Didactics

 

All lecture-based didactics are structured around the ABIM blueprint to ensure thorough preparation for the board exam. Protected time is provided for these sessions, free from clinical responsibilities, allowing residents to fully engage and dedicate themselves to strengthening their medical knowledge.

*IE: Intern Essentials       *SC: Subspecialty Conference       *IBC: Intern Boot Camp

 

Intern Essentials

The Intern Essentials lecture series is designed to build a strong foundation of core medical knowledge during the first year of training. Sessions focus on high-yield topics such as acute renal failure, chest pain evaluation, and COPD management, giving interns the tools to strengthen their clinical decision-making. We emphasize a balanced approach, integrating both inpatient and outpatient topics, so interns can immediately apply what they learn across their rotations. In addition, residents are encouraged to give back to the program by delivering case-based lectures under faculty guidance, allowing them to develop their teaching skills and share expertise in areas aligned with their future career interests.

 

Core Conferences

Core Conferences are designed to provide in-depth lectures delivered by content experts in their respective fields. These sessions give residents and interns the opportunity to expand their medical knowledge by gaining valuable insights into the diagnosis, management, and comprehensive care of patients encountered in both inpatient and outpatient settings. In addition, we hold quarterly lectures on social determinants of health—an especially relevant topic in our hospital environment—equipping residents with the skills to better care for our most vulnerable patient populations, including those who are unhoused or uninsured.

 

Guidelines

The Guidelines Lecture Series is a case-based format that reviews the most relevant clinical guidelines, ensuring residents understand not only the evidence and reasoning behind the recommendations but also how to effectively apply them in the care of their patients. 

 

Journal Club

Journal Club is designed to enhance residents’ and interns’ skills in critically evaluating medical literature, ensuring they can appropriately interpret data and determine its applicability to patient care. To promote active learning and engagement, each article is divided into sections, with small groups assigned to review and analyze specific components. These findings are then shared and discussed with the larger group, fostering interactive dialogue and deeper understanding for all participants.

 

Patient Safety Event Investigation and Analysis Conferences

The Patient Safety Event Investigation and Analysis Conference provides residents with exposure to unique patient experiences in a case-based format. By presenting medical errors within a solution-focused environment, the conference enhances both education and engagement for the resident teams while fostering a culture of safety and continuous learning.

 

Intern Bootcamp

Didactic lectures in the entire month of July were designed to improve the clinical knowledge of the incoming interns. It is required for all the interns and welcome to all other residents. Topics are determined based on the Individual Learning Plans incoming interns fill out during their new hire process, as well as general topics leadership believe is important to assist with the transition into residency. Topics generally include Electrolytes, EKGs, ICU Pearls, and Chest Imaging, along with others.

 

Morning/Noon Report

Morning Report is held daily, Monday through Friday, at Touro Infirmary and Ochsner-Kenner, while Noon Report takes place Monday through Thursday at University Medical Center. These conferences highlight cases admitted overnight and provide residents with valuable opportunities to strengthen their skills in history-taking, interpretation of laboratory results, ECGs, and chest X-rays, as well as developing accurate and thoughtful clinical assessments.

Morning Reports are facilitated by faculty who are experienced and dedicated educators—you are guaranteed to walk away having learned something new. Sessions often include concise didactic presentations and demonstrations of practical clinical approaches to common patient scenarios. To reinforce learning, each session typically concludes with one or two Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program (MKSAP) questions tied to the case presented.

 

Department of Medicine Grand Rounds

Grand Rounds are held every Friday at noon and feature faculty from across the Department of Medicine as well as distinguished guest speakers from around the country. These sessions highlight relevant clinical and research topics, with presentations ranging from cutting-edge bench and clinical research to expert discussions on current challenges and emerging developments in the field of Internal Medicine. LSU Medicine faculty, along with nationally and internationally recognized leaders, provide residents and faculty alike with invaluable opportunities for learning and professional growth. 

 

Case Conferences

Each month, students, residents, and faculty participate in a special conference where experts sit on a panel to discuss a unique case presentation. Cases are selected from patients seen across our three facilities, chosen for their unusual pathology or distinctive presentations of common conditions. Residents, with guidance from chief residents, prepare and present the cases to the audience, fostering active learning and engagement.

Board Preparation

 

Board Review Course

The Chair of the Department has generously provided our residents with access to a comprehensive board review course through the Cleveland Clinic. Offered in June of their third year, this intensive curriculum is designed to enhance ABIM board preparation and provides graduating residents with an ideal opportunity to consolidate their knowledge just a few months before taking the exam.

 

MKSAP

Residents have access to the electronic version of Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program (MKSAP) throughout their three years of training, serving as a key resource for both didactic preparation and ABIM board review. Membership in the ACP is required for residents, enabling the Department to provide this essential tool. In addition, residents are assigned 30 questions each month to reinforce learning and develop proficiency in answering board-style questions.

 

In-Training Examination (ITE)

Residents and interns participate in the In-Training Examination (ITE) annually at the start of the academic year. This standardized assessment allows the program to evaluate residents’ knowledge, identify areas requiring further development, and track their progress over time to tailor educational strategies accordingly. Additionally, the ITE mirrors the content and format of the ABIM board certification exam, providing residents with a valuable benchmark to gauge their readiness for board certification at the completion of their training.