Internal Medicine Residency (Minnesota) - Residencies and Fellowships - Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science

Page Content

Overview

The Internal Medicine Residency at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is one of the world's longest-running formalized physician training programs. Established in 1915, this program is recognized as one that transforms medical students into outstanding physicians, educators, and scientists.

As a resident, you’ll learn to set new standards in patient care and scientific investigation. You’ll complete the program ready to be an agent of change who, through inquiry or practice improvement, is prepared to advance the science and create the health care system of the future.

Program highlights:

A 13-block schedule of four-week rotations that balances inpatient and outpatient clinical experiences and provides broad subspecialty exposure
Subspecialty-specific primary inpatient services led by experts in their field
A point-of-care ultrasound and procedural rotation featuring training on ultrasound technique and image acquisition, dedicated time for ultrasound imaging, and hands-on training on paracentesis, lumbar puncture, thoracentesis, and arthrocentesis.
Broad array of clinical and non-clinical electives, including global health opportunities, medical education skill-building, and a medical journalism elective through ABC News in New York City
Comprehensive research curriculum including faculty mentorship, research skills-building training, and funding to present completed works at national and international conferences
Integrated diversity, equity, and inclusion curriculum featuring didactics, core clinical experiences, and advocacy opportunities
Primary care track featuring longitudinal clinical mentorship from primary care faculty, primary care relevant electives opportunities, and involvement in community-based health research and outreach projects

8:21

Video overview: Internal Medicine Residency

88%

of residents match into one of their top 3 fellowship program choices

99%

American Board of Internal Medicine pass rate

5.2

peer-reviewed publications per resident on average

Residents talking to each other in the hallway

Your training experience

As a resident at Mayo Clinic, you'll have access to robust clinical, educational, and research resources. You'll find support both inside and outside of the campus to promote physical and mental wellness and ensure your work/life balance.

Director's welcome

The type of training you receive in internal medicine predicts the quality and value with which you will practice medicine throughout your career.

Frequently asked questions (and answers)

What is the patient mix?

About 80% of patients seen at Mayo Clinic are from Minnesota or one of the adjoining states, and approximately 50% of our internal medicine patients are on a government-assisted health care plan. Rochester has one of the most diverse immigrant populations in the nation, with large concentrations of people from Southeast Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe.

Mayo Clinic residents develop expertise in bread-and-butter internal medicine by serving the local community through their continuity clinic and in the hospital setting. Additionally, there are renowned experts in almost every disease at Mayo, which makes this a destination for patients who have previously posed diagnostic or management challenges; however, these patients make up a small percentage of a resident's practice.

What is the usual team structure?

The primary purpose of the Internal Medicine Residency is education, and the focus of learning is embedded in the care of patients. Interns and residents are the primary physicians for their patients. There are no private patients or private attendings at Mayo.

In the hospital, residents work in teams of four to six. Three interns supervised by a senior resident is the most common construct. The primary responsibility for care is with the intern, who orchestrates the care plans with input as needed from the senior resident and faculty. Interns and residents write all orders on their patients.

In the continuity clinic, interns and residents have their own individual panel of patients. As the primary physicians for their patients, interns and residents are responsible for providing longitudinal, comprehensive care for their patients in the outpatient setting. Continuity clinics are organized in "firms" that function as a group practice composed of other residents and a group of dedicated faculty. Our residents feel that they have the ideal balance of autonomy and supervision.

Are there opportunities to teach?

Our robust three-year educator development curriculum in adult learning theory is designed to prepare you for teaching roles with students, colleagues, and other healthcare community members.

You will supervise students and interns throughout training and deliver didactic lessons like morning reports. You will also have the chance to receive additional education theory training or work with preclinical learners through one of our medical education electives.

Can residents rotate out of Rochester or outside the U.S.?

Some residents choose to rotate outside of Rochester. Some of our most popular away elective rotations are the ABC News elective in New York, the HIV elective in Maricopa County, Arizona, and the elective in Winslow County, Arizona, where residents gain experience working with Native American populations in the Navajo Nation. Residents can also rotate in Hennepin County Medical Center, a safety-net hospital in Minneapolis.

Many of our residents rotate outside the U.S., usually under the auspices of the Mayo International Health Program. This program helps residents bring their talents to underserved areas of the world. Scholarships are provided to cover transportation and lodging. Residents have rotated to a large number of regions worldwide.

Other popular elective sites are our Mayo campuses in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and Jacksonville, Florida, where a variety of rotations are available. Transportation, lodging, and licensure are provided. For those looking to explore community practices, a variety of rotational experiences also are available in smaller communities throughout the Midwest region within Mayo Clinic Health System.