Curriculum overview
Our curriculum is constructed to train future physicians who can provide comprehensive care for rural populations and includes strong training in a continuity practice, procedural skills, reproductive health, integrated behavioral health and delivery of care across multiple settings (clinic, hospital, post-acute care). We have implemented a longitudinal curriculum that better simulates clinical practice, allowing for scaffolded learning and specialty experiences that help residents continue to learn from specialists throughout their training. As an example, residents spend a two-week block in the PGY-1 year with the cardiology department, gaining experience in clinic and the consult service. Then, as a PGY-2/3 resident, they return to the cardiology department every six to eight weeks, which allows them to continue to build on their cardiology knowledge/skills in the context of their overall advancement, while building longitudinal relationships with specialists.
PGY-1: Foundations curriculum
The PGY-1 year is divided into two-week foundational rotations that give learners consolidated experience with a service or clinical department. In areas like inpatient medicine and obstetrics, residents complete multiple rotations over the course of the year. Throughout this year, a consistent presence in the continuity clinic (Family & Community Care) is emphasized to help residents get to know their patient panels.
PGY-2 and PGY-3 longitudinal curriculum
The PGY-2 and PGY-3 years have a longitudinal structure with clinical experiences repeated at regular intervals over the course of the year with an ongoing emphasis on continuity clinic. See below for examples of the longitudinal weeks.
The majority of clinical rotations will be at Cheshire Medical Center, with inpatient pediatrics and newborn nursery rotations at Dartmouth Health Children's. Additional elective opportunities at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) are also available.
Electives
In line with recent ACGME review committee revisions, residents will have 24 weeks of elective time over three years to allow each resident to shape their training to meet their career goals. Our residents have 4 weeks of electives in their PGY1 year, 8 weeks in their PGY2 year and 12 weeks in their PGY3 year.
Our elective catalog includes electives completed by prior residents. Residents will work with their advisor and program leadership to plan and schedule the elective that interests them.
Elective opportunities include
- Carceral medicine
- Dermatology
- Emergency medicine
- Gender care
- Inpatient medicine
- Medical humanities
- Opioid stewardship
- Osteopathic medicine
- Palliative care
- Pulmonology
- Primary care
- Rural family medicine
- Ski clinic
- Sleep medicine
- Sports medicine
- Weight & wellness
