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• Endocrinology & Metabolism

Residents

"We are committed to training effective clinicians who are imbued with respect for patients and colleagues; who practice medicine with unquestionable professionalism; who appreciate honest communication; and who possess an innate curiosity to know more and a desire to pursue answers."

     Hal Atkinson, MD, Director, Internal Medicine Residency Program

A hallmark of our program is the emphasis placed on training residents to be effective clinicians. Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center is an exceptional hospital, drawing patients from a nineteen-county region of North Carolina as well as from surrounding states. Residents are intimately involved in patient care and have significant autonomy in decision-making. While nearly all rotations occur at the medical school/medical center, the Department also has a large community-based ambulatory health center. New initiatives are increasing residents interface with community-based generalists and subspecialists. They spend time in underserved areas of the Winston-Salem community, giving them insight into the challenges faced by patients and providers.

Faculty mentors and formal initiatives like the Tinsley Harrison Translational Research Program promote and support resident research. Our house staff’s impressive research productivity is reflected by published manuscripts, abstracts, and presentations at local, regional and national meetings.

Wake Forest is a national leader in evidence-based medicine (EBM). Residents are taught to be leaders in EBM and learn to critically appraise and apply the best evidence from the medical literature at the bedside and in clinic. Upper level residents assume an important role in teaching EBM to medical students and junior house officers. Residents also receive a solid foundation in medical systems. In 2006/2007 residents played an active role in implementing an electronic medical record system for ambulatory and inpatient services, a highly successful project.

Organization of the Endocrine Residency
Endocrinology And Metabolism Clinic Schedule

1. Orientation:  Dr. Cantley will meet with residents the week prior to the first day of the rotation.
2. Endocrine Clinic: Residents will attend an Endocrine clinic on all occasions that do not conflict with their own OPD Clinic. This is the most essential component of the rotation, and failure to come to clinic is the equivalent of failure to come to the rounds on an inpatient service.
3. During the clinics, you will see patients WITH the attending, allowing you to have numerous exposures to Endocrine patients in a short time frame, allowing you to augment your skills (thyroid palpation, adjusting insulin regimes, etc.) efficiently through the many one-on-one interactions shared with the attending.
4. Inpatient consultations: It is the resident's responsibility to ensure that the appropriate history and physical examination is obtained on each consult, and to follow the patient's progress during the hospitalization. The medical students will be assigned to follow consults along with the resident, but the resident remains primarily responsible. Residents are not to offer suggestions to the house staff or make recommendations in the chart until the patient has been presented to the attending. The times for consult rounds will be set by the attending of the month, but SHALL NOT interfere with clinic obligations.
5. Conferences:  Residents will attend each of the following conferences: 
   1. Endocrine Conference: Wednesdays, 1:00-2:00 p.m., Endocrine conference room, E floor, Nutrition Bldg
   2. Internal Medicine Grand Rounds: Thursdays, 8:00-9:00 a.m., Commons area
6. Reading list: Completion of the reading list is an essential part of the Endocrine Elective. It consists mostly of review articles from the general medicine literature concerning important endocrine and metabolic issues.
7. Final Exam: At the conclusion of the elective, there will be a written test covering material primarily from the reading list.
8. Diabetes Education: You are required to spend one session with the "Senior Adult Learning About Diabetes" ("SALAD") course. This is held 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM at the Diabetes Care Center at Piedmont Plaza (5th floor) on each Wednesday of each month. Contact the Diabetes Nurse Educator at 6-8234 to let her know you are coming.
9. Department of Medicine Activities: You are expected to attend the regularly scheduled Department of Medicine conferences.

Residents who do not complete the above requirements will not receive credit for the elective.

The faculty of the Section on Endocrinology is commited to provide a valuable educational experience during your rotation.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns regarding this elective.
K. Patrick Ober, MD