The Rush educational program is based on the philosophy that clinical skills are acquired through a logical progression of experiences. Initially, residents focus on acquiring data-gathering skills, identifying problems, assessing the severity of illness and mastering procedural skills. Senior residents manage patients independently under faculty supervision in a variety of settings. By supervising and teaching other residents, interns and students, senior residents gain leadership skills.
Residents also discuss office management and managed-care issues.
Residents also attend teaching sessions in the departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. Held daily, these sessions include discussions about general and subspecialty topics, morbidity and mortality conferences, research and basic science conferences, case conferences and journal club meetings. Each resident chooses a faculty member and an upper-level resident as advisers. Easy, open communication between faculty and residents creates a responsive learning environment. The cornerstone of education in the Rush Med-Peds Program is the active role residents play in management.