The New Internal Medicine Residency Program at Saint Peter's University Hospital

Saint Peter's University Hospital has sponsored and supported medical education (undergraduate, graduate and continuing medical education) for more than 60 years. On July 1, 2005, Saint Peter's University Hospital became the New Jersey clinical campus for the Drexel University College of Medicine (formerly the Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann Medical College). This new relationship will bring 60 Drexel medical students to Saint Peter's University Hospital and offer a variety of residencies and fellowship programs.

Highlights and Key Elements

• Affiliation with Drexel University College of Medicine
  
  
• Already approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for 45 positions (PGY 1–15, PGY 2–15, PGY 3–15, plus PGY 4, chief resident)
  
  
• Fellowships:
  The process for approval of fellowships from the ACGME has already begun. The program supports specialization and has a robust program to enhance the probability of residents obtaining their desired fellowships. The program plans to initiate fellowship programs at Saint Peter's University Hospital with Drexel University College of Medicine (GI, Pulmonary/Critical Care, Endocrinology, Geriatrics). The program also encourages residents to pursue primary-care objectives with added qualification. The added qualification may include study in Complementary Medicine, Occupational Medicine, Business Administration or Public Health.
  Currently we are negotiating with Drexel University for our residents to obtain an M.B.A. degree. A Diploma in Medical Education is also planned.
  
  
• Nayan Kothari, M.D., Program Director: Dr. Kothari is a board-certified internist, rheumatologist and geriatrician. In addition to being the Residency Program director, Dr. Kothari is the associate dean for education at the Drexel University College of Medicine and the chairman of the Department of Medicine at Saint Peter's University Hospital. Dr. Kothari is a leading educator and is currently a member of the Step 2 Committee of the National Board of Medical Examiners. Dr. Kothari was a member of the Test Development Committee of the Educational Council for Foreign Medical Examiners from 1996 to 2003. He received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and annual Teaching Awards from the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School for the last seven years. Dr. Kothari was the director of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Internal Medicine Residency Program from 1989 to 2005.
  
  
• C. Pitchumoni, M.D., a well-known gastroenterologist and pancreatologist, is an associate program director. Dr. Pitchumoni has 30 years of experience in graduate medical education (previously program director of Internal Medicine residency and Gastroenterology fellowship in New York).
  
  
• To enhance medical knowledge and clinical judgment, the program director personally conducts throughout the year a study session, known as the Board Review Course, every morning, Monday through Friday, for 45 minutes. This is his 19th year. We believe that these sessions enhance the medical knowledge of our residents and, most important, improve patient care.
  
  
• One of the strengths of the program lies in the one-hospital system. Such an arrangement results in much better interaction and supervision.
  
  
• Research:
  The program expects every resident to perform meaningful and substantial research during the residency. The research project begins when the resident joins the program. There are many research opportunities at Saint Peter's University Hospital and opportunities will be available at the Drexel University College of Medicine. All residents will be assigned a research mentor who will work with them for all education-related issues, including research.
  
  
• Community Service:
  Medicine has a solemn covenant to serve society. Both faculty and residents must serve as medical experts and health care advocates. The program, working in conjunction with the community outreach department, will provide community service on a regular basis. This may include lectures by residents on health education or screening fairs or career counseling services.
  
  
• Night Float System:
  To improve life outside the residency program, a night float system is in place to enhance the educational experience during this rotation. Formal night float rounds by the faculty are made daily at 8 p.m. and again at 7 a.m. A special Hospitalist Medicine curriculum will be taught during this rotation.
  
  
• 24/7 Faculty Presence in the Hospital:
  The Department of Medicine has established a Division of Hospitalist Medicine. Fully trained board-certified internists are present in the hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The members of this division are full faculty members and are actively involved with day-to-day supervision of residents and monitoring patient care.
  
  
• Outpatient Experience:
  Located three miles away from the hospital in New Brunswick is our freestanding outpatient facility, which runs an Internal Medicine Faculty Practice. Residents are assigned to this facility for their continuity clinic experience. Faculty to resident ratio is 2:1.
  
  
• Practice Tailoring:
  For those residents who wish to pursue practice in general internal medicine, Practice Tailoring is available. Up to three months of rotations over three years of training can be granted to residents who choose to develop a customized plan to meet personal career goals. For example, residents may focus on such areas as Women's Health, Occupational Medicine or Developmental Medicine. Such programs require advanced planning and approval.