Specialty pathway
The Specialty track offers a comprehensive and tailored approach to residency training, allowing residents to pursue their academic and fellowship interests while meeting the requirements set by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The 4+2 model, with separate inpatient and outpatient rotations, is an effective way to ensure residents gain exposure to various clinical settings. Residents can choose from numerous elective experiences that include consult services, out-patient clinics, and inpatient rotations.
The opportunity for subspecialty research and specialty electives, along with mentorship from faculty members, provides residents with a well-rounded experience and prepares them for competitive fellowship matches. The range of elective experiences available, spanning consult services, outpatient clinics, and inpatient rotations, allows residents to further refine their clinical skills in areas such as cardiology, gastroenterology, nephrology, rheumatology, pulmonary/critical care, infectious disease, hematology/oncology, endocrinology, and allergy-immunology.
The availability of fellowships within the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) in various subspecialties ensures that residents have access to continued training opportunities in their chosen fields after completing their residency. This holistic approach to training is beneficial for residents looking to pursue careers in internal medicine subspecialties. MCG offers fellowships in the following disciplines: cardiology, gastroenterology, nephrology, pulmonary/critical care, infectious diseases, hematology/oncology, rheumatology, endocrinology, and allergy-immunology.
Residents can choose from numerous elective experiences that will hone their clinical skills in subspecialties such as:
Hospitalist Pathway
The Hospitalist Track prepares residents for life as a hospitalist after residency and broadens their exposure of post residency options. This track allows residents to experience rotations in hospital medicine. Our residents practice in an 4+2 model with fully separate inpatient and outpatient rotations, allowing dedicated in-patient rotations. The Gray medicine rotation allows IM residents to care for a full panel of patients while supervised by IM Hospitalist faculty. Residents work for 7 consecutive days and have the following week to focus assigned board review. This rotation allows for increasing autonomy in clinical decision making, permits collaboration with the interprofessional healthcare team, and affords a greater understanding of hospital throughput. The University Hospital rotation includes working one on one with a hospitalist in a private institution, experiencing firsthand life as a private hospitalist as well as gaining knowledge about another electronic health record, Epic.
Residents in the Hospitalist Track will have faculty mentors from the Division of Hospitalist medicine. Residents will engage in a longitudinal Quality Improvement project after completing the Institute for Healthcare Improvement modules and CITI training. They will collaborate within a team to better understand the Model for Improvement, identify a problem and need for improvement, and engage in a project. They will also have the ability to create their own elective, if there is a clinical experience that they identify and feel would be valuable for their training. Residents in the Hospitalist track can choose from numerous elective experiences that will specifically grow their skills in hospital medicine, with examples of elective offerings including:
Primary Care Pathway
The Primary Care Track prepares residents for a career in out-patient primary care. For residents interested in primary care, Augusta University’s Internal Medicine program offers the opportunities needed to grow into a skilled, confident primary care physician. Our residents practice in an 4+2 model with fully separate inpatient and outpatient rotations, allowing dedicated out-patient continuity and specialty clinics. Residents in the Primary Care Track will have faculty mentors from the Division of Internal Medicine. Residents will engage in a longitudinal Quality Improvement project after completing the Institute for Healthcare Improvement modules and CITI training. They will collaborate within a team to better understand the Model for Improvement, identify a problem and need for improvement, and engage in a project. They will also have the ability to create their own elective, if there is a clinical experience that they identify and feel would be valuable for their training. Augusta University’s many other specialty clinics, including Geriatrics, Weight Management, Women’s Health, Urology, and Sports Medicine, would be opportunities for residents who feel that these experiences would benefit their training.
Residents on a primary care career track can choose from numerous elective experiences that will specifically grow their skills in ambulatory care, with examples of elective offerings including:
Medical Education Track
Our medical education track involves a focused and structured curriculum to prepare residents for careers in academic medicine, teaching, and medical education leadership. Residents in this track engage in additional teaching responsibilities, curriculum and simulation development as well as developing their own teaching methods. This specialized track aims to foster the skills and knowledge needed to become effective educators in the field of internal medicine. It's a great option for those who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and contributing to the training of future healthcare professionals.
Ultrasound Fellowship
Our ultrasound fellowship can be done concurrent with our residency. Participants are required to attend the Wednesday Fellowship conference virtually or in person on three Wednesdays each month from 1500 to 1700; if unable to attend, they must review the recorded lecture. Other commitments include 1000 scans (300 QA scans), 240 teaching hours, and 60 scanning sessions. Additionally, participants are expected to give or record four lectures. There is a focus on ultrasound in both a research project (where primary authorship is not mandatory) and a Quality Improvement Project.
ABIM Research Pathway
The research-focused specialty track provides a unique opportunity for residents interested in pursuing a career in research alongside clinical training. The integration of research and clinical training over the course of five years allows residents to develop a strong foundation in both areas.
The emphasis on research during the first three years, along with the opportunity to build medical knowledge and clinical skills in the outpatient continuity clinic, provides residents with a well-rounded experience. The 24 months of internal medicine training ensures that residents still receive comprehensive clinical exposure while dedicating significant time to research endeavors.
The mentorship component is a key aspect of this track, as residents are paired with mentors based on their research interests. This personalized approach ensures that residents have access to the resources and support needed to excel in their research pursuits. The mentorship includes access to research equipment and resources, professional development opportunities such as seminars and scientific presentations, and guidance in securing extramural research funding. Overall, this specialty track is well-designed to prepare residents for successful careers in research within the field of internal medicine. The combination of hands-on clinical training and research mentorship positions residents for future success in academic medicine or other research-focused roles.
At the Medical College of Georgia, we are globally recognized for our excellence in cardiovascular research and treatment. As a top 40 NHLBI-funded institution and the leading recipient of American Heart Association grants in Georgia, our program stands out for its comprehensive and cutting-edge approach to cardiology. In 2016, the Association of Black Cardiologists acknowledged us as a Best Place to Train, highlighting our commitment to diversity and excellence. Our program is further strengthened by AHA SFRN training grants, providing robust support for our trainees.
Our faculty and residents are deeply engaged in groundbreaking research across several key areas. We are actively investigating the cardiovascular impacts of obesity, developing innovative approaches in cardio-oncology, and exploring the complex relationships between Cardiometabolic diseases and cancer. Our work in vascular genomics and epigenetics aims to unravel the genetic underpinnings of cardiovascular conditions, while our studies on inflammation seek to identify its role as a driver of cardiovascular disease. By utilizing advanced data science methods and machine learning algorithms, we aim to develop better risk stratification and prognostic tools. Additionally, we are committed to understanding and addressing racial disparities in hypertension through focused research initiatives. Aspiring physician-scientists will find unparalleled training opportunities in our program, designed to foster the next generation of leaders in academic medicine
Preliminary Medicine 1 Year Residency Track
This track is tailored for medical graduates seeking robust internal medicine training before transitioning to residencies in specialties such as neurology, dermatology, radiology, and others. The one-year internship is immersive in inpatient general medicine, cardiology, nephrology, hematology/oncology, and critical care. It aims to establish essential competencies in caring for critically ill patients, which will prove invaluable in future careers across a spectrum of specialties.
| Resident Sample Schedule | | | Intern Sample Schedule | ||
| 4 weeks | Night Float | | | 4 weeks | AU Wards |
| 2 weeks | Vacation/Ambulatory | | | 2 weeks | Infectious Disease |
| 4 weeks | AU Hospitalist | | | 4 weeks | Heme/Onc |
| 2 weeks | Elective | | | 2 weeks | Ambulatory/Vacation |
| 4 weeks | University Hospital | | | 4 weeks | AU MICU |
| 2 weeks | Elective | | | 2 weeks | Nephrology |
| 4 weeks | AU CCU | | | 4 weeks | AU Wards |
| 2 weeks | Emergency Medicine | | | 2 weeks | Pulm/CF Consults |
| Christmas Week | AU Wards | | | Christmas Week | Vacation |
| New Year's Week | Vacation | | | New Year's Week | AU MICU |
| 4 weeks | Nephrology | | | 4 weeks | VA Wards |
| 2 weeks | Medical Economics | | | 2 weeks | Elective |
| 4 weeks | Elective | | | 4 weeks | AU Cardiology |
| 2 weeks | Elective | | | 2 weeks | Ambulatory/Vacation |
| 4 weeks | VA Wards | | | 4 weeks | Night Float |
| 2 weeks | Infectious Disease | | | 2 weeks | Elective |
| 4 weeks | AU MICU | | | 4 weeks | VA Wards |
| 2 weeks | Vacation/Ambulatory | | | 2 weeks | Vacation/Ambulatory |
| 4 weeks | AU Hospitalist | | | 4 weeks | AU Cardiology |
| 1 week | Vacation | | | 1 week | AU Cardiology |
