Welcome Letter from Chief Residents
We are thrilled to be the Internal Medicine/Pediatric Chief Residents for the 2025-2026 academic year. Our hope is to enhance the already wonderful qualities of our program. Our co-residents and faculty are what make this program amazing, and we want to continue that legacy. Our program continues to evolve with our residents’ wellness at the forefront.
Firstly, we optimized our integration for incoming residents with the categorical programs by increasing the frequency by which we switch primary assignments early in the PGY-1 academic year. This will allow for early exposure to all of the EMRs, as well as increase camaraderie with the categorical programs.
Next, we achieved a modified X+Y structure sooner than anticipated while rotating on Pediatrics. This is the first step in better approximating our schedules with that of our categorical colleagues and has reduced the maximum Pediatric rotation length for our residents to 4 weeks. Alongside this, we shuffled our schedule structure across the 4 years to offload the challenges of the first 2 years and introduce electives earlier.
Finally, we have reduced the need for continuity clinic half-days to occupy our workday while on inpatient rotations, setting an important boundary for patient safety and resident wellness.
All of these changes have been resident-driven, thought of, and implemented within the time since we have started our residency here just 3 years ago. We can already feel the positive impact of these changes, and seeing these ideas transform into program policies proves the willingness of our faculty to advocate for us.
Alongside these efforts, we continue to refine core elements of our program. Our Clinical Reasoning Curriculum and Med-Peds Journal Clubs remain central to our community and educational mission, offering platforms for residents to lead, teach, and grow within a safe and supportive environment.
Beyond our program itself, we have developed community ties that demonstrate the heart of Med-Peds. We hold a strong partnership with the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix and the Pathway Scholars Program. We match our residents with these students for shadowing and mentorship, demonstrating our commitment to an inclusive environment in the Med-Peds community, a commitment we will not waver from. We have also developed clinical relationships with the Indigenous communities in Arizona. With these rotations, we broaden clinical training for our residents and better serve this patient population we encounter regularly in our health system.
We know those drawn to Med-Peds bring a unique blend of curiosity, compassion, and versatility. Because of this, each day we have the opportunity to learn and grow alongside individuals committed to the health and wellness of all people.
We are honored to serve as Med-Peds Chief Residents for a program that deeply cares for one another. We recruit exceptional people to our program, and exceptional clinicians are made in the training we receive here in Phoenix.
If you like what you have read, we hope you’ll consider our program this application cycle. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our program so we can get connected
We are thrilled to be the Internal Medicine/Pediatric Chief Residents for the 2025-2026 academic year. Our hope is to enhance the already wonderful qualities of our program. Our co-residents and faculty are what make this program amazing, and we want to continue that legacy. Our program continues to evolve with our residents’ wellness at the forefront.
Firstly, we optimized our integration for incoming residents with the categorical programs by increasing the frequency by which we switch primary assignments early in the PGY-1 academic year. This will allow for early exposure to all of the EMRs, as well as increase camaraderie with the categorical programs.
Next, we achieved a modified X+Y structure sooner than anticipated while rotating on Pediatrics. This is the first step in better approximating our schedules with that of our categorical colleagues and has reduced the maximum Pediatric rotation length for our residents to 4 weeks. Alongside this, we shuffled our schedule structure across the 4 years to offload the challenges of the first 2 years and introduce electives earlier.
Finally, we have reduced the need for continuity clinic half-days to occupy our workday while on inpatient rotations, setting an important boundary for patient safety and resident wellness.
All of these changes have been resident-driven, thought of, and implemented within the time since we have started our residency here just 3 years ago. We can already feel the positive impact of these changes, and seeing these ideas transform into program policies proves the willingness of our faculty to advocate for us.
Alongside these efforts, we continue to refine core elements of our program. Our Clinical Reasoning Curriculum and Med-Peds Journal Clubs remain central to our community and educational mission, offering platforms for residents to lead, teach, and grow within a safe and supportive environment.
Beyond our program itself, we have developed community ties that demonstrate the heart of Med-Peds. We hold a strong partnership with the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix and the Pathway Scholars Program. We match our residents with these students for shadowing and mentorship, demonstrating our commitment to an inclusive environment in the Med-Peds community, a commitment we will not waver from. We have also developed clinical relationships with the Indigenous communities in Arizona. With these rotations, we broaden clinical training for our residents and better serve this patient population we encounter regularly in our health system.
We know those drawn to Med-Peds bring a unique blend of curiosity, compassion, and versatility. Because of this, each day we have the opportunity to learn and grow alongside individuals committed to the health and wellness of all people.
We are honored to serve as Med-Peds Chief Residents for a program that deeply cares for one another. We recruit exceptional people to our program, and exceptional clinicians are made in the training we receive here in Phoenix.
If you like what you have read, we hope you’ll consider our program this application cycle. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our program so we can get connected.
-Amanda Chung, MD , Anthony Conforti, MD, Megan Miranda, DO