Overview of the Educational Concentrations

Recognizing that residents bring a world of individual interests and educational goals and objectives to their graduate medical education experiences, the Graduate Medical Education Office invites each resident to enhance their graduate medical education through participation in the Education Concentration Program.  Each of the seven concentrations provide integrated, interdisciplinary approaches and are unique in that they offer residents opportunities to develop introductory and advance level study in a chosen area or allow them to explore potential areas of interest.

The Education Concentration Program includes seven individual areas.  These areas were selected because of their importance to the practice and profession of medicine, the interests of residents and faculty, and the mission of our institution.  Each are ACGME competency-based and are directed and taught by an LLUMC physician and faculty members chosen for their accomplishments in the concentration.  Each oversight committee is encouraged to include residents/fellows as well.  These concentration committees monitor the progress of residents and mentors each resident participant.  Additionally, the committees plan and implement learning activities that provide residents with area-specific skills and experience.  Each concentration has their own specific ACGME competencies, educational goals and learning objectives, and specific academic requirements.

Participation in any of the Education Concentration is voluntary and the resident must obtain approval from their Program Director to enroll.  We invite you to review the seven education concentrations and then follow the process for enrollment as outlined in the Frequently Asked Questions page.

Education & Teaching (ETC)

Physician Director: Dr. Larry Loo, Vice Chair for Education & Faculty Development, Department of Medicine

 A primary goal of this concentration is to cultivate excellent and committed residents as teachers through understanding the art and science of teaching, inspiring them to be great teachers, and to give them the skills to do so. A goal is to foster an interest and involvement in academic medicine and facilitate identified residents to return to LLUMC as faculty.  

Global Health (GHC)

Physician Director:  Dr. Hobart Lee, Assistant Professor & Associate Program Director, Family Medicine

 Residents will be provided with useful information, tools, and experience that will allow them to interact from a place of knowledge around problems and solutions to global health issues. Upon completion, the resident will be prepared to participate in ongoing short-term international health experiences throughout their career. 

God and Human Suffering: A Biblical Approach (GHSC)

Physician Director: Dr. Bradley Cole, Assistant Professor, Neurology

     This course addresses both theological and practical aspects of patient care. The first lectures address the problem of human suffering in the context of an all-powerful God; the last half of the lectures discuss the “how to” aspect of providing spiritual care. The goal of this course is stimulate a growing and lifelong interest in spiritual care.

Lifestyle Medicine (LMC)

Physician Director: Dr. Wayne Dysinger, Chair, Preventive Medicine, Director, Family and Preventive Medicine Residency

     The goal of this concentration is to provide the knowledge, skills, and tools for residents to effectively and efficiently promote healthy lifestyle changes in their patients. This includes how to build an alliance with the patient as well as promote any strategies or medications that foster wellness.

Medical Ethics

Physician Director: Dr. Robert Orr, Professor of Medical Ethics, Clinical Ethics Consultant

The goal of this concentration is to lay a foundation of ethical reasoning that fosters an understanding of the concept of professionalism and offers guidance for specific applications to dilemmas in bedside patient care.

Narrative Medicine

Physician Director: Dr. Philip M. Gold, MD, MACP, Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Program Director, Respiratory Care Medical Director

     The goals of this concentration are to read, enjoy and discuss a selection of narrative works, develop reading  and writing skills which will enhance our ability to understand and communicate with others and, most importantly, to improve our appreciation of our patients  and our work as doctors.  If we succeed we will be equipped to better care for our patients.

Patient Safety & Quality Improvement (PSQIC)

Physician Director: Dr. Ariane Marie-Mitchell, Assistant Professor, Preventive Medicine & Pediatrics   

This concentration introduces residents to the organizational structure of Patient Safety and Quality Improvement at LLUMC.  Additionally, the concentration provides specific training in leadership and patient safety and quality improvement using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) Open School.

Research (RC)

Physician Director: Dr. Dean Sherzai, Assistant Professor & Director of Research, Neurology 

Recognizing primary responsibilities of GME are to encourage and facilitate resident research, this concentration seeks to lay the foundation for independent and interdisciplinary research.  Residents will learn the skills necessary to integrate research into their career and explore potential career interests in research.