Program Overview

Diverse Learning:

Your teaching faculty is composed of many disciplines besides Family Medicine physicians, including community physicians in most of the specialties, and other health care professionals. Residents enjoy a great deal of individual attention.

Unopposed Program:

Since we are the only program in Cheyenne, you do not have to compete with any other residents in any other specialty program. In fact residents are often on a first name basis with many of the Community Physicians.

Family Medicine:

This is the core of our training program. You will receive experience in the Family Medicine Center, an in-patient service at the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, long-term care facilities, and patient home visits. You will provide care to clinic patients admitted to the hospital and patients who have no physician when we take unassigned backup. Your experiences will include facets from each of the specialties discussed below. Our program's full-time faculty members provide most of the teaching support, but family physicians in private also participate. For a yearly breakdown of the rotations, see the Curriculum page.

Adult Medicine

Eight and half months of internal medicine experience is required through the three years of training. Educational experiences occur at the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, Veteran's Administration Medical Center and local physicians' offices. Cases range from general medical problems to critical care. Residents have the opportunity to work with subspecialists in the fields of rheumatology, pulmonology, neurology, nephrology, hematology and oncology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, cardiology, and allergy and immunology.

Care of Women

Four months of obstetrical experience are required during the three years under the supervision of the program faculty and community physicians. Experience in labor management and delivery including vacuum extraction, forceps and operative obstetrics. During this time, residents will also participate in gynecologic surgeries. Residents who desire advanced training have the opportunity for additional experience in high risk and operative obstetrics. All residents will manage prenatal patients in the Family Medicine Center and follow them through delivery and postpartum care. Additionally, one month of office gynecology is required. During this time, residents have the opportunity to become proficient in colposcopy.

Care of Infants, Children and Adolescents

Residents have three months of required pediatric experience. First-year residents spend one month in Denver, Colo., doing in-patient pediatrics. Second-year residents return to Denver for one month of neonatology and pediatric emergency room. The additional month of pediatric experience occurs with local physicians. Additional training in neonatology takes place during the required obstetrical rotations.

Care of the Surgical Patient

Residents have two required months of general surgery plus additional rotations in ENT, orthopedics, ophthalmology and urology. All residents will become proficient in managing pre- and post-operative patients along with developing strong surgical assist skills.

Sports Medicine Rotation

This rotation is designed to give you the skills for providing musculoskeletal care in a rural setting. Working in a rural community is a challenge because you will not necessarily have immediate access to resources such as physical therapists and orthopedic surgeons. This means you will need strong musculoskeletal exam skills and a basic knowledge of rehabilitation techniques. You will also need to know where to find information on unusual injuries and treatment. This rotation will lay the groundwork for learning these areas. The emphasis of this rotation is hands-on experience. Residents rotate through two sports medicine clinics staffed by primary care sports medicine doctors. Physical therapists are on site and actively involved in teaching. Residents also participate in side-line coverage at local high schools, local rodeos, and a semi-professional football team.

Electives

Electives during your second and third years allow you to match the curriculum and experiences with you practice interests/goals. Common electives include gastroenterology, sports medicine, anesthesiology, preventive medicine/wellness, infectious disease, allergy, endocrinology, and out-patient procedures. Away electives allows residents to pursue individual interests, including international health.

Research

While research is not required, residents are encouraged to pursue research during their training. Residents can assist with sports medicine projects currently underway or they can develop their own project. Current projects include asthma in elite athletes, changes of blood pressure during exercise, and studying the musculoskeletal manifestations of Marfan's syndrome.

Last Updated on 8/18/2009 9:53:10 AM