For the remaining two years, each class has between 20 and 25 residents, with a total of approximately 94 residents in the program at any given time. With all of the other residency programs at Loma Linda, however, well over 100 residents are being trained by internal medicine faculty. Dr. Loo believes in keeping the lines of communication open. A special forum convenes regularly where residents can ask the residency faculty and attending physicians candid questions about various aspects of the program. They fill the role of a junior faculty member, teaching and supervising other residents and fulfilling various administrative responsibilities.
Residents can choose to go a number of directions with their training experience.
Some may follow the traditional internal medicine track. At the end of their residency experience, they may opt to enter directly into private practice or apply to a fellowship program in one of the subspecialties. Loma Linda's internal medicine residency program offers fellowships in cardiology, gastroenterology, pulmonary and critical care medicine, and rheumatology. Others might choose the primary care track, which provides a comprehensive training program for those who plan to stay in primary care general internal medicine. While maintaining the traditional core training in internal medicine, this track emphasizes the role of the internist as a member of the interdisciplinary health-care team, working not only with other physicians, but also with allied health professionals such as psychologists, nurses, social workers, dietitians, physical therapists, and occupational therapists.