What is Internal Medicine?

Internal medicine is a medical specialty that focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and acute illnesses. Physicians in internal medicine typically care for patients who range from ages 18 and up.

Internal medicine physicians are also called internists. They have a broad knowledge of general medicine and often specialize in cardiology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, nephrology, or other areas of internal medicine. Internal medicine doctors are skilled in diagnosing and treating a wide variety of health problems.

Why Should You Pursue a Residency in Internal Medicine?

The field of internal medicine is a highly competitive one, but it offers a wide range of benefits. It is also a lucrative field to enter, as the average salary for an internist is over $200,000 per year. With the increased demand and shortage of internists, salaries are expected to increase. The following are some reasons why you should pursue an internal medicine residency and become an internist.

Internal medicine physicians are experts in diagnosing and treating many kinds of illnesses. They work with patients from all walks of life from young adults to the elderly to people with chronic illnesses or disabilities.

They also provide care for those discharged from the hospital after surgery or other procedures.

Internists can be found in many different medical settings, including hospitals and private practices. Today, most internists work in either outpatient practices or as hospitalists.

Internal Medicine residency programs have specific requirements to qualify. These requirements typically include:

• ERAS application form
• MSPE - Medical Student Performance Evaluation
• Transcript
• Minimum 3 Letters of Recommendation (one being the department of medicine chair letter)
• Passing scores on USMLE Step 1, Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK)
• Within 2 years of medical school graduation preferred

 

What are the Best Internal Medicine Residencies in Florida?

According to the AMA, the top 15 most searched programs are:

 

1. University of Miami/JFK Medical Center Palm Beach Regional GME Consortium Program (Internal Medicine)
2. AdventHealth Florida (Orlando) Program (Internal Medicine)
3. Florida Atlantic University Charles E Schmidt College of Medicine Program (Internal Medicine)
4. University of Miami/Jackson Health System Program (Internal Medicine)
5. Cleveland Clinic (Florida) Program (Internal Medicine)
6. Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida Program (Internal Medicine)
7. University of Florida Program (Internal Medicine)
8. HCA Healthcare East Florida Division GME/Aventura Hospital and Medical Center Program (Internal Medicine)
9. Palmetto General Hospital Program (Internal Medicine)
10. University of Miami Hospital and Clinics/Holy Cross Hospital Program (Internal Medicine)
11. HCA Healthcare/USF Morsani College of Medicine GME/Oak Hill Hospital Program (Internal Medicine)
12. University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville Program (Internal Medicine)
13. HCA Healthcare/USF Morsani College of Medicine GME/Blake Medical Center Program (Internal Medicine)
14. Memorial Healthcare System (Hollywood Florida) Program (Internal Medicine)
15. HCA Healthcare/USF Morsani College of Medicine GME/Brandon Regional Hospital Program (Internal Medicine)

Matching for an internal medicine program can be competitive. In 2020, internal medicine had a total of 10,996 applicants and 9,127 spots. This equates to 1.2 applicants per position. Of the 3,645 U.S. MD seniors who applied, 107 did not match.