Question 1

How will my clinical weeks be divided amongst services?

Accepted Answer

In compliance with the ACVIM SAIM Certification Manual guidelines, over three years our residents complete:
 • 82-86 weeks of Internal Medicine
 • 16 weeks of Cardiology, Emergency and Critical Care, Neurology, and Oncology (a minimum of 4 weeks each)
 • 8 weeks of electives including Clinical Pathology, Radiology, Ultrasound, Dermatology, and outside rotations 
 
Residents spend 40 weeks on research and academic time (including boards preparation) over three years and have six weeks of protected vacation over three years (one week per semester).

Question 2

How soon do residents perform their own procedures? Do they have to attend a course?

Accepted Answer

Within the first month of starting their program, residents complete an in-house endoscopy training course. This course is started with face-to-face didactics, and followed with an endoscopy (GI and bronchoscopy) and laparoscopy simulator curriculum over the next 2-3 weeks completed at the residents' own pace. 
 
We are the first veterinary school in the country to own a GI Mentor Express (https://simbionix.com/simulators/gi-mentor/gi-mentor/)and are excited to give our residents the opportunity to use the simulator in-house whenever they want additional practice. The purpose of this training is to ensure residents are comfortable with the equipment and have acquired basic skills before performing the procedures on patients. Endoscopy is a skill like any other, and you'll improve with time and practice, both on the simulators and in real life. We also appreciate that simulators do not require the use of purpose-bred animals or cadavers, the cost is covered by our program for the residents, and they do not require travel. Additionally, residents maintain access to these facilities throughout the duration their program!
 
Residents always perform their own arthrocenteses, bone marrow aspirates and biopsies, esophagostomy tube placements, etc. from day one of the program.

Question 3

Who performs IR procedures like stenting? Do residents have primary case responsibility for those cases?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Of course faculty are always present for every procedure, to ensure both an excellent resident learning experience and adequate patient care. However, our residents get the experience of actually placing stents, performing baloonings, lasering ectopic ureters, etc. These are marketable skills for post-residency job searching.

Question 4

How is your SAIM service run? Do you run one or more services?

Accepted Answer

We run two services in parallel. Each service has two to three receiving house officers (including one rotating intern) and one supervising faculty member. Services alternate days seeing appointments and receiving transfers/performing procedures.

Question 5

What is a resident's typical daily schedule on the SAIM service?

Accepted Answer

Appointment Days
We round as separate services with students on inpatients and the day's appointments from 9-10am, then residents see 3 appointments (10am, 11:30am, 1pm). Faculty and residents round on the day's cases as a large group (both services) from 4-5:30pm. 
 
Work-Up/Transfer Days
We round as separate services with students on the inpatients and transfers from ER from 9-10am, then procedures occur for patients as scheduled throughout the day. Faculty and residnets round on the day's cases as a large group (both services) from 4-5:30pm.
 
Three days a week residents have rounds from 8-9am (board prep, journal club, etc.). Residents are expected to arrive not later than 7am to facilitate patient care, student teaching, and on-time participation in rounds.

Question 6

What is the weekend schedule like for residents? Do they receive and work-up cases?

Accepted Answer

On Friday one resident receives the inpatients from all other doctors on the service for the weekend, with few exceptions. This allows residents to plan their weekends in advance and know they'll have protected time away from the hospital. The weekend resident rounds with the assigned faculty after they have assessed the inpatients in the morning and rounded with the students. This typically results in a half day of work.
 
The vast majority of weekends residents do not take transferred cases from ER over the weekend. If the number of inpatients is manageable,  the inpatient resident is responsible for receiving weekend service transfers from ER if the ECC residents become overloaded with cases. If there are many inpatients, there is a second resident assigned to receive transfers. However, new cases are not worked-up over the weekend; care is provided until Monday when the work-up occurs.

Question 7

What is the structure of the mentoring program for residents at UW?

Accepted Answer

Residents are assigned a primary SAIM faculty mentor when they match with our program. This faculty mentor will meet with you at least twice yearly to discuss your reviews and progress. They are designated to be your advocate and ensure you complete the program in a way that meets all your goals and sets you up for success post-residency - whatever your plans may be.
 
Residents are also assigned a research mentor with whom they are completing a research project. Meetings with this mentor vary in timing as your project progresses, and depending on the type of project. Research progress is discussed at least once monthly at Resident Writing Seminar for Friday rounds.

Question 8

How do I choose a research project? What if I have minimal research experience?

Accepted Answer

When you start your residency you will meet with your residency advisor and look over a list of available projects SAIM faculty have that would be suitable for residency projects. If you have a particular research interest or project in mind, you can also discuss that with your advisor and they will work to get you in contact with faculty to help facilitate that project. 
 
Our program is designed to foster the development of critically thinking internists. Several monthly rounds cover the basics of research, the nationally-attended Clinician Scientist Training Workshop is organized by and held at UW-Madison every other year, and you will have a research mentor to guide you. While we recognize that not everyone will continue to publish byeond residency, understanding the process of completing a prospective research project makes internists who are better able to critically evaluate literature throughout their careers. We want to train internists who are lifelong learners and continually intelectually curious.

Question 9

Does the UW SAIM residency program require an advanced degree like an MS?

Accepted Answer

We do not require an advanced degree, however we do offer several paths to completing advanced training if desired. Applicants interested in pursuing advanced degrees should contact Lauren Trepanier from our "About Us" page.

Question 10

What is your boards passing rate? What is your certification rate?

Accepted Answer

In the last five years, 100% of our residents have passed boards on their first attempt. 
 
In the last five years, 100% of our residents have completed a manuscript that met the ACVIM publication requirements.

Question 11

Does UW provide financial support for residents to complete boards examinations?

Accepted Answer

We do! Each resident is provided money specifically to help offset the cost of travel, hotel, conference and exam registration. 
 
Part of this money is university-provided, and part is generously donated by a family to the SAIM service in support of our fantastic residents.

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