Welcome to the Brown University Internal Medicine Programs in Providence, RI

Our programs are headquartered at Rhode Island Hospital with core hospital rotations also at The Miriam Hospital and the Providence VA Medical Center. Our programs include Categorical, Primary Care (GIM), and Preliminary, and offer residency training across a broad variety of clinical disciplines. Our residents benefit froma diverse patient population, a complementary variety of clinical locations, and a talented cohort of faculty educators and researchers within the Warren Alpert Medical School.

Our Mission Statement

The Brown University Internal Medicine Program seeks to promote the development of the consummate internist – doctors who practice with a high level of compassion, knowledge, skills, and professionalism. Our residents and faculty reflect a broad diversity of backgrounds and experiences unified by a dedication to our profession. We aim to give residents the opportunities, tools, and guidance to practice patient-centered care in a variety of environments. Our graduates will hold the care of their patients as their primary goal, accomplished through lifelong learning, scholarship, and education. We achieve this goal through mentorship, experiential learning, and by upholding high ethical standards. Our graduates are prepared for future growth as generalists and subspecialists, practitioners, and investigators, held together by the common bond of dedication to their patients and to the community of medicine. Collaboration, teamwork, and devotion to self and others are our core values.

What's New!

Department of Medicine Expands Bias Reduction Program
June 30, 2020 marked the completion of the study component of the BRIM (Bias Reduction in Internal Medicine) project. This two-year program focused on faculty development efforts throughout the entire Department of Medicine addressing identification of implicit bias and mitigation techniques. Such techniques will be used by our faculty to assure and more inclusive, and welcoming environment for clinical education and research. Simultaneously, twelve Alpert Medical School Internal Medicine faculty members have been trained as workshop leaders and will present the workshops to all Internal Medicine residents beginning November 2020. Participation in the project is an important element in our department's efforts to maintain and enhance a just learning environment for everyone.
Residency Research
In a recent study conducted by PGY2 Resident Michael Liu, MD and other resident researchers, coordinated by Resident Research Director Philip Chan, MD, research productivity by Brown Internal Medicine residents was demonstrated to grow by a more than 6-fold increase in both manuscript publication as well as national conference presentation over the 5 year period from 2015-2019. The increase was attributed to the implementation of a new research curriculum and intern research retreat in 2016, providing our residents with skills and guidance towards successful scholarly pursuits and mentorship.
New Chief Residents AY 2021-2022 Named
Brown IM Program Leaders announced the new Chief Residents selected for the Academic Year 2021-2022:

Amy Mathew, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin

Jackie McKenna, MD
Stony Brook University

Gerry Ovide, MD
East Virginia Medical School

Christopher Ward, MD
Monash University, Australia

Daniel Yee, MD
New York Medical College
COVID Pandemic Response Protocol
In response to the Spring 2020 COVID Pandemic, the Brown Internal Medicine Residency Program followed a Pandemic Response Protocol from April through June 2020. In this protocol, educational conferences were suspended during April and May. Elective Rotations were cancelled, and Continuity Clinic experiences were converted to a Telemedicine Format. The entire residency program was converted to a “platoon” model of 7 days “in”/7 days “out”, in which half of all of our residents were assigned to General Medical Wards, COVID Units and Critical Care Units at any given time. The other half of our resident population conducted telemedicine visits with continuity clinic patients and was able to rest and mitigate coronavirus exposure and risk. For this three-month period, our residents and faculty performed in a typically exemplary manner. Throughout the Pandemic Response Protocol, residency leadership conducted daily communication updates with residents and faculty and weekly housestaff meetings were held to assure safety, situational awareness, and plan for resumption of normal operations, which occurred on July 1, 2020. While disruptive, this period provided valuable and tangible experience in teamwork, flexibility, and resilience. Updated Rhode Island Statewide COVID data may be found here.

Resident Voices

On my interview day, the morning report here won me over. Beyond a sense of camaraderie, the atmosphere amongst the residents and faculty was beautiful in its honesty and remarkable in its simplicity. I recognized that I found a place in which I could train while continuing to develop and cultivate my self and and my personality. Here I'm able to find progress personally and academically, and even when I was tired, hungry, or hangry, the experience has been rewarding.

Athreya Tata, MD (PGY2 - Primary Care),
When I was looking at residency programs, Brown stood on its own in terms of philosophy and values. There is a culture of learning and support that extends from the leadership and percolates through the program that I think is uncommon to find at other places. I have grown so much as a person and healthcare professional, in no small part because of the mentors and teachers made available to me here.

Daniel Yee, MD (PGY2 - Primary Care),
Learning to practice medicine at Brown has been a privilege. The atmosphere here is one of professionalism, collaboration, and mutual respect. Interns and residents are given autonomy but also tremendous support and backup, and I’ve never once felt like I couldn’t ask for help. There are many internal medicine programs with great patient diversity and fellowship match, but I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a place where people treat each other with such benevolence.

Brian Osler, MD (PGY2 - Categorical),
When I applied to residency, I made a checklist that highlighted aspects of a program that were most important to me. For example, available research opportunities and working in a community hospital were two of these items. Brown not only met all of these requirements, but has surpassed them. The program exuded a feeling of warmth and collegiality that I knew was special. The supportive and intellectually stimulating environment at Brown is what truly sets this program apart.

Brianna Bakow, MD (PGY3 - Categorical),
From the moment I interviewed here, it was obvious that Brown was just the sort of caring, supportive program I was looking for. I've learned and practiced medicine here alongside friends, with attendings devoted to resident education, and with mentors by my side to support my personal and professional goals. We help each other up when we're low and celebrate each other's highs. I couldn't have asked for a better residency family.

Jozal Waroich, MD (PGY3 - Categorical),
When I learned that I matched at this program, I was thrilled but mixed with plenty of uneasiness and self-doubt about starting residency. My fears were promptly dissipated as early as orientation week. I have experienced a strong culture of inclusiveness, support, and encouragement since beginning my training here. Fellow residents, attendings and program leadership have created such a positive working environment for patient care and I feel fortunate to be a part of it.

Mahawa Sam, MD (PGY3 - Categorical),
Residency is hard work, so it is important to surround yourself with people who genuinely care about one another and bring a positive attitude to work everyday. My passion for General Internal Medicine has only grown since starting here, and I attribute this to being surrounded by countless incredible role models who make medicine fun! I truly feel that I will leave Brown with all the tools necessary to become an exceptional general internist.

Jaclyn McKenna, MD (PGY2 - Primary Care),
Residency so far has been a phenomenal experience I would never change. The family I have created with my fellow residents and my work as a physician has filled me with such joy. Residency has its hardships but you're never alone, always supported, and trained incredibly well here at Brown.

Grant Cagle, MD (PGY2 - Categorical),
Imagining myself anywhere but Brown for my internal medicine training seems impossible. As I have been challenged both emotionally and intellectually, I have felt supported by co-residents, senior residents, preceptors and program directors, alike. The faculty are genuinely interested in resident well-being and co-residents share exactly the type of camaraderie I had hoped form in which residents find balance between their professional and personal lives. The GIM track puts me ahead of the curve for a career in primary care and my experience for treating vulnerable populations has been boosted by my second-site clinic, which has switched from a suboxone to immunology clinic during my second year.

Rachel Cooper, MD (PGY3 - Primary Care),
The residents at Brown are some of the most energetic, kind, and knowledgeable people I have ever met. I am constantly impressed by the second and third year residents, who know more than I ever thought imaginable at this point in their careers.

Pooja Pandit, MD - Categorical
In choosing a residency program, I also looked for a diversity of experience including opportunities to work abroad. The Moi Program at Brown is a well-established exchange program with a hospital in Kenya where Brown residents can rotate during their research months. Even at home in Providence, residents rotate through three very different hospitals, each with their own unique patient population.

Nicholas Nassikas, MD - Categorical