Residency Wiki

Medical and surgical residency programs in the United States are rigorous training periods that medical school graduates must undertake before becoming fully licensed physicians. These programs are designed to give doctors the practical experience and advanced knowledge they need in their chosen specialty. The completion of a residency program is required for board certification by the American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS). Following a basic internal medicine residency, which lasts 3 years, internists have the option to further specialize in a variety of subspecialties. Most residents opt to apply for these fellowship programs at the start of their second year of their internal medicine residency. As of now, there are 15 subspecialties recognized and certifiable by the American Board of Medical Specialists. Each subspecialty requires its own specific duration of training as detailed below:

Allergy and Immunology

• Duration: 2 years
• Focus: Diagnosis, treatment, and management of allergic disorders and diseases related to the immune system.

Cardiology

• Duration: 3 years
• Focus: Diseases and disorders of the heart and vascular system.

Cardiology/Cardiac Electrophysiology

• Duration: 4 years
• Focus: Heart rhythm disorders and advanced techniques for diagnosing and treating electrical activities of the heart.

Cardiology/Interventional Cardiology

• Duration: 4 years
• Focus: Using catheters for treating structural heart diseases.

Critical Care Medicine

• Duration: 2 years
• Focus: Diagnosis and management of life-threatening conditions, often in an intensive care setting.

Endocrinology

• Duration: 2 years
• Focus: Diseases of the endocrine glands, including diabetes and thyroid disorders.

Geriatric Medicine

• Duration: 2 years
• Focus: Health care of elderly people and the promotion of health in old age.

Gastroenterology

• Duration: 3 years
• Focus: Diseases and disorders of the digestive system.

Gastroenterology/Hepatology

• Duration: 4 years
• Focus: Disorders of the digestive system along with liver diseases.

Hematology

• Duration: 2 years
• Focus: Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs.

Hematology/Oncology

• Duration: 3 years
• Focus: Diseases of the blood and the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer.

Infectious Diseases

• Duration: 2 years
• Focus: Diseases caused by infectious agents, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

Medical Genetics

• Duration: 2-4 years
• Focus: The diagnosis and management of hereditary disorders.

Nephrology

• Duration: 2 years
• Focus: Kidney diseases and the care of those requiring renal replacement therapy.

Oncology

• Duration: 2 years
• Focus: The study and treatment of tumors, both benign and malignant.

Pulmonary

• Duration: 2 years
• Focus: Diseases and disorders of the lungs and respiratory system.

Pulmonary/Critical Care

• Duration: 3 years
• Focus: A combination of pulmonary medicine and critical care.

Rheumatology

• Duration: 2 years
• Focus: Rheumatic diseases, including various types of arthritis and autoimmune diseases.

Sports Medicine

• Duration: 1 year
• Focus: Physical fitness and the treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise.

In conclusion, residency and fellowship programs in the United States provide comprehensive training to prepare physicians for board certification in their chosen specialty or subspecialty. These programs ensure that doctors are well-equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide high-quality care to their patients.