Overview
The Transitional Year Residency at Cape Fear Valley Health is built around a thirteen-block curriculum, with each block lasting four weeks. The curriculum combines core rotations, a selective rotation, and elective experiences that allow residents to explore individual interests and align their training with future specialty goals.
Throughout the year, residents work alongside categorical residents in internal medicine, emergency medicine, and psychiatry, as well as cardiology and pulmonary and critical care fellows.
Rotation Schedule
| Rotation | Weeks | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Internal Medicine Wards | 12 | Core |
| Block Nights | 4 | Core |
| Ambulatory Care | 4 | Core |
| Cardiology | 4 | Core |
| Infectious Disease | 4 | Core |
| Pediatrics | 4 | Core |
| Psychiatry | 4 | Core |
| Emergency Medicine | 4 | Core |
| Selective (General Surgery, ICU, or Internal Medicine) | 4 | Selective |
| Electives (2 blocks: resident choice) | 8 | Elective |
View the Full Year Block Schedule →
Available Electives
- Click here to view Available Electives
- Anesthesiology
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
- Emergency Medicine **
- Gastroenterology
- Hematology/Oncology
- ICU (Critical Care) **
- Infectious Disease **
- Neurology
- OB/GYN
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Palliative Care
- PMR (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation)
- Psychiatry **
- Pulmonology
- Radiology
- Rheumatology
- Trauma Surgery
- Urology
** Core rotations can be taken as an elective
Time Off
Residents are provided with 28 days of paid time off (PTO) during the academic year.
Educational Conferences
Transitional Year residents have their own monthly didactics and join the GME sessions held for all residents. While rotating, they also attend the teaching conferences of the services they are working with, listed below.
| Educational Conferences | |
|---|---|
| Transitional Year Didactics | First Tuesday of each month, 1–3 PM. Expert guest lectures, resident-led presentations, and Step 3 Board Review preparation. |
| GME Didactics | Twice monthly on Fridays, 12–2 PM. Professional development sessions for all CFV GME residents. |
| Emergency Medicine | Wednesdays, 8 AM–1 PM |
| Internal Medicine | Morning Report: Mondays, 12:15–1:15 PM · Didactics: Thursdays, 12:00–4:00 PM |
| Cardiology | Wednesdays, 12 PM |
| General Surgery | Fridays, 6–10 AM |
| Family Medicine (SR-AHEC) | Fridays, 12–4 PM |
| OB/GYN | Fridays, 2–5 PM |
| Grand Rounds & M&M | Hospital-wide academic conferences open to all residents throughout the year. |
Board Preparation
Residents are provided AMBOSS access for Step 3 board review preparation throughout the year.
High-Fidelity Simulation
Residents participate in high-fidelity simulation training at the Cape Fear Valley Simulation Center, with procedural training on central lines, lumbar punctures, intubation, paracentesis, and more. Throughout the year, residents take part in acute clinical simulations designed to reinforce clinical decision-making, teamwork, and emergency response skills.
- SimMan® 3G
- Pediatric HAL®
- Trauma HAL®
- VICTORIA® Birthing Simulator
- SUPER TORY® Neonatal Simulator
- The Angio Mentor for vascular and catheter-based procedures
- Ultrasound Mentor for bedside ultrasound interpretation and ultrasound-guided procedures such as vascular access, paracentesis, and thoracentesis.
- Task trainers reinforce airway management, central line placement, lumbar puncture
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Research & Scholarly Activities
All Transitional Year residents participate in scholarly activity throughout the year. Each resident completes at least one poster presentation and presents at the Cape Fear Valley Health Research Symposium. Residents may also present at institutional, regional, or national conferences. Residents who wish to deepen their research experience are welcome to join the GME Research Group, which meets monthly and provides practical training in research methodology.
As a group, Transitional Year residents complete one Quality Improvement (QI) project annually. Past projects include:
- Developing a migraine order set
- Enhancing heart failure patient education and self-care behaviors
- Assessing and improving providers' comfort in caring for the LGBTQ+ population
- Developing an order set for sickle cell crisis patients
- Development of a Pediatric Drug Dosing Reference Table for Clinical Use in the Pediatric Emergency Department
Teaching Opportunities
The Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine has created new opportunities for Transitional Year residents to engage in mentorship and teaching. Residents may serve as near-peer mentors to medical students and, as the program grows, will have opportunities to contribute to clinical teaching on campus. These experiences support the development of residents as educators and physician leaders.
Community Service
Residents may participate in the Health Equity and Community Engagement Initiative, which meets monthly via WebEx and connects residents with community outreach activities, local events, and service opportunities throughout the year. Past and ongoing activities include:
- Community Health Outreach Events
Including the Umoja Festival Health Fair, Beast Festival, Flourish Women's Wellness Event, Step Up 4 Health & Wellness Expo, and faith-based community health events, with a focus on health education, screenings, and connecting attendees with primary care.
Training Site
Cape Fear Valley Medical Center
Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, is the flagship facility of Cape Fear Valley Health and the region's primary referral center, serving patients from Fayetteville and neighboring counties throughout southeastern North Carolina.
The medical center has over 700 beds and records more than 45,000 inpatient admissions each year. Its emergency department sees over 120,000 visits annually, making it one of the busiest in North Carolina and among the busiest in the country.
Residents train in a high-acuity environment with comprehensive clinical capabilities across cardiology, neurology, oncology, orthopedics, obstetrics, pediatrics, and inpatient rehabilitation. Cape Fear Valley Medical Center is an active stroke and heart center, with rooftop helipads and a comprehensive emergency transport system serving critically ill patients from across the region.
Residents also complete select rotations at off-campus sites within close proximity to the main campus.
U.S. News & World Report recognized Cape Fear Valley Medical Center as a Best Regional Hospital for Community Access, highlighting its commitment to providing quality care to historically underserved populations.
Educational Resources
DynaMed
- Point-of-care clinical reference tool providing fast access to evidence-based summaries.
AMBOSS
- Comprehensive medical knowledge platform supporting board preparation including USMLE Step 3.
Methodist University Medical School Library
- Full library access including journals, databases, and research tools.
AMA GME Competency Education Program
- Online modules covering the ACGME core competencies, available to residents throughout the year.