- How many residents do you currently have?
- We currently have 24 residents in the Internal Medicine Program.
- When do you notify applicants if they will be invited for an interview?
- We continue to review applications and send invitations throughout the interview season on a rolling basis. We utilize Thalamus comprehensive scheduling platform to schedule our interviews.
- What EMR system is used in your hospital and clinics?
- Continuity clinic uses Allscripts and our hospital system uses Patient Keeper.
- What is continuity clinic like?
- Once a week there is a full day of clinic – half the day will be continuity clinic where you get to build your panel of patients and the other half of the day is spent in a subspecialty clinic.
- What are the didactic sessions like?
- With internal medicine didactics specifically, there is morning report, monthly board review, specialty-specific and general internal medicine lectures, EKG sessions, tumor board, journal club, and M&Ms.
With shared didactics across all specialties, we offer learning experiences in cultural competency, ethics and professionalism, social determinants of health, ongoing opioid education, career planning, motivational interviewing, public speaking, and other experiences.
- How does the department assist with obtaining fellowships?
- If a resident is interested in fellowship, we connect them with a mentor of that specialty for their research. We also encourage offsite electives in their second or third year as “auditions” at their chosen program.
CMH offers a one-year non-ACGME accredited Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (QIPS) Fellowship designed to provide clinical, academic, and administrative training in quality improvement, patient safety, and leadership development. To learn more about our QIPS Fellowship, click here.
- What is the research program like?
- Residents are required to actively participate in scholarly work in both research and quality/performance improvement projects. Internal Medicine residents are able to complete case reports, retrospective studies, or prospective research in areas that align with future career endeavors. By the end of residency, each resident should have disseminated their research via medical conferences and/or publications.
Each resident will participate in a longitudinal quality improvement project in an area of interest. The projects are designed to provide education and leadership skills for the practicing physician.
- What is your patient population like?
- The Ventura county population is diverse and ranges in socioeconomic status, language, and age. We have a lot of geriatric patients who are very healthy and active as well as younger patients with complex medical conditions.
- Do you have any simulation experiences?
- We have mock code simulations, POC ultrasound course, and our interns spend a day at the UCLA simulation lab.
- Where do residents typically live, and how much is housing?
- All residents live within 15-20 minutes of the hospital in either Oxnard or Ventura. In Oxnard, most live near the Collection as it is walking distance to shops and restaurants. Housing prices vary by location, square footage, and amenities. It is more affordable if you have roommates to share the cost of rent and find housing through independent owners rather than large apartment complexes. A rough estimate would be anywhere from $1600-$2500+, but this depends on what you are willing to compromise when you are house hunting.
- Is it easy to approach the Program Director and Associate Program Directors?
- Our Program Director and Associate Program Directors are all practicing physicians with whom the residents work directly in patient care, making it easy to develop strong relationships. They are always available to support residents in any way. They also encourage feedback in order to improve the program which makes residents feel appreciated and heard.
- How easy is it to find a mentor?
- Besides having a formally assigned faculty mentor, all Attendings are approachable and excited to offer guidance on a professional and personal level. Because this is a community hospital, that is precisely the atmosphere you encounter – a community that feels like a great big family. Residents can voice their interest, and someone will point them in the right direction.
- What can I expect while living in Ventura?
- Ventura county sits between LA county and Santa Barbara county. The city offers that coastal feel with a neighborhood vibe, so you will probably run into some of your patients at some point. There is plenty of hiking opportunities and water activities with a great surfing culture. And new microbreweries pop up all the time. The weather year-round is almost always enjoyable, except for a very few unbearably hot days (thank you global warming). Ventura is that quiet beach town that catches you by surprise. Once you’re here you may find it hard to leave …look at how many residents chose to stay after residency training and how many are trying to find their way back to Ventura!
- How prepared are the alumni of your Internal Medicine residency program when entering the work force?
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“After having the hands-on training at CMH, I feel confident in my knowledge and skill to perform well at the large tertiary/quaternary care center where I attend fellowship. With close association with all medicine subspecialties who practice current evidence-based medicine, your education prepares you with experience to manage patients safely and effectively.”
“CMH Internal Medicine Residency taught me how to be a hands-on practicing physician. Not only did I have the knowledge I needed to practice good evidence-based medicine, I also had the hands-on experience to bring that knowledge to each individual patient.”
“I felt fully prepared with a strong clinical base starting my career as a Hospitalist. I found CMH to be resident-oriented with ample opportunities to learn and pursue all of my interests in medicine especially hospital and critical care medicine. It was particularly advantageous to be exposed to orthopedics, family medicine and general surgery residencies as it gave me opportunities to learn in a collegial environment. I believe CMH provided a supportive and yet diverse learning experience that made me the well-rounded physician I am today.”
“After residency I went into a palliative medicine fellowship. I felt extremely prepared for this next step and I was where I needed to be compared to my peers. CMH gave me the building blocks and learning tools I needed for a successful career. I’m extremely grateful for all the Attendings who took the time to teach me and make sure I was prepared.”
Internal Medicine Residency: Frequently Asked Questions
