Insights on Residency Training

As a new contributor to Journal Watch, I wanted to introduce myself prior to imparting my thoughts upon the masses. In short, I am in my third, and final, year of Family Medicine residency at John Peter Smith Hospital (JPS) in Fort Worth, Texas, and I am planning on pursuing a fellowship in Sports Medicine when this year is over. In addition to my duties as an upper-level resident, I am also serving as Chief Resident for our program.

JPS is the largest Family Medicine residency in the country with an annual intern class of 22 residents. It operates unopposed in the only community hospital in Tarrant County; JPS is also the only Level 1 trauma center between Dallas and Lubbock. We pride ourselves on an intense medicine curriculum, a wealth of procedural training across specialties, and graduating doctors with abilities to serve in any rural area – domestic or foreign – with a complete skill set.

I have been a loyal Journal Watch subscriber and reader since I began training. So when the opportunity arose to contribute, I had to accept. My vision for this blog is to use it as a platform to discuss relevant topics as they apply to a resident’s training, as well as to the training of a complete family physician. I feel fortunate to be in a position where I can take Journal Watch to the front lines of medicine and primary care to help make a difference. And it is not just me. I have 70 fellow residents that are willing to help me with this project. I have challenged them to become subscribers, read the articles, and give me feedback as to which articles they perceive as “practice changers,”  which articles they use in the care of their patients, and which articles they believe retrospectively might have benefited a patient. I want this column to be proof that “evidenced-based medicine” is being practiced by residency programs across the country and that the care of our patients is being elevated.

In effect, this blog will be Journal Watch “in action.”

I caution you that I am not a professional blogger, but rather just a resident who wants to take my knowledge and abilities to the next level. I want to hear your feedback if I say something you agree or disagree with. I want to hear, and share, your ideas and stories. I want to hear how you implemented Journal Watch into your practice of medicine. I want to know if your experience in Anywhere, USA, is the same experience we are having here in Cowtown, Texas. I want you to make me a better physician. And, in return, I think we will be making better physicians out of others as well.

It’s time to take JW to the wards, to the ER, to the ICU, and beyond. Medicine is dynamic, so let’s make JW the same.

Hope you enjoy.