Residency Programs  > Internal Medicine  > Program Overview 

Program Overview          Print This Page

  • Number of residents
    1. Interns: 10 categorical
    2. 2-4 preliminary
    3. Second and third year residents: 10 per year
    4. Med/Peds: 2 per year
  • Partner Institutions
  1. University of South Carolina School of Medicine
  2. Palmetto Health Richland
    • Two-thirds of training here
    • More than200 residents in 11 medical residency programs (ER, IM, FP, Pediatrics,
       OB/Gyn, Ophthalmology, Surgery, Orthopedics, Dentistry, Psychiatry, Pharmacy) and five
       fellowship programs (Endocrine, Geriatrics, Sports Medicine, Child & Adolescent
       Psychiatry, Hyperbaric Medicine)
    • Level One Trauma Center in a 649-bed hospital
    • New free-standing cardiovascular hospital opened January 2006
    • Children's Hospital
    • South Carolina Cancer Center
  3. Dorn Veterans' Administration Hospital
    • One-thirdof training here
    • 244-bed hospital encompassing acute medical, surgical, psychiatric, and long-term care.
  • Benefits Package
  1. Free meals at Palmetto Health Richland, stipend given while on rotations at the DVA
  2. State and DEA licenses, ACLS certification, USMLE Step 3, and professional memberships paid by the hospital
  3. Free parking
  4. Total benefits package worth approximately $15,000/year
  5. Link to full listing of benefits and sample contract
  • Educational Package
  1. Board review materials: MedStudy & MKSAP
  2. $550 PDA
  3. $550 book money per year
  4. Expenses for academic presentations at regional and national meetings. Access to UptoDate via the web from home and in the hospital
  • Schedules
  1. Intern year: general medicine 5 months, ICU 2 months, ambulatory and elective 5 months
  2. Second and third years: general medicine 10 months, ICU 3 months, night float 1 month, infectious diseases 1 month, electives/ER 9 months
  • Continuity Clinic
  1. One-half day per week either at Dorn VA or Palmetto Health Richland. Interns initially see 3-4 patients per half day and then increase up to 7-8 patients per half day as an upper level resident.
  • Morning Report format
  1. Presentation of patients admitted the previous day with discussion focusing on differential diagnosis and initial work-up. 
  2. Palmetto Health Richland: led by Dr. Chillag. General medicine teams, ICU team, and ID team attend.
  3. Dorn VA: led by Dr. Hawes. Senior residents from general medicine teams and ICU team attend. Separate morning report for students and interns.
  • Noon Conference
  1. Daily joint conference between Palmetto Health Richland and Dorn VA via teleconference
  2. General medicine and subspecialty conferences
  3. Resident case presentation and discussion on Thursdays
  4. Monthly review with the editor of Journal Watch ®
  • Recent Fellowship Placement
  1. Gastroenterology - University of Virginia, University of South Carolina (USC) (2)
  2. Nephrology - Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), University of Virginia, Medical College of Virginia
  3. Pulmonology/Critical Care - NIH, Cleveland Clinic, University of Virginia, University of Maryland
  4. Rheumatology - Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)
  5. Allergy/Immunology - Cleveland Clinic
  6. Cardiology - LSU, USC, University of Texas at San Antonio, University of Alabama-Birmingham
  7. Infectious Disease - MUSC, Rush
  8. Oncology - Scott and White, University of Texas
  9. Endocrinology - USC
  10. Geriatrics - USC, Wake Forest
  • Interview Process
  1. Meet with residents for dinner the night before the interview.
  2. Interview day: Meet with Chairman; attend morning report; interview with two faculty members; tour Palmetto Health Richland and Dorn VA; lunch with Program Director.