Internal Medicine Residency Program - Riyadh | King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre

Internal Medicine Residency Program - Riyadh

Welcome Message

Welcome to the Residency Program in Internal Medicine at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC)

At KFSH&RC, we are committed to fostering the next generation of exceptional physicians in internal medicine. Our residency program offers a comprehensive and immersive experience designed to equip residents with the knowledge, skills, and clinical acumen needed to excel in their medical careers.

As one of the leading healthcare institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KFSH&RC provides an unparalleled learning environment with access to state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge research opportunities, and a diverse patient population. Our dedicated faculty members are renowned experts in their fields, committed to mentorship, education, and the advancement of medical knowledge.

Throughout the duration of our residency program, residents will engage in a rigorous curriculum that encompasses both didactic learning and hands-on clinical experience. From outpatient clinics to inpatient rotations, residents will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced physicians, gaining exposure to a wide range of medical specialties and subspecialties.

We believe in a holistic approach to medical education, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and lifelong learning. Our residents are encouraged to actively participate in research, quality improvement initiatives, and community outreach programs, empowering them to make meaningful contributions to the field of medicine.

Whether your career aspirations lie in primary care, hospital medicine, or subspecialty practice, the residency program at KFSH&RC will provide you with the foundation and support needed to achieve your goals. We invite you to explore our website further to learn more about our program, current residents, and the opportunities that await you at KFSH&RC.

Thank you for considering our residency program. We look forward to welcoming you to our community of dedicated healthcare professionals.

Sincerely,

Khaled Alqarni, MD
Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency Program

Program Mission

The internal medicine residency program at KFSHRC is dedicated to the development of empathetic and proficient physicians who demonstrate exceptional competence in providing patient-centered care. Our commitment extends to the establishment of an enriching educational setting conducive to fostering intellectual inquisitiveness, clinical eminence, and unwavering professional ethics. Through a comprehensive curriculum complemented by hands-on experiences, our primary objective is to cultivate physicians adept at diagnosing and managing a broad spectrum of medical conditions, encompassing even rare and complex cases. Our program endeavors to produce graduates poised to assume leadership roles within their communities, characterized by a steadfast dedication to lifelong learning, scholarly pursuit, and fervent advocacy for the health and welfare of their patients.

The KFSH&RC experience

At KFSH&RC, the experience is regarded as distinct by both past graduates and current trainees. They unanimously attest that the hospital offers a unique environment unparalleled by others in the vicinity. Despite occasional challenges, navigating and learning from these obstacles is viewed as essential for career advancement.

Staff Composition:

Both outpatient and inpatient services at KFSH&RC are delivered by a diverse team, including staff consultants, associate consultants, assistant physicians, fellows, and residents.

Training and Education:

The Internal Medicine program at KFSH&RC is celebrated for its immersive training environment, aimed at instilling aspiring physicians with the essential skills for achieving professional excellence. Furthermore, our hospital presents unique fellowship prospects post-residency in fields including allergy and immunology, interventional nephrology, and endocrine oncology.

Participating in these services during residency presents a valuable opportunity for growth and experience.

Research Endeavors:

The Department of Medicine at KFSH&RC focuses on conducting research in various clinically relevant areas to address the healthcare needs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Collaborating with the Research Centre extends to basic medical research initiatives. Additionally, through collaboration with the Research Center and Alfaisal University, academic and training affairs offer the KFSHRC Aspiring Research Program (KARP) tailored for KFSHRC trainees. This program's curriculum is designed to enhance their abilities in every step of the clinical research process, including writing grant proposals, launching new projects, analyzing data, and presenting results.

Emphasis on Quality:

Quality patient care at KFSH&RC is closely tied to the teaching activities and research pursuits of the faculty. A strong Residency Training Program is seen as pivotal in maintaining high standards of patient care.

Regulatory Compliance:

The Residency Training Program at KFSH&RC adheres strictly to the regulations and requirements outlined by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS). The training duration spans 4 years, during which trainees rotate through various specialties within the realm of Medicine. Upon completion, participants are awarded a certificate enabling them to pursue fellowship programs.

Internal Medicine Residency Curriculum

Our curriculum is meticulously designed to provide intensive clinical training within our hospital, enabling residents to progress through rotations while gaining increasing clinical responsibility, leadership experience, and teaching opportunities.

First Year: Building a Strong Foundation
- Focus: Inpatient care and workflow
- Rotations: General Medicine, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Pulmonary Medicine, Cardiology, Critical Care
- Key Features: Residents spend the majority of their time in the wards, becoming proficient in clinical duties and processes.

Second Year: Sharpening Skills
- Focus: Diagnostic, treatment, teaching, and care coordination skills
- Rotations: Inpatient and outpatient services covering hematology, oncology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, ER consult, Neurology, General Medicine, Critical Care, and Elective.
- Key Features: Residents rotate in almost all specialties, expanding their exposure to diverse medical settings.

Third and Fourth Year: Advancing to Independence
- Focus: Refining clinical acumen and becoming independent practitioners
- Key Features:
- Increased Complexity: Tackling more complex cases to apply knowledge and decision-making skills.
- Expanded Responsibilities: Taking on greater autonomy in patient care and overseeing junior residents.
- Advanced Rotations: Delving deeper into specific areas of internal medicine.
- Teaching Opportunities: Playing an active role in mentoring and guiding junior residents.

Patient population

Experience the unparalleled diversity of medical cases at KFSH&RC, where we are renowned as a leading center for transplant and oncology in the region. During your training, you will encounter a vast array of intriguing and challenging cases, from renal, liver, lung, and heart transplants to advanced heart failure, immunodeficiencies, and CAR T-cell therapy. Our patient population spans the spectrum of complexity, including those receiving dialysis, undergoing bone marrow transplants, and seeking treatment for autoimmune conditions. By exposing you to both common diseases in complex patients and cutting-edge therapies, we aim to bolster your confidence and expertise, preparing you to excel in the dynamic field of medicine.

RRT and CODE GREEN

As an Internal medicine resident in KFSH&RC, you will be leading the Rapid Response Team (RRT) and CODE TEAM. RRT is a team that is in place to assure that sick patients are addressed promptly. It is activated once the patient meets one of its criteria. CODE GREEN is activated once a patient has cardiopulmonary arrest.

Being the first responder and managing patients in these acute/ critical settings is all part of the KFSH&RC experience, where you'll learn to handle emergencies and care for a diverse range of patients.

KACOLD on-call

Working in King Abdullah Centre for Oncology and Liver Disease (KACOLD) is a defining aspect of your experience at KFSH&RC. This specialized center caters to transplant, hematology, and oncology patients, offering a unique and impactful environment for learning. During your second year, you'll take on the responsibility of covering on-calls at KACOLD, a challenging yet highly rewarding experience that is emblematic of the KFSH&RC journey. Successfully navigating these responsibilities helps shape senior residents, preparing them for the complexities of patient care and leadership roles in the field of medicine.

Quality Improvement and Patient Safety

The KFSH&RC Internal Medicine Residency Program prioritizes quality improvement and patient safety, exceeding CBAHI standards. Our comprehensive program equips residents with the necessary skills to excel in these crucial areas.
Residents actively participate in quality improvement projects, led by second-year residents. This not only provides valuable hands-on experience but also fosters leadership and communication skills through resident-led educational conferences on high-value care and patient safety.
All residents gain practical experience by participating in a quality improvement project at our teaching hospitals. The program boasts award-winning projects recognized at various levels. Additionally, residents gain valuable insights into system-based healthcare through attendance at hospital committees focused on patient safety, quality review, and patient flow.
For residents with a strong interest in quality improvement, a dedicated elective month allows them to delve deeper through a focused QI project. This program fosters not only exceptional clinical skills but also future leaders in improving healthcare delivery.

Program Leadership

Education

In our program, we provide residents with a comprehensive training experience through various educational components. This includes dedicated lectures, grand rounds, case presentations, morning meetings, journal clubs, M&M conferences, clinical rotations, simulation center training for procedures, board reviews, OSCEs, research opportunities, and other relevant activities. These components are carefully structured to equip residents with the knowledge and skills necessary for independent practice in Internal Medicine.

Academic Activities:

• Morning Report (7:30-8:30 a.m.):

The cornerstone of our educational program is the daily morning meeting, a mandatory attendance for all residents. It is imperative that the on-call team arrives at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting to adequately prepare their cases. Junior residents assigned to the ER on-call duty are instructed to prepare electronic presentations for their cases. This practice facilitates constructive discussion between junior and senior physicians, fostering a collaborative and evidence-based learning environment.

• Medical grand round (Each Tuesday 7:30-8:30 a.m.):

This activity is a rigorous scientific endeavor wherein experts from specific subspecialties within and outside the Department of Medicine are invited to present the latest data in their field. These presentations often hold significant implications for patient care, ensuring that our residents remain abreast of the most current advancements and practices in medicine.

• Case Presentation (Each Thursday from 12:00 to 13:00.):

It is a weekly scientific meeting where scientific discussion carries for an interesting clinical condition as it might be reported for the presence of unusual presentation or thing newly reported in the field of medicine.

• Chairman Round (Each Monday from 12:00 to 12:30):

Quality is paramount in medical practice, which is why we hold weekly sessions focused on evaluating documentation and refining its style. Our goal is continual improvement, as the quality of documentation directly impacts the quality of patient care.

• Tuesday Half-Day Academic Activity (12:00 – 5:00 p.m.):

Resident is released officially at 12:00 p.m. from the service provided that the resident should endorse the patients to the senior physician on duty (i.e. fellows, assistants, consultants) and document that in the chart.
It is a weekly session runs in interactive scientific way of discussion presence of senior consultant presenting different topics of a common yield practice and at the same time preparing for exam purposes as well.
It may involve POCUS sessions, Jeopardy, Interactive days, simulation center classes, MOCK exams, reviewing MCQs, topics of clinical approaches, physical examination or usage of different clinical procedures skills.

Attendance of Educational Activities:

As per the academic attendance promotion requirement set by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS), a borderline pass is typically considered when attendance falls between 60% and 69.4%. A clear pass is achieved when attendance exceeds 70%. However, aiming for excellence, at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC), we advocate for an attendance rate of over 80%.

Courses:

Internal Medicine Board Review Course:

This internal Medicine Course is being held by Medical Residency Training Program in preparation for the Saudi Board Part II Written and End of Year Examination.
More than 500 MCQ's, projected materials and mock exams are being provided by various dedicated speakers of different sub-specialties. Educational materials and other handouts are being distributed among candidates to fully cater to their exam preparations.
Over years, our review course is not only recognized in Saudi Arabia but other Arab and Gulf Countries. The overwhelming and outstanding evaluations garnered from the registrants' measure the success of this course.

The organizing Committee assesses its gained experiences to continue to render effective and quality review courses. With these great efforts, we are confident that the candidates would truly benefit from this course and thus will surely give them remarkable passing examination rates, making us a part of their success.

Goals and Objectives:
To review principles of each Sub-specialty that are related to internal medicine practice in order to improve knowledge and help residents to pass the final board exam.

Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE):

This OSCE Course is being held by Medical Residency Training Program in preparation for the Saudi Board Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
Residents are being trained as if they are in the actual examination environment. The course will provide the residents with the knowledge and materials in order to prepare them for their OSCE.
The organizing Committee assesses its gained experiences to continue to render effective and quality review courses. With these great efforts, we are confident that the candidates would truly benefit from this course and thus will surely give them remarkable passing examination rates, making us a part of their success.

Goals and Objectives:

To review principles of each Sub-specialty that are related to internal medicine practice in order to improve knowledge and help residents to pass their OSCE.

Internal Medicine Residents Bootcamp:

The aim and focus of this crash course is to bridge the gap between medical school and the fast paced world of residency. Internal Medicine Bootcamp is a valuable investment in the success of our residents. Emphasizing practical skills, knowledge enhancement, and resilience building. Participation in this Bootcamp equips residents with the necessary tools to navigate the challenges of residency training with confidence and proficiency.

Research:

Research is a crucial component of our Internal Medicine program, as it fulfills requirements for resident qualification and engages trainees in scientific evidence relevant to patient care.
Residents have the opportunity to undertake elective rotations in research fields, where they contribute to ongoing studies. Upon finalizing their research results, residents can participate in one of three prestigious scientific competitions:

• Annual Medical Trainee (AMTARD)
• Medicine Research Day
• ATA Research Day.

Annual Recognition Day:

During the Department of Medicine's annual recognition day, we honor the outstanding residents of the year, including those who have excelled in research endeavors.