Electives

Electives provide open time for residents to pursue individual areas of interest. The most common elective involves work with a preceptor in a given field. Other formats such as independent study or a research project require prior approval from the residency director and chief residents. During these blocks, residents spend about 20 hours per week fulfilling board requirements or elective training; they spend four half-days a week at the resident's family medicine office. During PGY-2 and PGY-3 year ambulatory blocks, practice call (calls taken from home) averages slightly more than once a week. Residents are scheduled for “sick call” to assure back up on inpatient services when a colleague may be too ill to work.
“Off-site” electives are an option during PGY-2 and PGY-3 years. This time should be used to immerse the resident in an area of learning not available in Rochester.
Residents may construct an elective to meet a specific area of interest or may choose from a number of templated electives.
Examples of templated electives:
- Addiction Medicine
- Adolescent Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Infectious disease
- Integrative Medicine
- Lactation
- Palliative care