The clinical experience is supplemented by a rigorous didactic educational program. Departmental conferences focus on topics in primary care of general interest to the residents and attending physicians. Case conferences conducted by nursing, social service and medical personnel provide valuable experience in the interdisciplinary approach to patient care. A series of didactic weekly seminars for residents on the principles of clinical practice have a medical focus. The seminars consider primary care topics chosen by residents and primary care faculty led by attending physicians from the St. Vincent's staff or other institutions. They reflect both current trends in primary practice and the specific interests of the resident staff. Weekly presentations focus on selected entities encountered in clinic or home visits. The primary care journal club provides a forum for discussion on published studies of interest to primary care practitioners and investigators as well as experience in the critical evaluation of medical literature. In addition, each primary care resident is expected to advise, conduct and complete an original project in an area of interest. The primary goal is to encourage the creative process of original thought while the resident grapples with questions of community health and the quality of patient care.

The inpatient clinical experience is fully integrated with that of the general medicine residents. However, special emphasis is given to areas, which will be of greater relevance to a primary care internist.

The departments of medicine and community medicine evaluate candidates by review of their medical school record, academic performance, letters of recommendation and impressions determined at a personal interview by the faculty. All applications are reviewed by the chairmen of medicine and community medicine and the program director. Selection of residents is conducted via the national Resident Matching Program.