Conferences

The Core Curriculum Conferences will include a mix of instructional modalities including didacticlectures, case presentations, medical simulation. Lecturers will include speakers with diverse pulmonary related backgrounds. Conferences will be held thrice weekly and will include:

Core Pulmonary Curriculum Conference: These lectures will be faculty-led one-hour discussions that reinforce the medical knowledge that is essential to successful board exam performance and routine pulmonary medicine. These presentations will include relevant core basic science topics such as genetics and developmental biology of pulmonary diseases, pulmonary physiology, biochemistry and pathophysiology.

Internal Medicine Grand Rounds: These sessions will be one hour sessions that allow the group to invite local, regional and national experts in medicine to present to the group on current topics relevant to Internal medicine. Faculty and colleagues should be able to obtain new insight from the topic. 

Journal Club: Journal club conference will be scholarly sessions presented by fellows and designed to review one pulmonary or critical care focused article/paper. Article selection will be done by the fellows in collaboration with their faculty mentor. Fellows are expected to select their article and email it to all faculty a week prior to their presentation date. Journal club is intended to review landmark studies in the recent pulmonary and/or critical care literature and develop evidence-based medicine analytical skills. The expectation is to present it in a power point format.

Morbidity and Mortality: Morbidity and mortality conferences will provide an educational forum designed to analyze and discuss patient adverse outcomes or complications in a non-punitive manner, promote a culture of safety, quality improvement and learning; and identify areas for clinical, procedural and systems improvement. Fellows will also be expected to attend the Internal Medicine Departmental Interdisciplinary Case Conferences held once a month on Thursdays. 

Fellows’ Case Conference: These sessions will be fellow-led one hour discussions based on cases that demonstrate key teaching points. Fellows are required to present a case of their choice, with no restriction on the rarity or complexity of the case. The primary goal is to identify a relevant clinical question arising from the case and use it as a basis for a focused, evidence-based discussion. Examples of clinical questions include, “Are beta blockers safe for patients with COPD?” or “What are the best treatment options for diaphragmatic paralysis?”

Board Review: Fellows will attend monthly board review sessions that utilize questions from a designated board prep question bank, such as ACCP SEEK to prepare fellows for their ABIM Pulmonary and Critical Care board exam in a format that addresses test taking skills and pulmonary knowledge. There should be significant review of guidelines/appropriate use during these sessions.

Quality and Patient Safety Conference: QI presentations are an integral part of fellowship training, allowing fellows to contribute to improving healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. Fellows are required to present their QI project at least twice during their fellowship. The first presentation, typically in the second year or latter part of the first year, serves as an opportunity to receive feedback from faculty and refine the project. The polished version will be presented during the final year, focusing on the project's completed outcomes and impact.

Tumor Board Conference: The Tumor Board Conference is a multidisciplinary meeting held once a month on Thursdays where pulmonologists, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and other specialists collaborate to discuss complex cancer cases. The goal is to review imaging, pathology, and clinical data to develop a comprehensive, patient-centered management plan. For PCCM fellows, participation in Tumor Board is essential for coordinating care, guiding biopsy decisions, discussing staging and treatment options, and ensuring alignment with the latest evidence-based guidelines.

Ambulatory Case Series Conference: The Ambulatory Case Series Conference is a structured, small-group teaching session focused on key outpatient pulmonary topics. Utilizing teaching scripts developed by the University of Pennsylvania, these sessions facilitate interactive discussions on common and complex cases encountered in ambulatory pulmonary practice. The goal is to enhance clinical reasoning, evidence-based decision-making, and guideline-directed management in an outpatient setting, providing fellows with practical knowledge applicable to their future practice.

Independent Learning Conference: The Independent Learning Conference is a dedicated monthly session where fellows are given protected time to review high-yield PCCM-related video content from reputable online sources such as YouTube, VuMedi, CHEST (American College of Chest Physicians) e-Learning, ATS (American Thoracic Society) Learning and other educational platforms. This self-directed learning approach allows fellows to explore a wide range of topics at their own pace, reinforcing foundational knowledge and staying up to date with advancements in pulmonary and critical care medicine. Discussions following these sessions may be incorporated to enhance understanding and clinical application.

Boot Camp: The PCCM fellowship boot camp is designed to provide new fellows with essential knowledge, skills, and orientation to ensure a smooth transition into clinical and academic responsibilities. This intensive program focuses on core competencies required for success in the early months of fellowship.