What will I learn as a resident?

During your fourth year of medical school, you’ll choose a medical specialty and apply to graduate medical education programs (known as “residencies”). 

During residency, which typically lasts between three and seven years (depending on the specialty), you will learn to treat patients under the direct supervision of attending physicians. You can expect to learn to apply your basic science knowledge and clinical skills in diagnosing and treating patients’ illnesses and injuries. You’ll learn clinical decision-making and patient management skills, and you will interact daily with faculty members, whether at the bedside, during inpatient team discussions (known as “rounds”), on patient visits, or in case-based lectures and small-group discussions.