In the second year, the emphasis is on developing skills and knowledge to take care of patients with more complex needs. The second-year program has additional flexibility, offering the residents a choice of ambulatory medical and surgical subspecialty experiences.
The resident will have increased responsibility and independence in the emergency department, as well as increased exposure to critically ill patients during rotations through the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, and cardiology. The resident begins to take on a supervisory role on general inpatient rotations, helping first-year residents organize rounds, triaging and assigning patients, and assuming overall coordination of clinical care.
In keeping with the philosophy of presenting a balanced curriculum in the second year, residents also have the opportunity to participate in a variety of electives. The residents can increase their private office experience during much of the second and third year of training while continuing traditional continuity clinics for a half day each week.