Tips for Family Medicine Residency
Written by Morgan Pratt, MD
Congratulations! Welcome to a great specialty with some of the smartest, kindest, and most well-rounded physicians around!
While there is a lot to say on the topic of preparation for the intern year I want to be clear that you should first and foremost take the blessing of 4th year spring, post MATCH life to travel, spend time with family and work on giving yourself some much-deserved self-care.
Ok, so that being said, if you are interested in getting a jump on things here is a list of some great study tools, helpful apps for clinical care, and resources to prep when you are ready!
1. Study tools: For In-training exams (we take them in October) these are the question banks to use!
ABFM supplies 25 MCQ every quarter (website and has an App)
AAFP free CME has randomized subject 10 Q blocks (can be found on the AAFP website and app)
AAFP Monthly Journal and CME questions
2. Apps/Resources to use on your rotations:
Screening guidelines: USPSTF App
Cardiac Risk: ASCVD risk App
Reproductive Health: Contraception App
Newborn Nursery: Bilitool (website/app), Newt Weight loss(website), EOS calc (newborn sepsis app)
Pediatrics: Shots (immunization app)
Derm: Visual Dx, Dermoscopy
Search tools: Lexicomp (meds), UpToDate, DynaMed
3. A helpful routine to get into is to read a bit more into the patients you are seeing. Attaching a person to a diagnosis will help solidify your knowledge base. So each day, try to spend no more than 5 minutes reading up on a medical problem/patient you manage. Start a google doc or write it in a notebook to solidify the knowledge.
4. Remember that training itself is a skill to be refined. Don’t fret! You’ll have senior residents, and supervisors to assist and guide you. Residents are not expected to have “all the answers” coming in so don’t be afraid to simply say “I don’t know!” Your knowledge will grow organically from experience which is something no book or lecture can give you. As Family Physicians we learn each day from listening to and observing our patients, so don’t be in a hurry. This is a wonderful journey you’ve chosen for yourself, enjoy every day of it.
5. Lastly, make alliances with your nurses and support staff. Most have far more experience than even a seasoned resident. So make friends, be kind and they will be your eyes and ears, and have your back at every twist and turn!
