Rotations & Schedules

I was impressed with the support the residents had in achieving their goals, and I was blown away by their Cardiology match list. Northwestern is a program that does not limit my growth — whether I want to become a General internist or sub-specialize — I know that I always have access to the resources I need to excel."

Rotations

Year 1
The first year is focused on training interns in the fundamentals of inpatient medicine.

First-year residents are exposed to a diverse population of patients with a broad mix of complex diseases and bread-and-butter medicine. Interns will rotate through general medicine, sub-specialty training within oncology, cardiology, and hepatology, and several of our intensive care units. Patient volumes and teams are structured to provide adequate support with an emphasis on learning. Call schedules vary from rotation to rotation but in general call occurs once every four to six days during day time hours. We have a night float system in place for all rotations that residents rotate through. In 2024, we began a “4+1+1” structure for the intern year, meaning that after each inpatient block each intern will have 1 week of night float or elective time followed by one week of dedicated outpatient experiences in core general internal medicine and subspecialty clinics. The outpatient experience includes a continuity clinic and additional ambulatory blocks to initiate interns in ambulatory medicine. Three weeks of vacation are given throughout the year.

Years 2 & 3
During the second and third years, each resident assumes the responsibility of functioning as the supervising physician on the general medicine, subspecialty and critical care rotations.

Outpatient time is significantly increased, with greater emphasis on continuity of care. In addition, there are numerous elective rotations to provide broad exposure and personalize training. Four weeks of vacation are given during each year.

Sample Resident Schedule, Year 2

Block
1	Endocrine Consults
2	NMH Wards
3	Jesse Brown VA Critical Care Unit
4	Research
5	Research
6	Hepatology
7	Rheumatology Consults, Night Float
8	VA ER
9	Allergy Consults, MICU Night Float
10	NMH Wards
11	VA Wards
12	Outpatient GI
13	MICU

Sample Resident Schedule, Year 3

Block
1	Benign Hematology Consults
2	Hematology/ Oncology Service
3	NMH Wards
4	CCU
5	Nephrology Outpatient
6	Geriatrics, Neurology, Palliative Care Consults
7	Research
8	NMH ER
9	Nephrology Consults
10	ID Consults
11	Procedure Elective
12	NMH Wards
13	Cardiology Service

Conferences

Morning report is held every weekday for residents and interns at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the VA. Systems and quality education (including M&M and root-cause analysis conferences) are incorporated into morning report. Our residents participate in various interactive educational conferences. Procedural skills such as central line placement and physical exam skills are taught in a collegial, hands-on atmosphere utilizing direct 1:1, simulation-based instruction. We also provide every resident with core Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) skills through an interactive curriculum. Innovative conferences include small-group sessions on social determinants of health, professionalism and end of life discussions.

A question-based board review is held year-round and has proven effective at keeping Northwestern residents with one of the highest 10-year boards pass rates in the country. A journal club is held monthly with some of our core faculty. Medical Grand Rounds are held weekly. Traditionally, faculty members at Northwestern have enjoyed the opportunity to serve as advisers and are enthusiastic about this opportunity. Mentoring opportunities occur in the second residency year in which each resident is paired with a faculty mentor to prepare a talk regarding a clinical or research question. This lecture is presented to the department as part of the noon conference series.

Sample Daily Schedule

Time	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.	Morning Report	Morning Report	Morning Report	Morning Report	Morning Report
8:30 - 11 a.m.	Teaching Rounds	Teaching Rounds	Teaching Rounds	Teaching Rounds	Teaching Rounds
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.	Structured Interdisciplinary Rounds	Structured Interdisciplinary Rounds	Structured Interdisciplinary Rounds	Structured Interdisciplinary Rounds	Structured Interdisciplinary Rounds
12 - 1 p.m.	Core Curriculum	Resident Talks	Grand Rounds	Firm Conference	CPC
Afternoon	Various educational activities: team teaching, simulation, workshops, research