Curriculum

Residents (both DO and MD) interested in musculoskeletal medicine can participate in weekly OMT/MSK clinic as well as inpatient consults. The focus is on practical, hand-on experience in dealing with common musculoskeletal complaints that are abundant in primary care, and focus on acute somatic dysfunction that can aid in supporting patients in the inpatient setting. Residents learn common modalities of manual therapy, exercise therapy and supplemental medical therapy to optimize patients’ functional and quality of life.

Our clinic offers patients the opportunity to treat disease and optimize health through therapeutic lifestyle changes, including focus on nutrition, physical activity, sleep and mental health. Interested residents work with our two faculty who are board certified in Obesity Medicine to work with patients to optimize their health, quality of life and longevity.

Through collaboration with the Atlanta VA Medical Center select residents are chosen to conduct their continuity clinic at the VA Outpatient Clinic in Lawrenceville located across the street from Northside Hospital Gwinnett. Here you will get valuable experience in the health care of veterans. This exposes residents to a unique patient population as well as a unique health care system.

Perhaps one of the most unique experiences residents at Northside receive is working at the Gwinnett-Rockdale-Newton Public Health Preventative Health Clinic in Lawrenceville. Here, residents get the opportunity to treat patients with tuberculosis as well as other common chronic conditions, which are often diagnosed at presentation. Residents see cases of extra-pulmonary TB from head to toe, including TB meningitis, peritonitis, Pott’s disease, genitourinary TB and TB arthritis. Additionally, residents get to learn the fundamentals and practice of social medicine, as many of the patients in the clinic do not have insurance or any history of prior healthcare. Residents get to practice continuity of care as our patients from this clinic continue to follow us at AIMP after their tuberculosis is treated.

During this experience, residents also learn to place and read PPDs, read common x-rays and CT findings suggestive of TB, do home visits and directly observed therapy (DOT) and see opportunities for working with the Department of Public Health (DPH).

As one of our most innovative rotations, the skills development block is a dedicated educational session in block 7 of intern year that aims to enhance physical exam skills, medical knowledge and clinical decision-making. The rotation takes interns through a variety of learning methods, including simulation, didactic lecture, game-based review and resident-led teaching.

Residents teach and learn physical exam techniques, presentation skills, self-assessment and feedback skills and other tools to help them transition to the second half of the intern year. Topics covered during the block are based on a needs assessment determined by rotation feedback, in-training exams, and directly observed needs by faculty.

Simulation is one of the most important innovations in medical education in recent times. Northside Hospital Gwinnett has embraced simulation-based training in its residency programs and throughout the hospital. Newly opened in 2021, our Diane Clark Center for Patient Simulation, Education, and Safety has cutting-edge technology, including multiple hi-fidelity simulators, a cardiopulmonary physical exam simulator, and procedural task trainers for central line placement, thoracentesis, paracentesis, lumbar puncture and knee/shoulder injections.

Internal Medicine residents also receive individual licenses for online instructional modules for point of care diagnostic ultrasound with the ability to practice on both real ultrasound and an ultrasound that simulates common pathologies.

Simulation sessions are held weekly on the ambulatory rotation, in academic half day, and at various times in the year including intern orientation and Skills Development. Internal medicine faculty, led by a faculty physician certified in simulation education, individualize simulation experiences to the needs of each resident to ensure they receive the most out of simulation training.

Residents have multiple opportunities to grow as educators throughout their training. During inpatient general medicine wards and cardiology service, residents will supervise 3rd and 4th year medical students. Senior residents also serve as team leaders and managers of the inpatient team, supervising interns in Internal Medicine and Transitional Year programs.

Retreats are held on a semi-annual basis that focus on team building, leadership, and teaching methods to improve skills as a team managers and educators.

Structure of the ward teams include PGY 3 senior residents who serve as the team educators, leading teaching sessions with residents and students and teaching core inpatient medicine topics. Senior residents may also take a senior teaching elective in either their PGY2 or PGY 3 year, where they spend 2-4 weeks working on an educational project. Past projects have included night float and ultrasound curricula and a resident needs assessment.

Towards the second half of the year, rising PGY 2 and PGY 3 class split up in interactive sessions which focus on personal and professional development, and being a team leader and educator. These have been well received and our series has been presented nationally at educational conferences.

Residents receive lectures on image interpretation during noon conference and twice annually undergo hands on training with designated standardized patients. In addition, residents interested in point of care ultrasound participate in an ultrasound curriculum for a full week during which they spend more time on image interpretation through both daily didactics and simulation in addition to real life patient experiences.

Community involvement is one of the cornerstones of being a well-balanced physician. In this spirit, residents participate in a community service project yearly that gives back to the Gwinnett County community in which we serve.

Former resident projects have included volunteering at community health fairs, providing medical care at free clinics, and participating in Breathe Better Gwinnett, a system wide community health fair funded by a CHEST Foundation grant focusing on respiratory disease identification and prevention. Residents in the OR program and Global Health/Social Medicine Program also volunteer at a Grace Village Clinic in Clarkston, GA, a hub many new immigrants and refugees from all over the world.

Our newest partner is the Gwinnett County Public Library in which we host many interactive sessions with the community including health fairs and educational courses on nutrition and exercise.

Advocacy is an important aspect of a physician’s role. Through the Medical Association of Georgia and ACP, residents participate in various opportunities including the annual House of Delegates and Physician’s Day at the Capital.

Previously, residents have participated in the development of prior authorization legislature, scope of practice legislature, and preventative medicine. In addition, residents interested participate in various regional and national supported webinars.

Global Health Pathway Residents have the opportunity in PGY 2-3 to have experiences in a resource limited setting either domestically or abroad.  Interested residents develop an individualized rotation in conjunction with program leadership to ensure they have meaningful experiences and deliver appropriate care for the setting in which they will work.