Didactics and Resident Conferences

The Internal Medicine Residency Didactics and Conferences prepare residents to become clinically skilled, evidence-based physicians through structured teaching, case-based learning, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The program offers a rich academic environment built on mentorship, teamwork, and hands-on education. Residents participate in comprehensive didactic sessions, Morning Reports, Journal Clubs, and Grand Rounds that build confidence, sharpen clinical judgment, and encourage lifelong learning. Each component of the curriculum is designed to strengthen core competencies and improve patient outcomes in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Weekly Protected Didactic Sessions That Build Clinical Excellence

Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, our residents participate in protected Noon Conferences led by experienced hospitalists and subspecialty faculty. These sessions cover essential topics across Internal Medicine, including cardiology, endocrinology, nephrology, infectious disease, and more. Residents also work through structured board-style questions sourced from MKSAP and AMBOSS, reinforcing critical knowledge and exam performance.

Highlights:

  • Three weekly Noon Conferences with protected time.
  • Interactive Q&A using MKSAP and AMBOSS questions.
  • Faculty-led sessions covering both core and subspecialty topics.
  • Dedicated time for applied clinical reasoning and discussion.

These sessions ensure that each resident gains the tools needed to excel in patient care, research, and board certification.

Grand Rounds: Encouraging Scholarship and Clinical Leadership

Each PGY-3 resident presents one Grand Rounds annually, allowing them to showcase their expertise and teaching skills. Topics often include new clinical guidelines, debates in Internal Medicine, or cutting-edge therapies. These presentations highlight the program’s emphasis on academic medicine, research literacy, and effective communication.

Residents receive mentorship throughout the process, learning how to translate complex evidence into clear, educational presentations that engage peers and faculty alike.

Training Physicians Who Lead with Knowledge and Compassion

Through structured didactics, active participation, and evidence-based learning, our residents graduate ready to lead in diverse healthcare environments. Each educational activity—whether in a classroom, clinic, or conference—builds the clinical judgment, cultural competence, and communication skills essential for success as an internist.

Residents trained at Charles R. Drew University emerge not only as exceptional clinicians but as leaders and advocates dedicated to serving Los Angeles’s most diverse and underserved communities.

Quicklinks

Instagram
Charles Drew University Internal Medicine Residency
Professor teaching in front of a class

Morning Report and Morbidity & Mortality Conferences That Strengthen Clinical Reasoning

Morning Reports and M&M Conferences are held weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Junior and senior residents present clinical cases in collaboration, guided by attending physicians who emphasize diagnostic reasoning, systems thinking, and reflective practice.

Each PGY-2 resident is required to lead a Morbidity and Mortality Conference, a cornerstone of CDU’s quality-improvement culture. These sessions focus on real cases to identify opportunities for improvement in patient safety and care delivery.

Purpose of M&M Conferences:

  • Promote Quality Improvement (QI) and Patient Safety.
  • Encourage open, non-punitive discussion of medical errors.
  • Reinforce professionalism, ethical integrity, and transparency.
  • Teach ACGME Core Competencies, including systems-based and practice-based learning.

Through these discussions, residents cultivate accountability and a deeper understanding of how system-level improvements can enhance outcomes for underserved populations.

Doctor at the blackboard

Journal Club: Building Critical Appraisal and Evidence-Based Practice

The Journal Club is a core component of our academic curriculum. During designated academic days, residents lead discussions on landmark and contemporary studies that shape Internal Medicine practice. These sessions strengthen critical thinking, statistical literacy, and familiarity with medical literature.

Focus Areas:

  • Evaluating study design and methodology.
  • Interpreting clinical outcomes and statistical significance.
  • Applying evidence-based findings to real-world patient care.
  • Encouraging open dialogue and peer-to-peer learning.

By participating in Journal Club, residents refine their analytical mindset and build confidence in making evidence-driven clinical decisions.

Johns Hopkins PEAC Modules: Enhancing Outpatient Education

We are proud to integrate the Johns Hopkins Physician Education and Assessment Center (PEAC) modules into our outpatient curriculum. These modules strengthen resident learning through interactive, case-based education that simulates real-world decision-making.

Curriculum Highlights:

  • Covers cardiology, endocrinology, infectious disease, nephrology, and more.
  • Case scenarios are designed around realistic patient encounters.
  • Evidence-based, peer-reviewed content authored by Johns Hopkins faculty.
  • Built-in quizzes, self-assessments, and interactive case reviews.

This blended learning model reinforces knowledge retention and improves confidence in outpatient management.

Black doctor in front of class

Questions? Contact Us.

Binay Eapen
Binay Eapen, MD, FACP
Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency Program
LeeTanya-Marion-Murray
LeeTanya Marion-Murray
Program Administrator
Internal Medicine Residency