General Internal Medicine

The Yale Section of General Internal Medicine includes over 65 full time faculty who are committed to the core missions of research, education, clinical patient care, and community service of the Yale University School of Medicine. Section faculty are based at Yale campuses located in New Haven, West Haven and Waterbury, Connecticut. In addition to its programs in General Internal Medicine, Section includes specialized programs in Occupational and Environmental Medicine and International Health. Several Section faculty are graduates the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program and participate as Program Directors, Senior Leadership, Core Faculty and Faculty in the Yale Clinical Scholars Program.

General Medicine

Research in the Section is focussed on selected interrelated areas at the core of General Internal Medicine utilizing the principles and methods of Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research. We apply these principles and methods to specific content areas including research methods and policy, cancer screening and prevention, occupational and environmental medicine, substance abuse, international health, the prevention of cerebral vascular disease, geriatrics, healthcare utilization and outcomes, medical education, chronic liver disease, and chronic pain. Several faculty are principal investigators or co-investigators in peer-reviewed research funded through federal and private agencies. A number of faculty hold federal or foundation-supported career awards to support their work. In addition to their leadership roles in the Yale Clinical Scholars Program, Section faculty have major leadership roles in the the newly funded Clinical Epidemiology Research Center at the Connecticut VA Healthcare System.

Education occurs in the Section for trainees at all levels as Section faculty have provided critical leadership to programs for medical student, housestaff and post-doctoral fellow education. Medical student programs include The Principle of Clinical Reasoning Course for first year medical students, the Ambulatory Component of the Third Year Internal Medicine Clerkship, and Fourth Year Primary Care Clerkship. Faculty are also very involved in house staff education through one of three Internal Medicine Residency Programs. Fellowship training opportunities include the Yale Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program – one of the premiere postdoctoral training programs in the country. In addition, fellowship training is available the VA-based General Medicine Fellowship program, the Occupational Medicine Program, and the Investigative Medicine Program. Finally, individuals interested in careers in Geriatrics can receive outstanding training through the Yale Section of Geriatrics. All faculty are active participants in both outpatient and inpatient education for medical students and house staff “at the bedside”. Our International Health Program provides unique training opportunities for trainees interested in learning experiences outside of the United States.

Clinical programs of the Section are based in both outpatient and inpatient settings at each major Yale teaching sites including Yale-New Haven Hospital, The Connecticut VA Healthcare System in West Haven, and Waterbury Hospital and Saint Marys Hospital in Waterbury. Most faculty are members of the School of Medicines Yale Medical Group. The Primary Care Center at Yale-New Haven Hospital is a major focus on clinical and educational activity for the Section and provides care in specialized programs in Traveling Health, Rheumatology, Dermatology, Podiatry, and Mental Health. In addition, Yale Internal Medicine Associates provides state-of-the-art general medical care within the Yale Medical Group. The Occupational and Environmental Medicine clinic focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases due to chemical, biological, and physical hazards in the workplace and environment. The Primary Care Center located in the West Haven VA is also a major clinical and teaching site and provides specialized programs in Womens Health and Stroke care. At Waterbury Hospital and St. Marys Hospital, provide clinical while conducting state-of-the-art research in medical education.

The major clinical programs of the Section include the following:

• General Medicine Faculty
• Yale Primary Care Center
• Yale Tropical Medicine and International Health Clinic
• Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic
• Yale Internal Medicine Associates

Community programs of the Section are an out growth of our research, educational and clinical programs. Community-based research programs in areas such as substance abuse, occupational medicine, and chronic disease management provide unique service opportunities for members of the greater New Haven community. In addition, educational programs including the Community Health Care Van program provide outreach to our urban neighbors. Each of our clinical sites contribute significantly to the care of the underserved in our community while providing valuable educational experiences for our trainees.

In summary, the Section of General Internal Medicine includes a vibrant and diverse group of faculty who are national leaders in their respective fields and are committed to excellence and scholarship in research, education, clinical care, and community service.

Patrick G. O’Connor, M.D., M.P.H.
Professor and Chief
Section of General Internal Medicine
Yale University School of Medicine

Section Chief

Patrick G. O’Connor, MD, MPH
Section Chief, General Internal Medicine