Curriculum
Diverse Clinical Experiences
We train lifelong, adaptive learners who are prepared to work in any future environment. Our longitudinal curriculum effectively simulates the day-to-day experience of a full-spectrum family medicine physician, filled with variety of experiences and patient encounters.
Continuity Clinic
The heart of our curriculum is the Family Medicine Residency Center, where residents practice four half-days per week all three years. Residents learn how to care for patients of all ages and needs while gaining clinical experiences that vary from wellness visits to maternity care to management of complex medical conditions. Outpatient procedures are performed within the Residency Center in one of the spacious procedure rooms.
Residents integrate time in the clinic with mini-blocks and longitudinal rotations, giving variety to their days and simulating their future practice in a rural environment.
Orientation
Start of employment in late June.
Core Skills Month
Month of July in PGY1 year. The experience will include varied settings of classroom didactics, hands-on skill training with both standardized patients and models, continuity outpatient clinic, POCUS workshop, and introduction to different services throughout the community where residents will be living and working. Certifications including ACLS, BLS, PALS, ALSO, and NRP will be obtained during core skills rotation as well.
Rotations
All residents will be dual licensed through both the state of Washington and the state of Idaho as the Pullman Regional Hospital network extends across state lines.
| Rotation | Total Time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Inpatient Adult | 12 weeks | 1 week per month |
| Emergency Medicine | 8 weeks | 1 week most months |
| General Surgery | 4 weeks | Mini Blocks – 2 weeks at a time |
| Obstetrics/Newborn | 4 weeks | 1 week per quarter |
| Ortho/Sports Medicine | 4 weeks | Mini Blocks – 2 weeks at a time |
| Pediatrics – Outpatient | 4 weeks | Mini Blocks – 2 weeks at a time |
| Cardiology | 2 weeks | Mini Blocks – 2 weeks at a time |
| Radiology | 2 weeks | Mini Blocks – 2 weeks at a time |
| Sub-Specialty Selective | 4 weeks | Dependent on selection |
| Rotation | Total Time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Medicine | 8 weeks | 1 week most months |
| Health Systems | 4 weeks | Longitudinal (scheduled by half-day) |
| Inpatient Adult | 4 weeks | 1 week per quarter |
| Obstetrics/Newborn | 4 weeks | 1 week per quarter |
| Ortho/Sports Medicine | 4 weeks | Longitudinal (scheduled by half-day) |
| Pediatrics – Inpatient | 4 weeks | Block – Away rotation |
| Pediatrics – Outpatient | 4 weeks | Longitudinal (scheduled by half-day) |
| Women’s Health | 4 weeks | Mini Blocks – 2 weeks at a time |
| Geriatrics | 2 weeks | Longitudinal (scheduled by half-day) |
| Urology | 2 weeks | Longitudinal (scheduled by half-day) |
| Sub-Specialty Selectives | 8 weeks | Dependent on selection |
| Rotation | Total Time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Inpatient Adult | 12 weeks | 1 week per month |
| Emergency Medicine | 8 weeks | 1 week most months |
| Obstetrics/Newborn | 4 weeks | 1 week per quarter |
| Rural Medicine | 4 weeks | Mini Blocks – 2 week at a time |
| Geriatrics | 2 weeks | Longitudinal (scheduled by half-day) |
| Otolaryngology | 2 weeks | Mini Blocks – 2 weeks at a time |
| Pediatrics – Emergency | 2 weeks | Block – Away rotation |
| Scholarship | 2 weeks | Longitudinal (scheduled by half-day) |
| Sub-Specialty Selectives | 12 weeks | Dependent on selection |
Sample Schedule, Year 1
| WEEK | ROTATIONS |
|---|---|
| 1–4 | Core Skills |
| 5–6 | Inpatient |
| 7–8 | General Surgery |
| 9–10 | Pediatrics – Outpatient |
| 11 | Vacation |
| 12 | Emergency Medicine |
| 13–14 | Inpatient |
| 15–16 | Ortho |
| 17–18 | Emergency Medicine |
| 19–20 | General Surgery |
| 21–22 | Cardiology |
| 23 | Vacation |
| 24 | Inpatient |
| 25–26 | Radiology |
| 27–28 | Inpatient |
| 29–30 | Emergency Medicine |
| 31–32 | Pediatrics – Outpatient |
| 33–34 | Inpatient |
| 35–36 | Selective – Neuro |
| 37–38 | Ortho |
| 39–40 | Emergency Medicine |
| 41 | Vacation |
| 42 | Inpatient |
| 43–44 | Emergency Medicine |
| 45–48 | Obstetrics in Spokane, WA |
| 49–50 | Selective – ENT |
| 51–52 | Inpatient |
Sample Schedule, Year 2
| WEEK | ROTATIONS |
|---|---|
| 1–4 | Pediatrics – Inpatient |
| 5–6 | Pediatrics – Outpatient/ |
| 7–8 | Psychology in Moscow, ID |
| 9–10 | Selective-Rodeo |
| 11 | In-Nights |
| 12 | Inpatient |
| 13–14 | Geriatrics |
| 15–16 | Selective – Research |
| 17–18 | Women’s Health |
| 19–20 | Selective – Sports |
| 21–22 | Ortho/Sports Med |
| 23–24 | Emergency Medicine |
| 25 | Vacation |
| 26 | OB – Newborn |
| 27–28 | Inpatient |
| 29–30 | Pediatric Outpatient |
| 31 | Selective – Sleep |
| 32 | Vacation |
| 33–34 | Selective – Pain |
| 35 | In-Nights |
| 36 | Inpatient |
| 37–38 | Emergency Medicine |
| 39–40 | OB – Newborn Pullman Regional Hospital |
| 41–42 | Psychology |
| 43–44 | Selective – Urgent care |
| 45 | Vacation |
| 46 | OB – Newborn at Pullman Regional Hospital |
| 47 | In-Nights |
| 48 | Inpatient |
| 49–50 | Women’s Health |
| 51–52 | Ortho/Sports Medicine |
Scholarly Activity
Scholarly activity within the residency program encompasses a broad range of academic pursuits aimed at advancing medical knowledge, improving patient care, and enhancing the education of health care providers. First year residents will participate in Family Physicians Inquiries Network (FPIN) Good Evidence Matters (GEMs) project. Each resident will also engage in at least one quality improvement project within their area of interest. For those interested, there are many additional opportunities for scholarly work available.
Electives
Residents will have at least six months of elective experiences throughout their three years of residency. The electives are critical for each resident to develop and enhance the competencies that are needed to serve the resident’s future communities and career goals best.
Current electives include, but are not limited to:
- Ear, Nose, and Throat/Audiology
- Student Health
- Pathology
- Neurology
- Hematology/Oncology
- Dermatology
- Wound Care
- Infectious Disease
- Anesthesia & Pain Management
- Nephrology
- Gastroenterology
- Podiatry
- Cardiology
- Sleep Medicine
- Research
Residents can focus on one of the selective pathways:
- Sports Medicine
- Rural Health
Didactics
Academic Half-Day
- Academic Half-Days are protected learning time where all clinical duties are suspended for residents every Wednesday afternoon. Academic Half-Day balances hands-on simulations and procedure training with board-centric classroom content to develop well-rounded family medicine physicians.
- Formats include but are not limited to interactive case-based learning, traditional lecture style teaching, rash of the week, EKG of the week, radiology mystery of the week, journal club, QI workshop, and hands-on simulations such as IUD placements, suture skills, intubations, paracentesis, and aspirations. We also have an integrated POCUS curriculum.
Lunch & Learn
- Twice a month, Pullman Regional Hospital and WSU Family Medicine Residency pair up to bring a lecture and catered lunch to the hospital staff. Residents can come and listen to a speaker while they eat lunch and share in the community of the hospital.
- Topics vary and have included pediatric cardiology, financial health, solving cold cases use DNA, Xylazine and emerging drugs, Native health care, and school special services amongst others