Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center Internal Medicine Residency Program

SNVMC’s residency program will provide unparalleled training for your medical career, offering hands-on experience with guidance and support from dedicated professionals skilled in their respective specialties. You will experience close patient-physician relationships, broad case exposure, and real impact on regional health. With a wealth of resources, our program will enable you to develop excellent clinical skills while attaining long-term career goals.

Sentara’s executive leadership team demonstrates unwavering commitment to medical education. Executive leadership, including the CMO and myself actively engages with the Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC) to ensure alignment with ACGME standards, providing substantial resources such as funding, dedicated faculty time, and advanced facilities to foster a high-quality learning environment. This strategic oversight prioritizes resident well-being and professional development, exemplified by comprehensive health plans and wellness programs, positioning Sentara as a leader in cultivating the next generation of physicians.

The curriculum is structured to train residents in the ACGME's six core competencies, which include:

1. Patient Care: Residents will develop the ability to provide compassionate, appropriate, and effective care for the treatment of health issues and the promotion of overall well-being.
2. Medical Knowledge: Residents will acquire a strong foundation in the established and evolving biomedical, clinical, epidemiological, and social-behavioral sciences, as well as the application of this knowledge to patient care.
3. Practice-Based Learning and Improvement: Residents will develop the skills necessary for self-assessment, lifelong learning, and continuous improvement of their practice, incorporating evidence-based medicine and critical evaluation of their patient care practices.
4. Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Residents will refine their ability to effectively communicate with patients, families, and colleagues, fostering strong therapeutic relationships and efficient collaboration within the healthcare team.
5. Professionalism: Residents will commit to the highest ethical principles and professional conduct, demonstrating responsibility, accountability, and respect for patients, families, and colleagues.
6. Systems-Based Practice: Residents will understand and navigate complex healthcare systems, advocating for quality patient care, and working collaboratively to optimize the coordination of care and resources.

At Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, our inpatient and ambulatory training programs emphasize the central role of education across all clinical experiences. Over the course of three years, residents will be exposed to the full spectrum of acute and chronic illnesses affecting the diverse communities we serve in Northern Virginia, including those seen in a busy community hospital and a growing regional referral center.

Our program is built on a strong commitment to continuity education, preparing residents for success in their future practice. This dedication to lifelong learning ensures our residents develop the knowledge, skills, and adaptability needed to excel in a wide variety of clinical settings and to meet the evolving demands of modern medicine. By fostering a supportive environment and a culture of continuous improvement, we aim to train compassionate, competent, and well-rounded physicians who will make a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients and the health of the communities they serve.

Subspecialties and other internal medicine related departments

1. ICU
2. Emergency Medicine
3. Gastroenterology
4. Endocrinology
5. Cardiology
6. Neurology
7. HPM/Geriatrics
8. Nephrology
9. Pulmonology
10. Hematology
11. Oncology
12. Infectious Diseases

Resident education is the primary focus of our Internal Medicine Residency. Each rotation provides unique opportunities for residents to learn the fundamentals of medicine.

Our schedule structure of 4 + 1 allows for consistent curriculum on our Ambulatory blocks as well as during in-patient months. Our residents do 4 weeks of inpatient care (ward rotations or critical care) followed by 1 week in their ambulatory clinic, and 2 weeks on an elective or vacation.

Our residents benefit from a structured and continuous didactic curriculum designed to reinforce clinical knowledge and prepare them for independent practice. Didactic education is delivered daily, Monday through Thursday, at 12:00 PM, ensuring consistent protected time for learning. Sessions are held in person, though some may be offered virtually via Teams or Zoom for added flexibility. This schedule provides stronger continuity of education and ensures our residents receive comprehensive coverage of core internal medicine topics.

Topics are selected to address both foundational and advanced clinical concepts. Examples include:

• Acid–base disorders
• Update on COPD
• Asthma and COPD
• Interstitial lung disease
• Sedation in the intensive care unit
• Shock
• Pulmonary embolism

In addition to the daily didactic curriculum, residents participate in a variety of special sessions and conferences designed to enhance their professional and academic growth.

Educational Opportunity

• Tumor board - presented by NSGY / radiology / pathology faculty
• Grand rounds - presented by guest speaker
• Business of Medicine Lectures - presented by guest speaker

These supplemental opportunities allow residents to engage with subspecialists, explore the business side of medicine, and gain exposure to multidisciplinary perspectives that broaden their training.