Primary care residency programs are specialized training paths within graduate medical education, designed to cultivate physicians adept at delivering comprehensive and continuous healthcare to individuals and families. These programs, often nested within Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, or Pediatrics residencies, focus on equipping residents with the broad spectrum of skills necessary for outpatient medicine, preventative care, and the management of chronic conditions. NYU Langone’s Department of Medicine, for example, offers a distinguished primary care residency track within its Internal Medicine Residency, exemplifying a commitment to training future leaders in this crucial field.
These intensive programs are structured to produce physicians who are not only clinically proficient but also deeply understanding of the evolving healthcare landscape. They emphasize holistic patient care, particularly for vulnerable populations, and prepare residents to be adaptable and responsive to the changing needs of the healthcare system. The goal is to nurture doctors who are well-rounded, skilled in patient advocacy, and ready to make a significant impact in community and academic settings alike.
NYU Langone’s 3-year program, accepting a select cohort of 8 residents annually, provides a rich tapestry of clinical experiences across various prestigious locations. These include Tisch Hospital, the Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Pavilion, NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur, and the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System. This diverse exposure ensures residents gain experience in different healthcare environments, from bustling city hospitals to community-based clinics, and even within the Veterans Affairs system. A significant portion of training, about 60 percent, is based at Bellevue, a renowned public hospital with a diverse patient population, while the remaining 40 percent is distributed among the other locations, enhancing the breadth of the resident’s learning experience.
Graduates from programs like NYU Langone’s are highly sought after and recognized nationally for their exceptional clinical preparedness. They embark on diverse career paths, making contributions in academic medicine, private practices, community health centers, and public service, demonstrating the versatility and robust training offered by primary care residency programs.
For those interested in pursuing this path, the National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP®) code for NYU Langone’s primary care residency track is 2978140M0. This code is essential for medical students applying to this specific program through the national matching system.
Decoding the Primary Care Residency Curriculum
The curriculum of a primary care residency is meticulously designed to meet specific educational goals, utilizing a blend of interactive learning, independent projects, and resident-led conferences. These elements are crucial in developing a well-rounded physician. At NYU Langone, the program commences with the “Essentials of Primary Care” (EPIC) block, an intensive month-long immersion into the fundamentals of primary care. This initial block focuses sharply on the diagnosis and management of prevalent illnesses and the principles of effective, systems-based practice.
Building upon this foundation, the curriculum expands to encompass a range of specialized blocks. These include focused studies in dermatology, gender health, clinical epidemiology, addiction medicine, geriatrics and palliative care, health policy, psychosocial medicine, and musculoskeletal medicine. Each block is designed to provide in-depth knowledge and practical skills in these key areas relevant to primary care.
During the inpatient ward rotations, primary care residents are fully integrated into the broader Internal Medicine Residency curriculum, ensuring a strong foundation in hospital-based medicine. Furthermore, in their second and third years, residents have a unique opportunity to personalize their training by selecting a third clinic as part of their ambulatory care block. This elective clinic allows for a deeper dive into specific areas of primary care interest, enriching their overall training experience and allowing for specialization within primary care.
Image alt text: Collaborative learning environment for primary care residents at NYU Langone, showcasing teamwork and patient care.
Past residents at NYU Langone have engaged in diverse clinical experiences, including specialized Bellevue clinics focusing on diabetes management, congestive heart failure, hypertension, hepatitis, and HIV care. Other unique opportunities have included working in clinics catering to survivors of torture and first responders through the World Trade Center Health Program. Further broadening their horizons, residents have also rotated through acupuncture and urology clinics at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur, the NYU Student Health Clinic, and various private medical practices.
Beyond clinical rotations, residents are encouraged to develop their academic and presentation skills. Each resident delivers an annual lecture on a chosen topic, receiving constructive feedback from peers and faculty. Active participation in conferences and events specific to the primary care track is also a key component of the program. Continuous monitoring of resident progress ensures ongoing professional development and refinement of skills throughout the residency.
Maintaining a favorable faculty-to-student ratio of one-to-three is a priority at NYU Langone, ensuring personalized attention and high-quality educational experiences for each resident. This close mentorship is invaluable for learning and professional growth.
Postgraduate Year 1: Building Core Clinical Skills
The first year of primary care residency, known as Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY-1), is strategically focused on establishing the fundamental clinical competencies essential for a primary care physician. Interns during this year are immersed in learning deductive reasoning, ensuring patient continuity, developing crucial psychosocial skills, and fostering effective working relationships with colleagues and support staff. These are the building blocks for a successful career in primary care.
Essentials of Primary Care 1.0 Block: Immersion in Foundational Knowledge
The initial primary care block, Essentials of Primary Care 1.0, is an intensive four-week module designed to provide a robust foundation. It delves into the diagnosis and management of common clinical conditions encountered in primary care settings. Key areas of focus include prevalent conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, hyperlipidemia, depression, and hepatitis B. Furthermore, residents are trained in managing common acute complaints, navigating interpreter services, utilizing electronic medical records efficiently, and developing effective team-building skills.
Employing a variety of teaching methodologies, including problem-based case studies, interactive learning sessions, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), video review, and traditional lectures, this block ensures a comprehensive learning experience. The goal is to cultivate the skills necessary for effective general primary care management. Essentials of Primary Care 1.0 is structured to instill best practices from the outset, familiarizing residents with the core principles of primary care and jumpstarting their clinical proficiency.
Sample Essentials of Primary Care Schedule (Illustrative Example)
| Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intern Core | Grand Rounds | Clinical Reasoning Conference | |||
| AM | NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur Clinic | Diabetes Overview | Effective Communication with Patients | Bellevue Clinic | Problem-Based Learning: Lipid Management |
| Diabetes Case Discussion | Management of Dyspepsia | The Well Visit | |||
| 12:00PM | Psychosocial Rounds | Journal Club | Essentials of Primary Care Clinicians | ||
| PM | Gouverneur Clinic | Gouverneur Clinic | Problem-Based Learning: Hypertension | Panel Management | NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur Clinic |
| 3PM Conference |
Note: This table provides a sample schedule and actual schedules may vary.
Psychosocial Medicine Block: Understanding the Patient-Doctor Relationship
The psychosocial medicine block, spanning eight weeks, dedicates itself to exploring the critical doctor-patient relationship, medical ethics, and the psychosocial dimensions of patient care. Residents acquire the essential knowledge and skills to effectively manage common psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and somatization.
Teaching methods in this block are diverse and engaging, incorporating group interviews, role-playing exercises, audio and video recording analysis, and learner-centered techniques. These methods are designed to foster empathy, enhance communication skills, and deepen understanding of the psychological aspects of patient care.
Addiction Medicine Block: Addressing Substance Use Disorders
In the two-week addiction medicine block, residents gain insights into substance use disorders from both clinical and public health perspectives. The curriculum covers pharmacotherapy and motivational interviewing techniques for treating individuals with these disorders. Residents also undergo training in prescribing buprenorphine, a crucial medication in addiction treatment, and participate in rotations at primary care buprenorphine clinics, gaining hands-on experience in this specialized area.
Self-Directed Learning Block: Personalized Educational Growth
The self-directed learning block, available annually throughout the residency, offers a unique opportunity for personalized educational growth. This two-week block empowers residents to choose or design their own learning experience within a specialty of their interest. These experiences can range from clinical rotations to research projects or quality improvement initiatives. Many residents utilize this block to explore areas not extensively covered elsewhere in the curriculum or to prepare for specific primary care settings, such as rural or underserved communities. Past resident projects have included explorations in social justice in medicine and courses in the medical humanities, demonstrating the breadth of opportunities available.
Postgraduate Year 2: Sharpening Ambulatory Care Skills
Postgraduate Year 2 (PGY-2) marks a significant phase in primary care residency, focusing on refining ambulatory care skills and integrating evidence-based medicine with clinical practice. This is achieved through a variety of outpatient experiences, designed to enhance residents’ proficiency in managing patients in diverse ambulatory settings.
Essentials of Primary Care 2.0: Deepening Medical Knowledge
Building on the foundations of Essentials of Primary Care 1.0, the four-week Essentials of Primary Care 2.0 block delves deeper into the core medical knowledge essential for primary care. While the first year might have covered essential hypertension, the second iteration explores more complex aspects, such as secondary causes and resistant hypertension. Furthermore, PGY-2 residents begin to develop their teaching skills, discussing and practicing effective teaching strategies applicable in ward settings.
Musculoskeletal Medicine Block: Addressing Common Primary Care Complaints
This two-week block focuses on neurological, rheumatologic, and sports medicine complaints frequently encountered in primary care. It aims to enhance residents’ ability to evaluate and treat musculoskeletal conditions. Teaching modules are designed to refine musculoskeletal examination techniques and the performance of simple procedures, including joint injections. Specialty clinic rotations are conducted at both NYU Langone Health and NYC Health+Hospitals/Bellevue, providing diverse clinical exposure.
Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Decision-Making: Evidence-Based Practice
Spanning six weeks, this course provides the foundational knowledge for evidence-based medicine. Residents learn to critically evaluate medical literature, employ quantitative decision-making techniques, and formulate and answer effective clinical research questions. The course culminates in a research project, with many residents presenting their work at national meetings, showcasing their research capabilities.
Gender Health Course: Comprehensive Approach to Diverse Patient Needs
The four-week gender health course expands residents’ knowledge of gender- and sexuality-based health issues through clinical experiences and specialized workshops. Through resident- and faculty-led learning sessions and objective structured clinical exams, residents explore topics such as sexuality and sexual dysfunction, LGBTQ+ community health, contraception, menopause, infertility, common gynecological problems, and gender-specific cancer screening. This comprehensive approach ensures residents are well-prepared to address the diverse healthcare needs of all patients.
Sample Gender Health Schedule (Illustrative Example)
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rounds | PGY-2 Resident Core | Clinical Reasoning Conference | |||
| AM | Reproductive Health Clinic | Prostate Health Lecture | Cervical Cancer Screening Lecture | Urology Clinic | Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Case Discussion |
| Endocrinology Clinic | Contraception Lecture | Osteoporosis Lecture | |||
| Transgender Health Lecture | |||||
| 12:00PM | Psychosocial Rounds | Journal Club | |||
| PM | Bellevue Clinic | NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur Pap Test Clinic | Women’s Health Continuity Time | Home Visits | NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur Clinic |
| 3PM Conference |
Note: This table provides a sample schedule and actual schedules may vary.
Global Health Electives: Broadening Perspectives
Global health electives, available as two- or four-week experiences abroad, offer clinical, research, or teaching opportunities for second- and third-year residents. These electives can be accessed through NYU Grossman School of Medicine or external institutions, and residents also have the option to design their own global health experience. These electives broaden residents’ perspectives and expose them to diverse healthcare systems and global health challenges.
Dermatology Block: Managing Common Skin Conditions
Residents spend two weeks in high-volume outpatient dermatology clinics at the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System and Bellevue. This block focuses on the diagnosis and management of common dermatological conditions and procedures relevant to primary care, equipping residents with essential dermatological skills.
Community and Home Medicine Block: Understanding Social Determinants of Health
The community and home medicine block, lasting two weeks, emphasizes the social determinants of health and develops residents’ skills in providing care for patients in their homes. A key component is a community health research project, involving home visits with patients and an exploration of the health dynamics within a chosen community. This block fosters an understanding of the broader context of patient health beyond the clinic setting.
Postgraduate Year 3: Refining Expertise and Leadership
The final year of primary care residency, Postgraduate Year 3 (PGY-3), is dedicated to solidifying the knowledge base, honing leadership and teaching skills, and refining clinical expertise in specific areas of interest. This year prepares residents for independent practice and leadership roles in primary care.
Essentials of Primary Care 3.0: Advanced Primary Care Concepts
In Essentials of Primary Care 3.0, residents engage in in-depth investigations of landmark studies, discuss the complexities of managing patients with advanced diseases and multiple comorbidities, and participate in a deliberative practice curriculum to refine patient interviewing skills. Preparing for the transition beyond residency, the block includes a CV-drafting workshop and sessions with residency alumni, who provide valuable insights and answer questions about job applications and careers in internal medicine.
Research Practicum: Immersive Research Experience
This two-week immersive experience allows residents to conduct a research project from inception to completion. Building upon skills developed during the clinical epidemiology block, residents collaborate with a research team to analyze data, formulate research questions, and develop solutions. With faculty guidance, residents work together to write research abstracts and submit papers for publication, with many going on to present and publish their research at national conferences.
Health Policy and Economics Course: Shaping the Healthcare System
The six-week health policy and economics course equips residents with the knowledge and skills to advocate for their patients and influence policy decisions shaping the healthcare system. Taught by NYU Langone faculty, politicians, managed care executives, and hospital administrators, this seminar series culminates in a health advocacy project. Lobbying trips to Albany, New York, and Washington, D.C., provide residents with direct engagement with state and federal representatives, advocating for policy changes on specific health issues. Past resident projects have addressed diverse topics, including incentives for primary care physicians in underserved areas, state legislation on palliative care, organ donation policies, reimbursement for advanced care planning discussions, and Medicare-supported residency positions.
Geriatrics and Palliative Care Block: Caring for Elderly and Terminally Ill Patients
The two-week geriatrics and palliative care block focuses on mastering the skills needed to care for elderly and terminally ill patients. This is achieved through geriatric clinic experiences, home visits, didactic learning sessions, and field trips to nursing homes and hospice care settings. Palliative care topics are explored through patient consults and focused lectures, ensuring residents are well-versed in end-of-life care.
Musculoskeletal Medicine Block (Repeat): Advanced Skills and Diverse Settings
This second musculoskeletal medicine block in PGY-3 further refines residents’ ability to evaluate and treat neurological and musculoskeletal conditions. Teaching modules continue to enhance musculoskeletal exam skills and simple procedures, including joint injections. Specialty clinic rotations in this block take place in private orthopedic and rheumatology practices and at Bellevue, providing exposure to varied practice settings.
Leadership and Professionalism Course: Developing Future Leaders
The four-week leadership and professionalism course is designed to cultivate teaching and leadership skills aligned with residents’ career development priorities. The curriculum covers topics such as precepting, running effective meetings, and effectively working with medical students, preparing residents for leadership roles in their future careers.
Conferences and Events: Collaborative Learning and Professional Growth
Throughout their primary care residency track at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, residents actively participate in a variety of resident-led conferences and events with peers and faculty. These educational experiences, including case discussions, interactive seminars, bedside rounds, and didactic lectures, are integral to the program. Conferences are recorded, and residents participate in video reviews of their performance, receiving constructive feedback to enhance their teaching skills and presentation abilities.
3PM Conference: Enhancing Presentation Skills
During the 90-minute 3PM Conference, residents hone their lecturing and teaching skills by presenting to their colleagues on a topic of their interest. Faculty members provide guidance in developing these talks, and attendees evaluate each presentation, with structured feedback provided to the presenter in a subsequent meeting with faculty.
Essentials for Primary Care Conference: Core Topic Expertise
In these 45-minute conferences, residents select from a list of core Essentials for Primary Care (EPIC) topics and prepare a lesson for their colleagues. While the format is flexible, lectures typically focus on developing knowledge and skills directly applicable to outpatient settings, reinforcing core primary care competencies.
Psychosocial Case Conference: Addressing Complex Patient Cases
The weekly psychosocial case conference provides a platform for residents to review patient cases, discuss diagnostic challenges, and engage in conversations that reinforce and advance the skills developed during the PGY-1 psychosocial medicine block. Working collaboratively, residents develop effective patient care management strategies, debrief on challenging cases, and deepen their clinical knowledge in psychosocial medicine.
Clinical Reasoning Case Conference: Sharpening Diagnostic Skills
Primary care residents on ambulatory blocks participate in this weekly morning conference, which serves as a forum for discussing patient cases and related questions, focusing on clinical reasoning and patient management strategies. This conference is crucial for sharpening diagnostic and clinical decision-making skills.
Journal Club: Evidence-Based Medicine in Practice
During the weekly journal club conference, residents apply structured, evidence-based evaluations to current medical literature. Each resident prepares one or two presentations annually in an interactive conference format, fostering critical appraisal skills and keeping residents abreast of the latest medical research.
Primary Care Retreat: Program Review and Innovation
Faculty and residents participate in an annual two-day primary care retreat to review and reflect on the residency program and to brainstorm potential improvements. Considered a highlight of the year, the retreat serves as a catalyst for both incremental refinements and broader innovations within the program, ensuring continuous improvement.
National and Regional Meetings: Professional Engagement
Third-year medical residents and those with research projects accepted for presentation at national meetings receive department funding for travel. Financial support is also provided for residents to attend training courses in New York City, as well as regional conferences and other local meetings, encouraging professional development and networking.
Contact Information
The primary care residency track is under the direction of Jennifer G. Adams, MD, a dedicated leader in primary care education. For further inquiries about the program, please reach out via email at [email protected].
To explore more about graduate medical education programs at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, please visit graduate medical education programs. For essential information for incoming house staff, please refer to incoming house staff, and for current house staff resources, visit current house staff.
