Established in July 1985, the Primary Care Track of the Tinsley Harrison Internal Medicine Residency Program enhances outpatient training for internal medicine residents. It has evolved to meet the needs of trainees focused on outpatient medicine. Residents interested in primary care are encouraged to apply to UAB and join the track to shape the future of primary care education.

The Primary Care Track is open to all residents interested in ambulatory medicine. Enrollees get preference for the Whitaker Clinic as their outpatient clinic. The track includes an outpatient primary care elective in the PGY2 and PGY3 years, offering exposure to clinics like private practices, sports medicine, HIV care, and ENT, which are not typically part of traditional internal medicine rotations. Regular didactic sessions will cover ambulatory medicine, the business of medicine, career planning, and other relevant topics.

Primary Care Scholars

Residents can apply to join the Primary Care (PC) Scholars program at the end of their intern year. This program offers a unique, enriched primary care experience in the PC Scholars Clinic, an immersive outpatient setting where residents manage their own patient panel and work closely with a full-time primary care attending during their second and third years. Selected residents receive a one-time monetary stipend.

PC Scholars are recognized as leaders in outpatient medicine, routinely participating in quality improvement projects and other initiatives. They develop lectures, lead introduction sessions for interns, and moderate panels for graduating residents.

Mentoring

Primary Care Scholars also participate in a didactic series specific to their needs. This not only allows for further exploration of ambulatory medicine and career opportunities but also fosters a smaller community of primary care focused residents and faculty within the larger residency program.