Internal Medicine
©2023 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Page 4 of 64
Internists are specialists who care for adult patients through comprehensive,
clinical problem solving. They integrate the history, physical examination, and all
available data to deliver, direct, and coordinate care across varied clinical
settings, both in person and remotely through telemedicine. Internists are
diagnosticians who manage the care of patients who present with
undifferentiated, complex illnesses, and comorbidities; promote health and health
equity in communities; collaborate with colleagues; and lead, mentor, and serve
multidisciplinary teams. Internists integrate care across organ systems and
disease processes throughout the adult lifespan. They are expert
communicators, creative and adaptable to the changing needs of patients and
the health care environment. They advocate for their patients within the health
care system to achieve the patient’s and family’s care goals. Internists embrace
lifelong learning and the privilege and responsibility of educating patients,
populations, and other health professionals. The discipline is characterized by a
compassionate, cognitive, scholarly, relationship-oriented approach to
comprehensive patient care.
The successful, fulfilled internist maintains this core function and these core
values. Internists find meaning and purpose in caring for individual patients with
increased efficiency through well-functioning teams, and are equipped and
trained to manage change effectively and lead those teams. They understand
and manage the business of medicine to optimize cost-conscious care for their
patients. They apply data management science to population and patient
applications and help solve the clinical problems of their patients and their
community. Internists communicate fluently and are able to educate and clearly
explain complex data and concepts to all audiences, especially patients. They
collaborate with patients to implement health care ethics in all aspects of their
care. Internists display emotional intelligence in their relationships with
colleagues, team members, and patients, maximizing both their own and their
teams’ well-being. They are dedicated professionals who have the knowledge,
skills, and attitudes to effectively use all available resources, and bring
intellectual curiosity and human warmth to their patients and community.
Specialty-Specific Background and Intent: The Review Committee developed this definition
to clearly articulate the core functions and values of internal medicine and describe what is
needed to move the specialty forward through program requirements. They express what
the Review Committee aspires to see in the graduates of internal medicine residency
programs, faculty members, and the broader internal medicine community.
Int.C. Length of Educational Program
An accredited residency program in internal medicine must provide 36 months of
supervised graduate medical education.
(Core)
Specialty-Specific Background and Intent: While internal medicine residency must be
completed within a 36-month supervised educational framework (barring remediation and
extended leaves), the requirements were written to be flexible and allow program directors
the opportunity to create more individualized educational experiences for residents who have
achieved, or are on a trajectory to achieve, competence in the foundational areas of internal
medicine. This was a guiding principle for the revision process. The requirements for the