Introduction

The core clerkship in Internal Medicine is a 8-week experience divided into two 4-week rotations. The emphasis of the clerkship is on acquisition of knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors that form the core of internal medicine and are essential for the education of all physicians. Students will spend 2 months on inpatient services. The overall goal is to provide students with a solid foundation in the comprehensive health care of adults. For most students, the clerkship will consist of two general medicine experiences, although some students will have one general medicine and one subspecialty month.

The settings for the ambulatory rotations include the general medicine practices at MCG and the VAMC in Augusta and community-based sites across the state. Housing is provided at each out-of-town sites with the exception of Atlanta. Inpatient experiences are available at MCG Hospital, the Augusta VA Medical Center, Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Memorial Health University Medical Center, and Atlanta Medical Center. Every student will spend at least one month on a inpatient service at MCG or the VA.

This curriculum guide is offered to help students, housestaff, and faculty select patients to be seen during the course of the rotation. Students will track their clinical experiences using a patient log, which will be reviewed on a systematic basis by the clerkship director and attending physicians, and will be used as a guide to help with patient assignments.