GME Internal Medicine Residency
This program is projected to begin Summer 2027.
Program overview.
The Health First Internal Medicine Residency Program aims to cultivate a new generation of skilled, compassionate, and service-driven Internal Medicine physicians who exist to improve the health and wellness of patients and families throughout Brevard County. Our program will be dedicated to helping you become an exceptional physician who is skilled in high-quality patient care. We will provide a comprehensive training experience that encompasses a diverse spectrum of inpatient and outpatient clinical experiences, with a focus on the unique health challenges of our Brevard County communities.
Our goal is to inspire a lasting community impact on health outcomes, the advancement of patient safety, and a sense of dedication among our graduates to continue their medical careers within our region, contributing to the strength and well-being of Central Florida.
This program will accept 15 internal medicine residents per year.
Program details.
The Internal Medicine Program will follow a 4+1 rotation schedule as a structured approach to improve both the resident’s educational experience and the associated patient care experience by striking a balance between focused inpatient rotations and dedicated ambulatory (clinic) time. Residents will participate in four consecutive weeks dedicated to traditional rotations, which might include inpatient ward duties, specialized rotations, and electives, followed by one week that is structured around the outpatient continuity clinic experience and scholarly activity.
PGY-1
- Inpatient General Medicine: 16 weeks
- Pulmonary Medicine: 4 weeks
- Cardiology: 4 weeks
- Gastroenterology: 4 weeks
- Nephrology: 4 weeks
- Medical Intensive Care Unit: 4 weeks
- IM Continuity Clinic: 10 weeks
- Elective: 6 weeks
PGY-2
- Inpatient General Medicine: 12 weeks
- Geriatric Medicine: 4 weeks
- Hematology / Oncology: 4 weeks
- Medical Intensive Care Unit: 8 weeks
- Night Float: 4 weeks
- IM Continuity Clinic: 10 weeks
- Elective: 10 weeks
PGY-3
- Inpatient General Medicine: 4 weeks
- Medical Intensive Care Unit: 4 weeks
- Rheumatology: 4 weeks
- Infectious Disease: 4 weeks
- Night Float: 4 weeks
- Addiction & Hospice Medicine: 4 weeks
- Neurology: 4 weeks
- Emergency Medicine: 4 weeks
- Endocrinology: 4 weeks
- IM continuity clinic: 10 weeks
Elective: 6 weeks
Elective Opportunities: Wound Care, Psychiatry, Dermatology, Medical Ophthalmology, Outpatient Gynecology, Otolaryngology, non-operative Orthopedics, Palliative Medicine, Sleep Medicine, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Nephrology, Geriatric Medicine, Infectious Disease, Hematology/Oncology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology, clinical documentation and Research.
Internal Medicine Continuity Clinic:
The Internal Medicine continuity clinic model is a key component of the program’s longitudinal structure. Residents across all postgraduate years (PGY’s) will spend 10 dedicated weeks per year in the continuity clinic at Health First Medical Group’s Gateway Clinic. Residents will be assigned to a faculty preceptor panel throughout their training, ensuring this sustained relationship with an experienced mentor supports both clinical skill development and formative feedback on communication, professionalism, and patient care.
During this time, each resident will be assigned a panel of patients whom they will follow throughout their three years of training, serving as the patient’s primary care physician under the supervision of an experienced ambulatory attending. HFMG’s Gateway Clinic will provide all residents with interdisciplinary, team-based experience where residents will work within interdisciplinary teams that include attending physicians, nurses, case managers, social workers, and pharmacists, who work together to provide comprehensive and holistic care. To reinforce the team-based care model, residents will participate in structured interdisciplinary rounds, case discussions, and quality improvement initiatives.
Academic Half Day:
Weekly protected time for Resident’s to focus on longitudinal learning activities outside of the patient care setting. Many of the conferences and learning activities described below will be scheduled as part of the protected academic half-day.
Grand Rounds:
Grand Rounds are scheduled on a monthly basis. These formal meetings, which can be delivered through lectures, case discussions, or interactive seminars, help to foster collaboration among inter-disciplinary colleagues and provide a structured platform for continuous learning, professional development, and staying current with evolving medical practices.
Specialty Specific Didactics:
Address sub-specialty topics across inpatient and outpatient settings, including diagnosis and management of related patient conditions.
Journal Club:
Residents will have the opportunity to lead monthly discussions on recent, peer-reviewed literature as it relates to the field of medicine. Residents and faculty discuss published research articles from peer-reviewed journals to improve critical appraisal skills, stay updated on evidence-based practices, and foster a culture of continuous learning. This conference is dedicated to fostering discussion that bridges the gap between research findings and their practical application in clinical patient care
Case Conference:
Monthly, resident-led discussions of clinical cases emphasizing diagnostic reasoning and management strategies. Our case conferences offer the opportunity to present and discuss complex or challenging patient cases to develop coordinated, holistic care plans and improve patient outcomes.
Tumor Board:
Monthly conference to discuss and review complex cancer cases and collaboratively determine the best, personalized treatment plan for each patient. By pooling Health First’s diverse expertise in areas like oncology, hematology, pathology, radiology, and surgery, our tumor board is able to provide a comprehensive, coordinated, and evidence-based approach to patient care, improving treatment outcomes.
Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (QI/PS):
Rotating topics addressing Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Risk Management, and Patient Safety events.
Board review:
Weekly, resident-led sessions structured around review of core internal medicine content in preparation for the ABIM board exam.
Health First believes that research is critical to the training and development of residents specializing in Internal Medicine. As a result, research and scholarly activity are embedded throughout our Internal Medicine residency program, ensuring Health First residents become pioneers and innovators in the advancement of clinical practices, technologies, and outcomes within Internal Medicine. Residents are introduced to opportunities for scholarship through case reporting, quality improvement, clinical research, and educational innovation, beginning in PGY1. Each resident is paired with a faculty mentor who provides longitudinal support with project design, execution, and dissemination.
Additionally, residents will regularly present their work through internal academic forums such as journal clubs, grand rounds, case conferences, and QI/PS sessions. The program also encourages and supports presentations at regional and national conferences, including ACP, SHM, and ACGME. Additional avenues for scholarly contribution include publication, educational content development, and participation in hospital committees.