The field of internal medicine is unique in that it offers so many opportunities and possibilities for career fulfillment. As our country is in the process of re-evaluating health care and re-thinking primary care, it is evident that we are in need of well-trained general internists. Primary Care has long been a deeply rewarding career because of a combination of acute undiagnosed disease, complex multi-system disease, preventive care and long-standing relationships with patients. The Primary Care Track is designed to produce physicians with strong clinical skills, and advanced knowledge of internal medicine. Our graduates are well-equipped to become leaders in community medicine, academic medicine, hospital medicine, and subspecialty medicine. I look forward to assisting you as you enter this next exciting phase of your career.

Nancy Denizard-Thompson, MD

Director, Primary Care Residency

Associate Program Director for Ambulatory Education
Biosketch

The appeals of internal medicine are many, and prominent among them are the intellectual challenge of differential diagnosis, the interpersonal rewards of direct patient care, and the endeavor of becoming a complete physician. Our goal at Wake Forest is to provide broad-based training across the complete spectrum of internal medicine. While we approach that training from the perspective of the generalist, we believe that significant experience in each of the subspecialties is of key importance. Internal medicine comprises both inpatient and ambulatory care, and we highly value a proper balance of training in both venues. We want to provide the necessary tools for each graduate of our program to be well-equipped for life-long learning. Beyond these essentials, we want to offer the flexibility of educational opportunities to allow each resident to achieve success in the pursuit of their individual career path. Above all, we take pride in providing a nurturing, stimulating, and challenging environment for learning and personal development.

Joel Bruggen, MD
Associate Program Director for Subspecialty Education
Biosketch

As diagnostic tools and interventions continue to develop and management techniques and treatments continue to evolve, we as physicians must be prepared to navigate the literature, to evaluate, critically and efficiently, the best available evidence, and to determine how to apply this to management of our individual patients.  We must also develop an understanding of the health care system—insurance systems, Medicaid, Medicare, different payer systems, coding and billing —as well as the tools to evaluate and improve health care delivery and the quality of care.  Our curriculum integrates training in these areas beginning in the intern year and progresses to more advanced elective work in the upper level years.  These skills will enhance your effectiveness and productivity as a clinician and will help you provide the best possible care to your patients. This is an exciting time to enter the medical profession at Wake Forest, and we look forward to working with you.