An attempt is made to match resident interests in the assignment of these rotations. Required didactics include seminars, Departmental Lecture Series , resident case conferences, and monthly seminars with other Houston-area residents. Optional didactic experiences include Departmental research presentations, journal clubs, and various seminars. In order to assist the resident in deriving maximum benefit from the diversity of experiences offered, each resident is assigned a faculty mentor who acts as advisor and advocate throughout the training year. The mentor has three important roles, to serve as the overall supervisor of the resident's training, to function as the conduit for the evaluation process and liaison with the training committee, and to provide the first line mechanism for resolving any difficulties the resident may experience in the training program.
All residents have access to personal computers for word processing and electronic mail.
Statistical analysis software packages also are accessible. Faculty with expertise in experimental design and statistical analysis are available for consultation, and all residents are required to participate in ongoing research programs as part of both inpatient and outpatient rotations. As a result of research participation during the residency, many residents and faculty have co-authored presentations and publications of collaborative projects. During the residency year, approximately eight joint training experiences between our residents and residents from the other programs are offered. This amount of collaborative training and the extent of cooperation among the programs is unique.