis right away to schedule your preferred date, as the October dates in particular are filling up fast!
Applications for the 2010 Match are being reviewed through ERAS. Although the site visit preparations have taken some of the time I would have otherwise devoted to the Match, we have been able to screen many applications and have begun inviting applicants for interviews. I still have roughly 100 unscreened applications, so be patient! After the site visit this week, we will get caught up. If you have already received an invitation to interview, please contact Louis right away to schedule your preferred date, as the October dates in particular are filling up fast!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
An interesting exercise from Southwest Airlines Spirit Magazine, September edition…
Last week I was at TMA for meetings and heard an interesting discussion about student/resident debt, which was prefaced with something close to the following… “part of the problem with student/resident debt is that medical students want the lifestyle of a resident and residents want the lifestyle of an attending, when what we all need to do is match our lifestyle to our current situation and income!”
As you all may know, an impressive infusion of funds was budgeted for the Physician Education Loan Repayment Fund in the current state budget. Residency graduates considering practice in rural or other underserved areas in Texas should look into this program. Contact the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for more information. You can read the TAFP brief on the program here.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Board Certified!
The Class of 2009 is 3 for 3 on passing the Family Medicine boards so far! Big congratulations to Rene, Adriana and Roberto who have already received their results!!
The rest of you, please let me know when you hear your results?!
The rest of you, please let me know when you hear your results?!
Friday, August 21, 2009
UTMB FMR Rural Training Track - better than ever!
Challenge to Society: 177 of 254 (70%) Texas counties are rural.
Rural Training:
Residents will spend their first 20 rotation blocks training with the larger group of FM residents in standard Galveston area rotations.
Rural Training:
Residents will spend their first 20 rotation blocks training with the larger group of FM residents in standard Galveston area rotations.
PGY1 continuity clinic will be held in the Family Medicine Center in the University Hospital Clinics building. During rotation blocks 14 – 20, continuity clinics would be relocated to Weimar, TX in partnership with our local RTT faculty at the Youens-Duchicella Clinic. Rotation activities would continue to be in conjunction with the larger group of campus-based FM residents during this time.
At the completion of rotation block 20, RTT residents would relocate to the RTT site for the remainder of their training. They will maintain connection with the campus-based resident cohort via web-based conferencing of weekly Thursday afternoon didactic activities and periodic returns to campus for in-person participation.
Rural Site:
The RTT site is located 138 miles from Galveston in Weimar, Texas (on I-10 west of Houston) and in the year 2000, the population was 1,981. The local hospital, Colorado-Fayette Medical Center is a 38-bed facility organized as part of a private 501(c)(3) corporation.
The Curriculum:
Rotation blocks 1 - 20: Essential Skills in FM (Orientation), Principles of Family Medicine, FM Hospital Service 1-3, MICU, OB1-2, Emergency Medicine, Pediatric Urgent Care, Newborn Nursery, Community Medicine 1-2, Pedi Inpatient, Behavioral Medicine, Geriatrics, Ambulatory Peds1, Surgical Subspecialties, Neurology and Nephrology.
Rotation blocks 21-39: Surgery 1-2, FM Hospital Service 4-7, Ortho1-2 & Sports Med, Cardiology, Gynecology, FM Outpatient Procedures, Ambulatory FM, Ambulatory Peds 2, Electives 1-6.
What residents say about the RTT Experience:
Residents have reported that their rural training experience gave them the skills and background to be more competitive for rural practice jobs after residency. Generally, all felt comparable to their peers in terms of knowledge-base but that they may have a competitive edge in terms of “hands-on skills” and confidence related to performing procedures.
Residents reported learning a lot about “practice management” and the business of medicine in the rural track. Another benefit most residents cited is the immediacy of consultation/collaboration from specialists and other services. Residents feel that provider-to-provider communication is better in the rural setting (especially when a procedure/hospitalization is needed), as is continuity of care for patients and the ability to preserve the educational continuum when patients require specialty care.
If you are interested in the RTT, be sure to mention this during your interview process.
At the completion of rotation block 20, RTT residents would relocate to the RTT site for the remainder of their training. They will maintain connection with the campus-based resident cohort via web-based conferencing of weekly Thursday afternoon didactic activities and periodic returns to campus for in-person participation.
Rural Site:
The RTT site is located 138 miles from Galveston in Weimar, Texas (on I-10 west of Houston) and in the year 2000, the population was 1,981. The local hospital, Colorado-Fayette Medical Center is a 38-bed facility organized as part of a private 501(c)(3) corporation.
The Curriculum:
Rotation blocks 1 - 20: Essential Skills in FM (Orientation), Principles of Family Medicine, FM Hospital Service 1-3, MICU, OB1-2, Emergency Medicine, Pediatric Urgent Care, Newborn Nursery, Community Medicine 1-2, Pedi Inpatient, Behavioral Medicine, Geriatrics, Ambulatory Peds1, Surgical Subspecialties, Neurology and Nephrology.
Rotation blocks 21-39: Surgery 1-2, FM Hospital Service 4-7, Ortho1-2 & Sports Med, Cardiology, Gynecology, FM Outpatient Procedures, Ambulatory FM, Ambulatory Peds 2, Electives 1-6.
What residents say about the RTT Experience:
Residents have reported that their rural training experience gave them the skills and background to be more competitive for rural practice jobs after residency. Generally, all felt comparable to their peers in terms of knowledge-base but that they may have a competitive edge in terms of “hands-on skills” and confidence related to performing procedures.
Residents reported learning a lot about “practice management” and the business of medicine in the rural track. Another benefit most residents cited is the immediacy of consultation/collaboration from specialists and other services. Residents feel that provider-to-provider communication is better in the rural setting (especially when a procedure/hospitalization is needed), as is continuity of care for patients and the ability to preserve the educational continuum when patients require specialty care.
If you are interested in the RTT, be sure to mention this during your interview process.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
RRC approves 20+19 Rural Training Track Proposal!!!
Everyone,
I am extremely pleased to share the news that the RRC has just notified us of approval of our proposal for the 20+19 model of the Rural Training Track!!!!
The three residents currently enrolled in the Rural Training Track will complete their training under the previous integrated longitudinal model. From this point forward, no new residents will be accepted into that track. Current PGY1 residents and those thereafter considering the Rural Training Track would participate under the new format, outlined below.
Residents enrolled in the Rural Training Track will spend the first 20 rotations blocks in Galveston. Residents will then relocate to Weimar, TX to complete the final 19 rotation blocks of their training. Residents’ PGY1 continuity clinic will occur in Galveston, followed by PGY2 and 3 continuity clinic in Weimar. During blocks 14 – 20, residents would commute to Weimar for continuity clinics while completing rotation assignments in Galveston under much the same format as our current hybrid track (reversed).
For detailed curriculum information, interested residents should contact Dr. Nash. Additional details will be shared with residents and faculty at upcoming meetings.
It is likely that we will match resident applicants to this track for June 2010 start dates, final decision pending further discussion at Leadership and Residency Program Meeting. (Residents matching to the track would relocate to Weimar in approximately January 2012. Current PGY1 residents interested in participating could relocate to Weimar approximately January 2011.)
Many, many thanks to those involved in this project FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS, as we take this long anticipated major step forward!!! To Angela Shepherd, who started the dream and then allowed me to lead it when I came on board, to Dr. Thompson who has been always supportive, to Nita Caskey who has done as much or more footwork, sweat and effort as I have, and to our Weimar docs – Robert Youens, Jorge Duchicela and Olga Duchicela – who have hung in there with us all this time, keeping the faith that eventually if we hung in there long enough, it would happen. Also thanks to the residents who participated in all the early stages and growing pains! There have been so many people involved in this project over the years, I couldn’t possibly name them all.
With much gratitude and excitement,
Lisa R. Nash, DO, FAAFP
Program Director
UTMB Family Medicine Residency
I am extremely pleased to share the news that the RRC has just notified us of approval of our proposal for the 20+19 model of the Rural Training Track!!!!
The three residents currently enrolled in the Rural Training Track will complete their training under the previous integrated longitudinal model. From this point forward, no new residents will be accepted into that track. Current PGY1 residents and those thereafter considering the Rural Training Track would participate under the new format, outlined below.
Residents enrolled in the Rural Training Track will spend the first 20 rotations blocks in Galveston. Residents will then relocate to Weimar, TX to complete the final 19 rotation blocks of their training. Residents’ PGY1 continuity clinic will occur in Galveston, followed by PGY2 and 3 continuity clinic in Weimar. During blocks 14 – 20, residents would commute to Weimar for continuity clinics while completing rotation assignments in Galveston under much the same format as our current hybrid track (reversed).
For detailed curriculum information, interested residents should contact Dr. Nash. Additional details will be shared with residents and faculty at upcoming meetings.
It is likely that we will match resident applicants to this track for June 2010 start dates, final decision pending further discussion at Leadership and Residency Program Meeting. (Residents matching to the track would relocate to Weimar in approximately January 2012. Current PGY1 residents interested in participating could relocate to Weimar approximately January 2011.)
Many, many thanks to those involved in this project FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS, as we take this long anticipated major step forward!!! To Angela Shepherd, who started the dream and then allowed me to lead it when I came on board, to Dr. Thompson who has been always supportive, to Nita Caskey who has done as much or more footwork, sweat and effort as I have, and to our Weimar docs – Robert Youens, Jorge Duchicela and Olga Duchicela – who have hung in there with us all this time, keeping the faith that eventually if we hung in there long enough, it would happen. Also thanks to the residents who participated in all the early stages and growing pains! There have been so many people involved in this project over the years, I couldn’t possibly name them all.
With much gratitude and excitement,
Lisa R. Nash, DO, FAAFP
Program Director
UTMB Family Medicine Residency
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
2009 Program Directors' Workshop
Ron, Dr. Triana and I enjoyed a great PDW the last few days. We'll be coming home with some new ideas, some renewed and some new connections with our colleagues across the country and with renewed energy.
I especially enjoyed the opening plenary by our STFM president, Terry Steyer. It included a quote from President Obama that went in part like this... "we are the change we seek." That charge came through in many of the sessions I attended and particularly resonated with me because of our ongoing recovery efforts post hurricane Ike. If we don't take advantage of the opportunity within this challenge, we will have done ourselves and our program a great disservice.
This is an exciting time for Family Medicine nationally and that topic was central to the conference this year. It has been a long time since I've seen such energy and enthusiasm about the future of Family Medicine. The upcoming years are really going to be exciting times to be part of the Family Medicine family.
Other highlights from the conference for me...
A couple of great sessions on Leadership and a poster that inspired some thoughts the Residency leadership team will be discussing and implementing in the coming weeks and months. I'm also thinking about developing a FM Leadership/Advocacy elective to offer for our residents. That could also easily be an Area of Concentration, but I'll start with the elective as a good first step! Email me if that interests you.
PGY1 --> PGY2 promotion - saw a great example of some evaluation tools and a formal specifically targeted process for assessing readiness to promote. We will be doing something with a version of this modified for our program as well.
Electives: we need an elective database that includes info on electives that our residents have done. No need to completely re-invent the wheel every time and we could simplify the "who to contact to begin the process" part with a database. Also, Dr. Triana and I attended a curriculum session that included as one part an innovation that has a lot of potential for our program, so be looking forward to upcoming discussions about this. The innovation was moving all six electives to the second half of PGY3. I can think of many potential advantages and a few challenges we would have to work through to make it work. But there are enough advantages that we're at least going to seriously consider it. (Except for our DO residents, because the AOA requires one elective in PGY1, so the DO PGY3 residents would have a 5 block stretch of electives.)
Another curriculum innovation by this program is to structure the second month of emergency medicine longitudinally in PGY2 and PGY3, requiring 6 shifts in each year, done on Friday nights on rotations where the duty hours will allow. This frees up a whole additional rotation block for some other content.
From the ABFM... the ITE will be offered as a computer based exam ONLY by 2013.
From the RRC... a major revision of the program requirements is about to commence. This is especially exciting because required rotations will be critically evaluated and I believe the opportunity for restructuring our required experiences is truly coming. Dr. Ed Bope suggested his version during his plenary... there were a total of SIX program requirements (!!! for reference, I think the current program requirements are about 35 - 45 pages!) and I'll look up his slides to post these later!
One plenary session was devoted to the Patient Centered Medical Home. I learned that "cycle time" (when the patient walks in the door to when the patient walks out the door) is good proxy for practice organization and should be <60 href="http://www.aafp.org">AAFP just posted a PCMH checklist. I plan to use this checklist as a survey for our residents and faculty and use it as information and evidence for obtaining the resources we need in our clinic. Go ahead and print it off, fill it out and drop by my office if you'd like. Please put your name on it, only so I can keep track of who has done it and who hasn't. You won't hurt my feelings with your answers!
I attended a great session on the PD-Program Coordinator team and relationship. I think Linda and I are generally doing pretty well with this, but I will review the content with her and check my own perceptions to be sure she feels the same way. There are a few things from that session that we can work on too.
One session I attended was about Leadership and Life Balance. The speaker (Lee Lipsenthal) is really great and gave us a CD that I believe contains one of his talks. Residents can look forward to hearing this at an upcoming didactic session.
Overall, this year's PDW was very beneficial and we'll be bringing home some exciting ideas!
I especially enjoyed the opening plenary by our STFM president, Terry Steyer. It included a quote from President Obama that went in part like this... "we are the change we seek." That charge came through in many of the sessions I attended and particularly resonated with me because of our ongoing recovery efforts post hurricane Ike. If we don't take advantage of the opportunity within this challenge, we will have done ourselves and our program a great disservice.
This is an exciting time for Family Medicine nationally and that topic was central to the conference this year. It has been a long time since I've seen such energy and enthusiasm about the future of Family Medicine. The upcoming years are really going to be exciting times to be part of the Family Medicine family.
Other highlights from the conference for me...
A couple of great sessions on Leadership and a poster that inspired some thoughts the Residency leadership team will be discussing and implementing in the coming weeks and months. I'm also thinking about developing a FM Leadership/Advocacy elective to offer for our residents. That could also easily be an Area of Concentration, but I'll start with the elective as a good first step! Email me if that interests you.
PGY1 --> PGY2 promotion - saw a great example of some evaluation tools and a formal specifically targeted process for assessing readiness to promote. We will be doing something with a version of this modified for our program as well.
Electives: we need an elective database that includes info on electives that our residents have done. No need to completely re-invent the wheel every time and we could simplify the "who to contact to begin the process" part with a database. Also, Dr. Triana and I attended a curriculum session that included as one part an innovation that has a lot of potential for our program, so be looking forward to upcoming discussions about this. The innovation was moving all six electives to the second half of PGY3. I can think of many potential advantages and a few challenges we would have to work through to make it work. But there are enough advantages that we're at least going to seriously consider it. (Except for our DO residents, because the AOA requires one elective in PGY1, so the DO PGY3 residents would have a 5 block stretch of electives.)
Another curriculum innovation by this program is to structure the second month of emergency medicine longitudinally in PGY2 and PGY3, requiring 6 shifts in each year, done on Friday nights on rotations where the duty hours will allow. This frees up a whole additional rotation block for some other content.
From the ABFM... the ITE will be offered as a computer based exam ONLY by 2013.
From the RRC... a major revision of the program requirements is about to commence. This is especially exciting because required rotations will be critically evaluated and I believe the opportunity for restructuring our required experiences is truly coming. Dr. Ed Bope suggested his version during his plenary... there were a total of SIX program requirements (!!! for reference, I think the current program requirements are about 35 - 45 pages!) and I'll look up his slides to post these later!
One plenary session was devoted to the Patient Centered Medical Home. I learned that "cycle time" (when the patient walks in the door to when the patient walks out the door) is good proxy for practice organization and should be <60 href="http://www.aafp.org">AAFP just posted a PCMH checklist. I plan to use this checklist as a survey for our residents and faculty and use it as information and evidence for obtaining the resources we need in our clinic. Go ahead and print it off, fill it out and drop by my office if you'd like. Please put your name on it, only so I can keep track of who has done it and who hasn't. You won't hurt my feelings with your answers!
I attended a great session on the PD-Program Coordinator team and relationship. I think Linda and I are generally doing pretty well with this, but I will review the content with her and check my own perceptions to be sure she feels the same way. There are a few things from that session that we can work on too.
One session I attended was about Leadership and Life Balance. The speaker (Lee Lipsenthal) is really great and gave us a CD that I believe contains one of his talks. Residents can look forward to hearing this at an upcoming didactic session.
Overall, this year's PDW was very beneficial and we'll be bringing home some exciting ideas!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Thanks, Dr. Triana!
...for a great party honoring the graduates of 2009.
Check our FaceBook page for photos!
Check our FaceBook page for photos!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
STFM 09 - Denver
Who recognizes this UTMB FMRP alum? See comments for the answer!
And congratulations to Dr. Rene Melendez and his faculty mentor Dr. Burch for their successful poster presentation. A great deal of interest was shown in their project. Excellent work, Rene!Friday, April 24, 2009
interesting quote...
I'm attending the AODME conference this week in Seattle.
Here is one of my favorite quotes from a session...
"You don't need a double-blind placebo controlled study on the efficacy of parachutes when jumping out of airplanes... some things just make sense."
Here is one of my favorite quotes from a session...
"You don't need a double-blind placebo controlled study on the efficacy of parachutes when jumping out of airplanes... some things just make sense."
I also like this... Background - I frequently get "offers" for our residents to participate in this or that activity, which unfortunately often centers more around some work that needs to be done rather than what it might contribute to the educational program. I've struggled with formulating politically correct responses at times, but this was a good one, to simply ask... "what is the educational objective of that experience?"
Thursday, April 23, 2009
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Thursday, April 16, 2009
What does our interview day look like?
Group 1
8:00 – 8:30 Applicants meet with Dr. Nash as a group
8:30 – 9:00 Individual Interviews with Fac/Res
9:00 – 9:30 Individual Interviews with Fac/Res
9:30 – 10:00 Individual Interviews with Fac/Res
10:00 – 10:30 Applicants meet with Behavioral Medicine faculty as a group
Groups 1 & 2
10:30 – 11:30 Applicants tour the university with Louis Johnston
11:30 – 11:45 Break
11:45 – 12:00 Applicants meet with Dr. Thompson as a group
12:00 – 1:00 Applicants have lunch with the Interns
1:00 – 1:30 Applicants meet with Residency Staff as a group
Group 2
1:30 – 2:00 Applicants meet with Dr. Nash as a group
2:00 – 2:30 Individual Interviews with Fac/Res
2:30 – 3:00 Individual Interviews with Fac/Res
3:00 – 3:30 Individual Interviews with Fac/Res
3:30 – 4:00 Applicants meet with Behavioral Medicine faculty as a group
8:00 – 8:30 Applicants meet with Dr. Nash as a group
8:30 – 9:00 Individual Interviews with Fac/Res
9:00 – 9:30 Individual Interviews with Fac/Res
9:30 – 10:00 Individual Interviews with Fac/Res
10:00 – 10:30 Applicants meet with Behavioral Medicine faculty as a group
Groups 1 & 2
10:30 – 11:30 Applicants tour the university with Louis Johnston
11:30 – 11:45 Break
11:45 – 12:00 Applicants meet with Dr. Thompson as a group
12:00 – 1:00 Applicants have lunch with the Interns
1:00 – 1:30 Applicants meet with Residency Staff as a group
Group 2
1:30 – 2:00 Applicants meet with Dr. Nash as a group
2:00 – 2:30 Individual Interviews with Fac/Res
2:30 – 3:00 Individual Interviews with Fac/Res
3:00 – 3:30 Individual Interviews with Fac/Res
3:30 – 4:00 Applicants meet with Behavioral Medicine faculty as a group
Special Info for DOs re: the Match Process
UTMB Family Medicine Residency will be participating in BOTH the ACGME and AOA Matches in 2010.
We will offer two positions in the AOA Match. These are the “dual-certified” positions that will allow you to sit for both the American Osteopathic Board of Family Medicine (AOA) and the American Board of Family Medicine (ACGME) exams upon successful completion of the 3 year program.
We will also be offering six positions in the ACGME Match. We welcome applications from Osteopathic students for these positions, in addition to the two positions we will offer in the AOA Match. However, if we fill our two positions in the AOA Match and you subsequently match with our program through the ACGME Match, you will not be in a “dual certified” position. You will be eligible to sit only for the American Board of Family Medicine exam and not the AOBFM exam.
You may apply to our program through either or both Matches. The AOA Match essentially offers you an “early decision” and also guarantees you the “dual certified” position. If you participate in both Matches, in the event you do not match in the AOA Match, you will then have a second opportunity to match with our program through the ACGME Match.
Not matching with us in the AOA Match does not mean we didn’t value you highly as an applicant. We simply have a very limited number of positions in the AOA Match. As Program Director, I am happy to match you through either Match process. I do want you to understand the differences however, thus the purpose of this information.
See our Residency website at TX OPTI here.
We’re looking forward to two great Matches in 2010!
We will offer two positions in the AOA Match. These are the “dual-certified” positions that will allow you to sit for both the American Osteopathic Board of Family Medicine (AOA) and the American Board of Family Medicine (ACGME) exams upon successful completion of the 3 year program.
We will also be offering six positions in the ACGME Match. We welcome applications from Osteopathic students for these positions, in addition to the two positions we will offer in the AOA Match. However, if we fill our two positions in the AOA Match and you subsequently match with our program through the ACGME Match, you will not be in a “dual certified” position. You will be eligible to sit only for the American Board of Family Medicine exam and not the AOBFM exam.
You may apply to our program through either or both Matches. The AOA Match essentially offers you an “early decision” and also guarantees you the “dual certified” position. If you participate in both Matches, in the event you do not match in the AOA Match, you will then have a second opportunity to match with our program through the ACGME Match.
Not matching with us in the AOA Match does not mean we didn’t value you highly as an applicant. We simply have a very limited number of positions in the AOA Match. As Program Director, I am happy to match you through either Match process. I do want you to understand the differences however, thus the purpose of this information.
See our Residency website at TX OPTI here.
We’re looking forward to two great Matches in 2010!
Areas of Concentration
The Task Force on Medical Education of the Future of Family Medicine project calls for residency programs to be individualized to learners’ needs and to offer expanded educational opportunities in areas needed by graduates. (1)
The Residency Assistance Program’s guidelines for excellence also encourage that “an individualized educational plan should be developed for residents as they matriculate into the residency program.” (2)
Traditional approaches to meeting individual residents’ needs include elective rotations and post-residency fellowships. Unfortunately, the number of residents who desire fellowship training greatly exceeds the number of available positions. Individual electives are generally available and effective in meeting residents’ needs for brief clinical experiences. However, many residents desire a more structured and focused curriculum with greater depth, breadth and evaluation methodology, as well as some form of recognition for their advanced training in a particular area within the traditional structure of the Family Medicine Residency.
The Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors Board of Directors has recommended that the Area of Concentration concept be offered as a tool for individual programs to use as an aid in designing individual education plans for residents.
Guidelines for Individual Areas of Concentration
A. Written program of study including competency-based goals and objectives. Evaluation measures should be included.
B. Faculty mentor is to be identified and the resident will review their progress periodically with their faculty mentor.
C. Suggested time frame is 4 to 8 months duration. Focused blocks of time (4 week block electives) and/or longitudinal components are possible formats. Specific time frames will vary based on goals and objectives as chosen by the resident.
D. Scholarly Project – must be presented at least locally, although presentation at the state or national level is encouraged. (Resident is responsible for funding travel and other related expenses. Use of discretionary funds is allowed.)
E. Resident will attend a CME meeting in the AOC. (Resident is responsible for funding travel and other related expenses. Use of discretionary funds is allowed.)
F. Resident will present a critical appraisal of a current journal article in their AOC.
G. Quality outcomes should be demonstrated and documented in the AOC with case logs, patient outcome data and faculty reviews of resident competency, as appropriate to the AOC goals and objectives.
H. A letter summarizing the training completed will be written by the Program Director for placement in the resident’s portfolio and attached to the final residency completion letter.
Interested residents are encouraged to develop (in consultation with their Faculty Advisor and/or selected AOC mentor) and complete an Area of Concentration during their training.
Some potential topic areas include, but are not limited to:
Advanced Obstetrics*
CAM / Integrative Medicine*
International Health*
Sports Medicine
Academic Family Medicine / Research
Behavioral Medicine
Urgent Care / Emergency Medicine
Geriatrics*
Adolescent Medicine
Sleep Medicine
*draft available
References:
Bucholtz JR, et. al. Task Force Report 2: Report of the Task Force on Medical Education. Ann Fam Med. 2:S51-S64(2004).
RAP Criteria for Excellence, 6th edition p. 21
Frank SH, Smith CK. Areas of Concentration Programs in University-based Family Practice Residency Training. Family Medicine. Vol. 25, April 1993, pp. 242-4.
The Residency Assistance Program’s guidelines for excellence also encourage that “an individualized educational plan should be developed for residents as they matriculate into the residency program.” (2)
Traditional approaches to meeting individual residents’ needs include elective rotations and post-residency fellowships. Unfortunately, the number of residents who desire fellowship training greatly exceeds the number of available positions. Individual electives are generally available and effective in meeting residents’ needs for brief clinical experiences. However, many residents desire a more structured and focused curriculum with greater depth, breadth and evaluation methodology, as well as some form of recognition for their advanced training in a particular area within the traditional structure of the Family Medicine Residency.
The Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors Board of Directors has recommended that the Area of Concentration concept be offered as a tool for individual programs to use as an aid in designing individual education plans for residents.
Guidelines for Individual Areas of Concentration
A. Written program of study including competency-based goals and objectives. Evaluation measures should be included.
B. Faculty mentor is to be identified and the resident will review their progress periodically with their faculty mentor.
C. Suggested time frame is 4 to 8 months duration. Focused blocks of time (4 week block electives) and/or longitudinal components are possible formats. Specific time frames will vary based on goals and objectives as chosen by the resident.
D. Scholarly Project – must be presented at least locally, although presentation at the state or national level is encouraged. (Resident is responsible for funding travel and other related expenses. Use of discretionary funds is allowed.)
E. Resident will attend a CME meeting in the AOC. (Resident is responsible for funding travel and other related expenses. Use of discretionary funds is allowed.)
F. Resident will present a critical appraisal of a current journal article in their AOC.
G. Quality outcomes should be demonstrated and documented in the AOC with case logs, patient outcome data and faculty reviews of resident competency, as appropriate to the AOC goals and objectives.
H. A letter summarizing the training completed will be written by the Program Director for placement in the resident’s portfolio and attached to the final residency completion letter.
Interested residents are encouraged to develop (in consultation with their Faculty Advisor and/or selected AOC mentor) and complete an Area of Concentration during their training.
Some potential topic areas include, but are not limited to:
Advanced Obstetrics*
CAM / Integrative Medicine*
International Health*
Sports Medicine
Academic Family Medicine / Research
Behavioral Medicine
Urgent Care / Emergency Medicine
Geriatrics*
Adolescent Medicine
Sleep Medicine
*draft available
References:
Bucholtz JR, et. al. Task Force Report 2: Report of the Task Force on Medical Education. Ann Fam Med. 2:S51-S64(2004).
RAP Criteria for Excellence, 6th edition p. 21
Frank SH, Smith CK. Areas of Concentration Programs in University-based Family Practice Residency Training. Family Medicine. Vol. 25, April 1993, pp. 242-4.
2009 Match data from AAFP
Preliminary information available from the 2009 National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) indicates that for family medicine residency programs 2,329 positions filled out of 2,555 positions offered (91.2%). This represents a decrease in the number of positions offered and filled but an increase in the percentage of family medicine residency positions filled through the NRMP over 2008. [Included in this category are family medicine-psychiatry, family medicine-emergency medicine, and family medicine-internal medicine programs.] Ninety nine fewer family medicine positions (3.9%) were offered in 2009 compared with 2008. Seventy five fewer positions (3.2%) were filled in 2009 compared with 2008 (2,329/91.2% vs. 2,404/90.6%)
Eighty nine fewer U.S. seniors (1,083 vs. 1,172) chose family medicine in 2009 compared with 2008. Slightly more U.S. seniors participated in NRMP in 2009 compared with 2008 (15,638 vs. 15,242), with a resulting decrease (7.4%) in the percentage of U.S. seniors who chose family medicine. Although 2008 marked the first time in over a decade that more U.S. seniors participating and matching through the NRMP matched into family medicine compared with the preceding year, this year there were fewer US seniors who matched into family medicine than 2007.
Access the full report here.
Eighty nine fewer U.S. seniors (1,083 vs. 1,172) chose family medicine in 2009 compared with 2008. Slightly more U.S. seniors participated in NRMP in 2009 compared with 2008 (15,638 vs. 15,242), with a resulting decrease (7.4%) in the percentage of U.S. seniors who chose family medicine. Although 2008 marked the first time in over a decade that more U.S. seniors participating and matching through the NRMP matched into family medicine compared with the preceding year, this year there were fewer US seniors who matched into family medicine than 2007.
Access the full report here.
Political Action at Work - April 2009
Health plans confusing patients, hospitals playing doctor, and brand new physicians forced to leave Texas. Those are the biggest issues Texas Medical Association is handling as the 2009 Texas Legislature moves into its final six weeks.
This month’s video includes:
- A progress report on our “Patients’ Right to Know” campaign for health insurance reform;
- Our work to protect your clinical autonomy by stopping hospitals’ push to be able to hire physicians directly; and
- Interviews with a panel of medical students on their advocacy to expand graduate medical education slots in Texas and reengineer the state’s student loan repayment program.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Info for Applicants - 2010 Match
Dear Applicant,
Thank you for your interest in our residency training program.Our basic requirements for consideration for interview include:
Thank you for your interest in our residency training program.Our basic requirements for consideration for interview include:
- graduation from medical school within the past five years (not flexible)
- your medical school MUST be ON the approved Texas Medical Board list (scroll down for link to "substantial equivalence") and NOT on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board list of disapproved schools (no exceptions)
- passage of USMLE I and II, including CSA (preferably on first attempt) OR COMLEX for Osteopathic students. Obviously, the better your scores, the stronger will be your application
- some U.S. clinical experience
- three letters of recommendation, at least two of which MUST be from family doctors
We accept applications only through ERAS. Please do not email me long attachments in an attempt to circumvent the process because I will not read them. If you meet our criteria outlined above, then apply through ERAS. This will ensure that your application is reviewed.
Osteopathic students may apply to our program through either or both Match processes, however you will only be guaranteed a dual-accredited slot by matching through the AOA Match.
We will begin our interview season for the class entering in 2010 in September 2009 for Osteopathic students and October 2009 for all. We hope to conclude interviews by end of January 2010. We will begin screening applications immediately as they become available through ERAS. We will schedule interviews until we have interviewed sufficient candidates to fill our class, so you are encouraged to apply early.
Our program does sponsor J1 visas. Our program does NOT sponsor H-1 visas.UTMB does NOT sponsor externships or observerships for persons who have already graduated from medical school.
Please see our Residency website for more detailed information regarding our program. For specific questions that may not be covered, please contact our recruiter, Mr. Louis Johnston. His contact information is listed on the webpage.
Lisa R. Nash, D.O.
Program Director
UTMB Family Medicine Residency
Integrative Medicine in Residency - FYI
Integrative Medicine in Residency (IMR) is a 200-hour curriculum development project of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona, that is creating and delivering competency-based online integrative medical training to residents. IMR is a required component of the eight residency programs listed below, and is incorporated over the three years of your residency. Learning is accomplished through a combination of: web-based curriculum, program-specific experiential exercises, and group process-oriented activities.
Eight family medicine residencies nationwide are participating in the pilot phase of this program:
· Beth Israel Family Medicine
· Carolinas Medical Center
· Hennepin County Medical Center
· Maine Medical Center – Portland
· Maine Dartmouth – Augusta
· University of Arizona
· University of Connecticut
· University of Texas Medical Branch
Year 1 Content
Introduction to Integrative Medicine
Prevention and Wellness: US Preventive Services, Nutrition and Diet, Supplements for Prevention, Physical Activity, Sleep, Stress and Mind-Body Medicine, Spirituality
Tools in Integrative Medicine : Motivational Interviewing for Behavioral Change
Year 2 Content
Pediatric Topics: ADD/ADHD, Chronic Pain Syndrome, Asthma and Allergies
Women's Health Topics: Menopause, Fibromyalgia, Osteoporosis, Depression, Eating Disorders, PMS, prenatal care and lactation
Acute Care Topics: Back Pain, Urinary Tract Infection, Gastroenteritis, Otitis media,Vaginitis, Chest Pain/GERD, Upper Respiratory Infection
Tools in Integrative Medicine: Integrative Medicine Intake Process, Botanicals, Mind-Body Medicine
Year 3 Content
Chronic Illness: Cardiovascular Disease (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease), Diabetes Mellitus II, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Obesity, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Back Pain
Special Topics: HIV, Cancer Survivorship
Tools in Integrative Medicine: Integrative Medicine Care Plan Process, Manual Medicine, Energy Medicine, Whole Systems, Practice Management
All courses have an interactive core content and contain case studies allowing you to apply the new knowledge to patients encountered in family medicine. Content includes evidence-based Conventional and Complementary approaches to the management of the medical problems presented.
Throughout the curriculum we will emphasize well-being and balance for physicians – this interactive and experiential part of the curriculum will encourage residents to work on an individual plan to maintain their well-being and balance while in residency.
For more information on the IMR program at the University of Texas Medical Branch Family Medicine Residency, please contact: Victor Sierpina, MD, 409-772-1847, vssierpi@utmb.edu
Eight family medicine residencies nationwide are participating in the pilot phase of this program:
· Beth Israel Family Medicine
· Carolinas Medical Center
· Hennepin County Medical Center
· Maine Medical Center – Portland
· Maine Dartmouth – Augusta
· University of Arizona
· University of Connecticut
· University of Texas Medical Branch
Year 1 Content
Introduction to Integrative Medicine
Prevention and Wellness: US Preventive Services, Nutrition and Diet, Supplements for Prevention, Physical Activity, Sleep, Stress and Mind-Body Medicine, Spirituality
Tools in Integrative Medicine : Motivational Interviewing for Behavioral Change
Year 2 Content
Pediatric Topics: ADD/ADHD, Chronic Pain Syndrome, Asthma and Allergies
Women's Health Topics: Menopause, Fibromyalgia, Osteoporosis, Depression, Eating Disorders, PMS, prenatal care and lactation
Acute Care Topics: Back Pain, Urinary Tract Infection, Gastroenteritis, Otitis media,Vaginitis, Chest Pain/GERD, Upper Respiratory Infection
Tools in Integrative Medicine: Integrative Medicine Intake Process, Botanicals, Mind-Body Medicine
Year 3 Content
Chronic Illness: Cardiovascular Disease (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease), Diabetes Mellitus II, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Obesity, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Back Pain
Special Topics: HIV, Cancer Survivorship
Tools in Integrative Medicine: Integrative Medicine Care Plan Process, Manual Medicine, Energy Medicine, Whole Systems, Practice Management
All courses have an interactive core content and contain case studies allowing you to apply the new knowledge to patients encountered in family medicine. Content includes evidence-based Conventional and Complementary approaches to the management of the medical problems presented.
Throughout the curriculum we will emphasize well-being and balance for physicians – this interactive and experiential part of the curriculum will encourage residents to work on an individual plan to maintain their well-being and balance while in residency.
For more information on the IMR program at the University of Texas Medical Branch Family Medicine Residency, please contact: Victor Sierpina, MD, 409-772-1847, vssierpi@utmb.edu
Monday, March 23, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Resident Salary Increase Proposed
We are pleased to announce approval to increase House Staff salaries effective September 1, 2009. Please Note: These increases are subject to approval of UTMB's final budget for FY 2010 by the UT System Board of Regents.
PGY1 - $44,168
PGY2 - $45,500
PGY3 - $47,179
(Personal note... this is approximately DOUBLE what I earned as a resident. At that time, before duty hour restrictions, approximately $2.63 an hour. And it was uphill in the snow both ways.)
PGY1 - $44,168
PGY2 - $45,500
PGY3 - $47,179
(Personal note... this is approximately DOUBLE what I earned as a resident. At that time, before duty hour restrictions, approximately $2.63 an hour. And it was uphill in the snow both ways.)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
growing again
It's exciting times here in Galveston. Lately the news is all good regarding the future of UTMB. The powers in Austin seem to be behind rebuilding and finally the UTS Board of Regents has also pledged their support. The current tentative plan includes restoration of 500+ hospital beds here on the island, which will put us in great shape with our hospital service.
We're also taking advantage of this opportunity to seriously consider some changes the Residency program has been interested in for a long time. This is very timely, considering the national interest in the patient centered medical home. We are looking to move from the very large and not particularly patient-centered mega clinic housing all residents and faculty (approximately 40 - 50 doctors) to smaller clinics that more closely resemble environments where our graduates are likely to practice after graduation.
We have submitted a proposal to the RC-FM for approval to move 4 residents (two PGY2 and two PGY3) to our Stewart Road Family Health clinic, where they will join 3 - 4 faculty in that practice.
We have also submitted a proposal for expansion of the Rural Training Track to conduct the final 19 months of training at our rural site. This proposal is also for 4 residents, two PGY2 and two PGY3. It's taken 10 years and hurricane Ike to get to this point and I can't tell you how excited I am that we're finally taking this step. When we hear from the RC-FM, I will post a detailed outline of the new curriculum.
A third proposal in the works is for a new clinical site on the mainland that will mirror the Stewart Road Family Health clinic. That site should be ready for residents at the beginning of the 2010-2011 academic year. One year farther down the road potentially is a revitalization of an old partnership with the county public health system. That partnership was rated very highly by residents in the program during its lifetime and will be an excellent addition to our clinical site options if we are successful in negotiating that renewal.
Most likely we will retain some campus or near-campus presence as well, so that could bring our outpatient facilities to five sites. It is also quite likely that we may continue our hospital service in two locations - one on the mainland and one here on campus.
It's been awhile getting to this point, and some gloomy and disheartening times to live through getting here, but the future truly is beginning to look bright for the UTMB FM program!
We're also taking advantage of this opportunity to seriously consider some changes the Residency program has been interested in for a long time. This is very timely, considering the national interest in the patient centered medical home. We are looking to move from the very large and not particularly patient-centered mega clinic housing all residents and faculty (approximately 40 - 50 doctors) to smaller clinics that more closely resemble environments where our graduates are likely to practice after graduation.
We have submitted a proposal to the RC-FM for approval to move 4 residents (two PGY2 and two PGY3) to our Stewart Road Family Health clinic, where they will join 3 - 4 faculty in that practice.
We have also submitted a proposal for expansion of the Rural Training Track to conduct the final 19 months of training at our rural site. This proposal is also for 4 residents, two PGY2 and two PGY3. It's taken 10 years and hurricane Ike to get to this point and I can't tell you how excited I am that we're finally taking this step. When we hear from the RC-FM, I will post a detailed outline of the new curriculum.
A third proposal in the works is for a new clinical site on the mainland that will mirror the Stewart Road Family Health clinic. That site should be ready for residents at the beginning of the 2010-2011 academic year. One year farther down the road potentially is a revitalization of an old partnership with the county public health system. That partnership was rated very highly by residents in the program during its lifetime and will be an excellent addition to our clinical site options if we are successful in negotiating that renewal.
Most likely we will retain some campus or near-campus presence as well, so that could bring our outpatient facilities to five sites. It is also quite likely that we may continue our hospital service in two locations - one on the mainland and one here on campus.
It's been awhile getting to this point, and some gloomy and disheartening times to live through getting here, but the future truly is beginning to look bright for the UTMB FM program!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Let the dialogue begin
Read the Galveston Daily News articles on the consultant report and the Texas House Select Committee on Hurricane Ike's recommendations.
As the GDN proclaims in a large banner headline: MIXED SIGNALS.
As the GDN proclaims in a large banner headline: MIXED SIGNALS.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
What does the future hold?
The long-awaited consultant report was released today by UT System. Access the 14 page executive summary here.
Dr. Callender's response is here.
I have read the executive summary and will post my thoughts and reflections a bit later. Of course, there is as of yet no indication which choice will be selected by the Board of Regents nor what counsel will come from the governor's office. The next several days and weeks are likely to be pretty news-filled. I have some work travel obligations coming up but will try to keep updates posted as I learn more.
Dr. Callender's response is here.
I have read the executive summary and will post my thoughts and reflections a bit later. Of course, there is as of yet no indication which choice will be selected by the Board of Regents nor what counsel will come from the governor's office. The next several days and weeks are likely to be pretty news-filled. I have some work travel obligations coming up but will try to keep updates posted as I learn more.
Friday, February 06, 2009
It's a wrap!
Our Match 2009 recruiting season is finished!! We completed interviews this week and last night held our official Rank Meeting. The Rank List is completed and will be loaded for the match next week.
I was very happy with the quality of our applicants' credentials. USMLE scores, medical school academic performance and recommendation letters were overall excellent and I'm quite pleased that despite the hurricane, we were able to hold steady regarding our commitment to performance standards for our applicants. Proportionately, we interviewed our usual number of applicants per slot (remember that we will be matching for 4 this year). Overall, I have to consider our 2009 Match recruiting season a success and we are hoping to fill our slots in the Match.
Many thanks to the Recruiting Team, especially our resident members and also to our applicants. We appreciate your openness to consider whether our challenges related to the hurricane recovery fit with how you'd like to see yourself grow and the experiences you'd like to have during residency.
Best wishes to our applicants for a successful match!
I was very happy with the quality of our applicants' credentials. USMLE scores, medical school academic performance and recommendation letters were overall excellent and I'm quite pleased that despite the hurricane, we were able to hold steady regarding our commitment to performance standards for our applicants. Proportionately, we interviewed our usual number of applicants per slot (remember that we will be matching for 4 this year). Overall, I have to consider our 2009 Match recruiting season a success and we are hoping to fill our slots in the Match.
Many thanks to the Recruiting Team, especially our resident members and also to our applicants. We appreciate your openness to consider whether our challenges related to the hurricane recovery fit with how you'd like to see yourself grow and the experiences you'd like to have during residency.
Best wishes to our applicants for a successful match!
Monday, January 12, 2009
update for 2009 Match applicants
Thank you again for coming to interview with us here in Galveston. I wanted to send you a brief update on how things are progressing here.
The debris cleanup is completed in most of the busiest parts of town. Many restaurants and businesses have reopened and more are still in progress. You will see construction all over town and I take that as a positive sign. I’ve been happy to learn over the past six weeks or so that all of my personal favorite restaurants either have already reopened or will soon! Post office access is improving, my favorite private mail business is back to normal operations and the UPS store is open. Mail delivery to homes has been restored for quite some time now. Grocery stores are back to normal, with the exception of the HEB which I’m told will not reopen.
I’m not sure about the status of apartment availability, but there are some homes for sale on the island again so it looks like the housing situation is beginning to have more options. There are plenty of housing options available on the mainland for those who might wish to commute to the island.
And probably most importantly from our perspective, John Sealy hospital reopened last week! We began admitting patients on day 1 and have continued to build a modest hospital service. We started block 8 today with 4 residents on the service. I will try to keep our progress updated on the blog, so you can keep up with the latest here.
We have successfully updated our curriculum with two new rotations – Nephrology in PGY3 and Geriatrics in PGY2 and we’re excited about both of those. Residents begin those new rotations today for the first time. We also have our R3s finishing up their last hospital block for the rest of this academic year with a private hospitalist service at Mainland Medical Center and we’re excited about that new opportunity.
There are two rotations that we are still working on at present. Cardiology will be transitioned to a private practice outpatient experience and we are still working to identify an appropriate community faculty for that rotation. Pediatric Emergency Medicine remains undecided. For the remainder of this academic year, the rotation will be a combination of pediatric urgent care experiences in the new location for the Department of Pediatrics Urgent Care Center here on the island and the Pedi ER at Clearlake Regional. Closer to the end of the academic year we will evaluate those two experiences and make a decision for next academic year.
As you probably already know, we are in our new clinic space in the University Hospital Clinics building. We’re pleased to have two of our nurses from the PCP stay on with us and they are doing a great job trying to get us organized in our new space. The volume is picking up and I think over the next month will be our best indication of how that may be leveling off for the immediate future. We are exploring some new options for resident/faculty partnerships that we hope will build volume for the residents more quickly.
I am extremely pleased that our Residency Program infrastructure and staff are intact and stable so that our administrative activities remain productive. Unfortunately we did have some impact to the faculty in losing Dr. King and Dr. Irwin from Residency, as well as some of the other department faculty being impacted. My Assistant Program Director, Ron Williams, is also subject to having his time reduced to 50% the end of May and I am hoping that we are able to continue increasing our departmental productivity so that is not implemented. Two departmental faculty have announced their resignation effective March. These faculty were not members of the Residency Program faculty, but did have a small percentage of time in attending. In all fairness, I expect we will lose another one or two department faculty in the next six to twelve months so we will be in faculty recruiting mode again. The Residency Program faculty is stable to the best of my knowledge and I believe we have only one faculty member considering looking for another opportunity.
We still have some work to do, but we’ve come a long way since the hurricane. I’m pleased that we’ve been able to take advantage of the situation to go ahead with some curriculum changes we’d been considering prior to the storm and that we’re going to come out of this better than we went in. I will be doing my best to ensure that we take similar advantage of the need to recruit new faculty by recruiting selectively for skills to move us forward with some projects we’ve been considering as well as building in some areas we’d like to strengthen current activities.
As we discussed when you interviewed, we plan to recruit for four residents in the 2009 Matches (AOA and NRMP). If the recovery proceeds as expected, we will add one or two R2s to that class for the 2010-11 academic year and recruit a full class of eight in the 2010 Matches.
Thank you again for interviewing with us. We look forward to the Match and wish you the best as well. We hope that Galveston remains in your consideration and would be happy to answer any further questions you might have before submitting your match list.
Sincerely,
Lisa R. Nash, DO, FAAFP
Program Director
UTMB Family Medicine Residency
The debris cleanup is completed in most of the busiest parts of town. Many restaurants and businesses have reopened and more are still in progress. You will see construction all over town and I take that as a positive sign. I’ve been happy to learn over the past six weeks or so that all of my personal favorite restaurants either have already reopened or will soon! Post office access is improving, my favorite private mail business is back to normal operations and the UPS store is open. Mail delivery to homes has been restored for quite some time now. Grocery stores are back to normal, with the exception of the HEB which I’m told will not reopen.
I’m not sure about the status of apartment availability, but there are some homes for sale on the island again so it looks like the housing situation is beginning to have more options. There are plenty of housing options available on the mainland for those who might wish to commute to the island.
And probably most importantly from our perspective, John Sealy hospital reopened last week! We began admitting patients on day 1 and have continued to build a modest hospital service. We started block 8 today with 4 residents on the service. I will try to keep our progress updated on the blog, so you can keep up with the latest here.
We have successfully updated our curriculum with two new rotations – Nephrology in PGY3 and Geriatrics in PGY2 and we’re excited about both of those. Residents begin those new rotations today for the first time. We also have our R3s finishing up their last hospital block for the rest of this academic year with a private hospitalist service at Mainland Medical Center and we’re excited about that new opportunity.
There are two rotations that we are still working on at present. Cardiology will be transitioned to a private practice outpatient experience and we are still working to identify an appropriate community faculty for that rotation. Pediatric Emergency Medicine remains undecided. For the remainder of this academic year, the rotation will be a combination of pediatric urgent care experiences in the new location for the Department of Pediatrics Urgent Care Center here on the island and the Pedi ER at Clearlake Regional. Closer to the end of the academic year we will evaluate those two experiences and make a decision for next academic year.
As you probably already know, we are in our new clinic space in the University Hospital Clinics building. We’re pleased to have two of our nurses from the PCP stay on with us and they are doing a great job trying to get us organized in our new space. The volume is picking up and I think over the next month will be our best indication of how that may be leveling off for the immediate future. We are exploring some new options for resident/faculty partnerships that we hope will build volume for the residents more quickly.
I am extremely pleased that our Residency Program infrastructure and staff are intact and stable so that our administrative activities remain productive. Unfortunately we did have some impact to the faculty in losing Dr. King and Dr. Irwin from Residency, as well as some of the other department faculty being impacted. My Assistant Program Director, Ron Williams, is also subject to having his time reduced to 50% the end of May and I am hoping that we are able to continue increasing our departmental productivity so that is not implemented. Two departmental faculty have announced their resignation effective March. These faculty were not members of the Residency Program faculty, but did have a small percentage of time in attending. In all fairness, I expect we will lose another one or two department faculty in the next six to twelve months so we will be in faculty recruiting mode again. The Residency Program faculty is stable to the best of my knowledge and I believe we have only one faculty member considering looking for another opportunity.
We still have some work to do, but we’ve come a long way since the hurricane. I’m pleased that we’ve been able to take advantage of the situation to go ahead with some curriculum changes we’d been considering prior to the storm and that we’re going to come out of this better than we went in. I will be doing my best to ensure that we take similar advantage of the need to recruit new faculty by recruiting selectively for skills to move us forward with some projects we’ve been considering as well as building in some areas we’d like to strengthen current activities.
As we discussed when you interviewed, we plan to recruit for four residents in the 2009 Matches (AOA and NRMP). If the recovery proceeds as expected, we will add one or two R2s to that class for the 2010-11 academic year and recruit a full class of eight in the 2010 Matches.
Thank you again for interviewing with us. We look forward to the Match and wish you the best as well. We hope that Galveston remains in your consideration and would be happy to answer any further questions you might have before submitting your match list.
Sincerely,
Lisa R. Nash, DO, FAAFP
Program Director
UTMB Family Medicine Residency
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