The development of the professional committed to the primacy of individual patient welfare and the fair, just distribution of resources to eliminate the disparity in healthcare in our nation and the world – this is the task we have accepted as a department and as individual mentors. To this end, it is our goal to see that the physician leaving our program be committed to:

Professional Competency: Upon completion of the Internal Medicine Residency program, residents will be able to apply scientific knowledge to the care of their patients. They will diligently seek to improve that knowledge throughout their life. They will work to constantly improve the environment in which they work to maximize the safe and efficient care of their patients. They will be skilled in communication and embody the ideals of professionalism.

Ethical Practice: The doctors leaving our program will be committed to the principals of ethical behavior throughout their professional career. These include: patient autonomy; patient confidentiality, especially in the era of electronic information; maintaining appropriate relations with patients, never exploiting a patient for sexual advantage, personal financial gain, or other private purposes; commitment of honesty with patients, empowering them to decide on the course of therapy or informing them of injury that may have occurred as a consequence of medical care; commitment to maintaining trust by disclosing openly and discussing conflicts of interest.

Social Justice: Through a knowledge of the disparity of health care across our nation and in the world, our physicians will leave this program with a commitment to eliminate that disparity by: the implementation of wise and cost-effective health care practices for their patients, minimizing overuse of resources; working with other professionals to improve access to care, eliminating barriers to care, promoting public health and preventive medicine and acting as a public advocate without concern for self-interest.

Professional Growth: The doctors will be committed to the advancement of medical knowledge through sound scientific research and the appropriate application of that knowledge to patient care. They will know and apply scientific standards to the literature. They will, in collaboration with other physicians, work to ensure the excellence in patient care by setting and upholding standards for their profession.