Residency Electives

Choose from a variety of elective opportunities to create your own schedule and pursue your interests and educational needs.  Some local options include:

Residents also have the opportunity to pursue electives at UVM.  Vacation is allowed on these rotations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Electives

What sort of elective opportunities will I have?

There is one elective month in the first year, two in the second year and three in the third year in which you may create your own schedule to pursue your interests and educational needs. Electives are available in a variety of subspecialty areas of medicine. Schedules are flexible and resident-directed based on educational needs.

Are there opportunities for international health rotations?

Residents can do international electives. Rotations need to further residents training in knowledge and skill areas and in settings unavailable at the UVM Health Network.

Longitudinal curriculums throughout all three years provide extensive training in:

• Behavioral Science
• Community Medicine
• Cultural Competency
• Health Systems Management
• Maternal-child Health
• Pharmacy
• Evidence-based medicine
• One 4 hour session is dedicated to family medicine educational topics each week. 
  Time is given during most outpatient rotations where the resident focuses on Community Assessment and Quality Improvement Projects in the Patient Center Medical Home that incorporate:
  •      The best evidence
    •      Interprofessional education and team-building
•      Health outcomes improvement
•      Community medicine

Residents are expected to complete two projects over three years. 

Behavioral Medicine

The Behavioral Medicine/Primary Care Psychiatry portion of the Family Medicine Residency Program provides both didactic and hands-on experience with psychiatric aspects of family medicine.

Regular educational sessions focus on:

•     Evaluation and treatment of psychiatric symptoms and illness
•     Evaluation of suicide risk
•     Substance abuse
•     Psychiatric emergencies in inpatient medicine
•     Rational pharmacotherapy
•     Experiences rotating at a variety of community behavioral care centers
•     Participation in Balint Groups for reflection on the emotional aspects of the practice of family medicine

Additional resources available at UVM Health Network-CVPH Family Medicine Center:

•  
•     Behavioral therapists

Community Medicine

Longitudinal curriculum throughout three years with dedicated time during outpatient rotations for experiences and assignments that educate residents about the community and teach them to understand and advocate for the needs of the underserved.  Learn how to work with partners serving our continuity clinic population and the medical home team to promote education and healthy living.