Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to help a resident feel confident in their next career step, and training is in an environment that supports learners and values resident wellness. Resident education is hands-on and  supplemented with daily didactics.  Since we are an unopposed residency, opportunities for procedures and patient management are abundant.  

During the transitional year, residents do rotations in emergency medicine, general surgery, and internal medicine.  To help residents feel confident and ready to make the most of their rotations, a special fundamental clinical skills rotation in July launches each resident with experiences under senior resident and faculty mentorship in the inpatient, obstetrical, pediatrics, and outpatient settings.  

We also offer training in osteopathic manipulative therapy including clinics at our outpatient offices, Pregnancy Care Center, and Juniata College.

A typical curriculum looks like

  • Fundamental clinical skills- 1 month (July)
  • Electives - 3 months
  • Altoona Family Physicians Inpatient Medicine Service- 3 months
  • Internal Medicine Inpatient Hospitalist Service - 1 month
  • Cardiology/Pulmonology - 1 month
  • Critical Care - 1 month
  • Emergency Medicine - 1 month
  • Surgery (with experience in Anesthesia available )- 1 month
  • Ambulatory Family Medicine Continuity Clinic- ½ day per week throughout the year
  • Call is arranged within the three-year residents’ call system.

Specialty-Driven Curriculum

The curriculum is individualized to meet the specific requirements of the resident’s intended specialty or next level of responsibilities.  After a resident matches with our program, the Program Director will work with him or her to begin planning an individualized curriculum.

Residents entering radiology often choose a dynamic interventional neurology rotation that integrates imaging with the clinical care of patients. Sports medicine is also popular to integrate imaging at the point-of-care of patients.

Dermatology-bound residents can perform dermatological procedures in our outpatient ambulatory clinic as well as within our several dermatology elective options.

Physical medicine and rehabilitation-directed residents are encouraged to take neurology and musculoskeletal medicine-oriented electives. A musculoskeletal clinic utilizing point-of-care ultrasound is scheduled weekly.

Residents entering anesthesia enjoy working in our four ICU units learning aside from intensivists and performing a variety of procedures.  Electives within anesthesia are also available and encouraged.

Residents entering the military as general medical officers have found women’s health, college health, and sports medicine electives to be of great value.

If a resident is unmatched, the Program Director will help design a curriculum to prepare the resident for the next NRMP match cycle along with providing administrative support, mock interviews, and guidance as to which electives and scholarly activities will help support the resident’s success.