How long is the Internal medicine residency program? The Internal Medicine Program at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi is a Master of Medicine 4-year program.
How are the exams structured? In addition to multiple choice, short answer questions and OSCEs exams given to the 2nd and 4th year residents, a dissertation is required to graduate the program.
How many residents do you have in each year? The internal medicine program accepts up to six residents in each year
What is the internal medicine schedule like? The resident schedule is designed to accommodate active bedside learning as well as didactic learning. The first year focus on ward months with time dedicated for ICU and accident and Emergency. The second year also focuses on ward months, with dedicated month for psychiatry. The third year residents, in addition to ward months, get to spend significant time in the ICU with dedicated outpatient clinic time. The final year includes a combination of ward as well as outpatient time.
How much leave time do I get? Resident get 23 days of leave a year. However, the residency program enforces no more than 10 days can be taken at a time to ensure continuity of learning and minimize disruption to patient care.
Do I get sick leave? Yes, you are entitled to sick leave. The Chief resident will find coverage for the resident who is sick based on a jeopardy system.
Do I get study leave prior to my exams? You can elect to take study time prior to your exam, but this is subtracted from your annual leave. The residency program expects active learning throughout the year.
Do you use an electronic health system? Currently, all labs and radiology are reported on an EHR system. We are looking to move patient documentation to an HER system in the future.
Where should I live in Nairobi? We recommend that residents find a place close to the hospital to live as this will facilitate easier access to the hospital.
Does the Residency Program have a policy toward discrimination? There is hospital-wide policy against discrimination of any sort. The residency program takes very seriously such issues and will not tolerate any matters related to discrimination or bullying
What is level of supervision of residents? The residency program strongly encourages direct and indirect supervision of residents at all time. Faculty member are always available physically or via phone if any matters need attention.
Will I get regular feedback on my performance? Mid rotation and after completion of each rotation, you should receive feedback from both your senior resident and faculty members. The Program director will meet with every resident three times a year to go over your evaluations and progress. If a resident requires remediation, the program will notify the resident in advance and will work with the resident on a remediation plan.
What are my evaluations based on? We attempt to evaluate 6 core competencies for each resident. The competencies include Medical Knowledge, Practice-Based Learning and Improvement, Patient care and Procedural skills, System-Based Practices, Interpersonal and Communication Skills and Professionalism. These 6 core competencies mirror ACGME practices.
Is it easy to find a mentor for my dissertation? The Department of Medicine faculty are more than willing to assist and guide residents with their research question as well as methods of data collection, results and discussions. We have a full time biostatistician who help residents with statistical analysis of their projects. The Chair of Medicine play an active role guiding residents with their dissertation projects.
What other research opportunities are present? During your time at the hospital, you will encounter various disease presentations and process, some of which would make good case reports and research abstracts. We expect our residents to have a keen eye and mind to publish material. Residents, if time permits, can work with faculty members on their research projects as well. Resident are encouraged to seek guidance from faculty members and it is required to include a faculty member in your projects. HIPAA remains very important in any research/publication process and has to be taken seriously at all times.
What does JCI stand for and mean for me? Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, is accredited by the Joint Commission International which works to improve patient safety and quality of health care in the international community. As a resident in internal medicine, you learn to use best practices to ensure the best care is provided to your patients.
Do residents have work rooms when on ward rotations? The program greatly values the contribution of residents in taking care of patients. As such, 2 work rooms on the first floor have been assigned to medical residents to use for teaching and learning purposes as well as documentation of patient notes.
Is mentorship available? The program encourages mentors to help guide residents through their residency. Mentors also provide use feedback and constructive criticism to help the residents develop and grow academically.
Are meals provided to residents ? Residents on-call are provided meals during their call hours. If a resident chooses, they are more than welcome to bring their own food. The workrooms are equipped with a fridge and microwave to store and reheat meals. Meals are also provided to residents during work hours at the cafeteria as a subsidized cost.
Are residents supported to attend conferences and meetings? The Department of Medicine, based on available monies, makes every attempt to help sponsor residents to attend conferences and meetings. Residents might be required to contribute to their registration fees, travel and accommodation.
