DIDACTICS

The educational experience, on all levels, is our top priority. We have been honored the last three years with the “Most Outstanding Clinical Department” award given by the students of the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans.  The 96% passage rate (2005-2007) for first-time board certification reflects our day-to-day dedication to education.  Here is a just a sample of our didactics:

Morning Report - Our morning report is unique to our program and forms the core of our learning experience.  Faculty, residents and medical students, along with our librarian, meet for an hour of open discussion modeled after the Oslerian Method.  Everyone, including our 3rd year medical students, is encouraged to contribute to the conversation in a thoughtful and relaxed manner.

Noon Conferences - Our noon lecture series combines a one-hour faculty, resident, and journal club conference with lunch.  Occasionally we include an esteemed guest lecturer in our conference schedule.

• Faculty Conferences - Both faculty, departmental, and non-departmental specialists are included in the lecture series covering a wide-range of subject matter designed to cover all the core competencies of the internal medicine boards.
• Resident Conferences - Over the academic year, residents are responsible for three lectures on any didactic topic of their choice.
• Journal Club - Once yearly, residents develop critical analysis skills by presenting an evidence-based review of any piece of current medical literature.
• Critical Analysis - The ultimate journal club for our graduating residents. This lecture is a review of the medical literature pertaining to an unanswered question or controversy in medicine presented in April or May prior to graduation.
• Morbidity and Mortality Reviews - Designed to foster important critical thinking skills, these lectures review 1-2 cases to illustrate and improve decision-making as it applies to hospitalized patients.
• In-patient teaching rounds - Faculty supervising a ward team provide teaching rounds in a variety of formats for their team consisting of a resident, two interns, and acting interns, and fourth- and third-year medical students.

MKSAP Reviews - Based on the American College of Physician’s MKSAP Guides, these popular comprehensive reviews are usually presented by a faculty member over dinner at a local restaurant.  Each categorical intern is provided a complete set of the most recent MKSAP Guides.

Internal Medicine Board Review Course - Just for our third year residents, a week in July is spent enjoying New Orleans during a comprehensive board review course given conjointly by LSU, Ochsner, and Tulane.