Internship
The
internship year emphasizes the care of patients in general inpatient medicine, intensive care medicine, oncology, cardiology, emergency medicine, and ambulatory care utilizing both campuses and selected outside sites.
Working as part of a two- or three- physician team, along with medical students and attending staff, interns gain experience in the management of patients with a broad range of medical diseases. Interns have primary responsibility for the care of all patients admitted to the medical service. Special educational activities for interns include Intern Report and biannual intern retreats.
One Year Preliminary Training in Internal Medicine
Each year several internship positions are reserved for applicants desiring one year of rigorous internal medicine training (Preliminary year) prior to postgraduate training in another discipline. Preliminary and Categorical Interns share the same kind of
rotation schedule and are exposed to training in the same areas. Preliminary interns may elect to have a continuity clinic experience but are not required to do so.
Teaching as an Intern
As members of the Harvard faculty, interns hold an important role in the teaching of medical students at all levels and also of their peers. Interns are responsible for daily guidance of third and fourth year medical students on the wards. They also are involved in more formal teaching presentations as part of the ambulatory care curriculum. Interns also participate in two retreats geared towards the development of their teaching skills.