Categorical Residency

As a PGY1, you will be exposed to the breadth and depth of Internal Medicine. You will spend on average two months on the General Medicine floors, admitting both routine and unusual cases. You will begin to learn HIV medicine on our inpatient services for four weeks and Cardiology for another month. You will get the opportunity to fine-tune your neurology examination skills with two weeks on the neurology consult service. All interns have two weeks of electives in Endocrinology to obtain exposure to this subspecialty. Our interns develop skills in the care of critically ill patients in both the CCU and the Medical ICU. A month at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) affords the opportunity to be exposed to quaternary-level cancer care.

A typical PGY1 Schedule is as follows:

Our PGY2s gain more responsibility for patient care and supervision of their team on the General Medicine floors and subspecialty teams (HIV, Cardiology). Half of the class has an additional opportunity to rotate through MSKCC. One full month is spent in the ED and Critical Care units to build confidence in our residents to care for critically ill patients.

A typical PGY2 Schedule is as follows:

As a PGY3, the formative experience is the time spent as the screening consult resident who is the liaison for patients going to the ICU and the medical consult resident who provides consultation to other services in the hospital. Seniors also spend time on the floors and in the critical care units to consolidate their leadership skills. Time is allocated for you to customize your schedule based upon your particular career interests.

A typical PGY3 Schedule is as follows:

During their two-week ambulatory blocks, categorical residents have the unique opportunity to serve as primary care providers for a panel of patients at one of three community-based centers.  These centers are part of the William F. Ryan Community Health Network, a Federally Qualified Health Center accredited by the Joint Commission and an NCQA Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home, which provides high quality care to vulnerable, under- and uninsured populations.  Additional time is spent in the outpatient subspecialty clinics, such as Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Pulmonary, Rheumatology and Endocrinology.

Complementing this extensive outpatient clinical exposure, we offer a rich, weekly academic half-day that includes seminars in core topics of primary care medicine, evidence-based medicine, and wellness sessions. Our PGY1 residents also have an additional academic half-day each block for Art and Practice sessions, which focus on equitable patient-centered care topics such as unconscious bias, social determinants of health and health literacy .  Woven throughout the block is our quality improvement curriculum which includes real-time, resident-driven project implementation, classroom didactics, and online certification modules.  Finally, it is during the ambulatory blocks that residents engage in Simulation Lab activities.  

The Medical Education Track is for residents interested in careers in medical education. Housestaff are invited to apply for the track at the end of their intern year and work through a two-year curriculum covering learning theory, curriculum design and implementation, feedback and evaluation, and medical education scholarship. The core sessions of the track occur outside of elective time, preserving the ability of track residents to pursue subspecialty clinical experiences. Residents in the Medical Education Track will help to create and implement a medical education project through the two years of the curriculum, with support and mentorship from the program. Projects developed through the track have included a professional skills curriculum for the residency, a pathophysiology-based monthly conference for the residents led by core faculty members, an enhanced ambulatory nutrition curriculum, and a peer-observation program aimed at improving teaching skills on resident-led rounds.

In addition to a focus on curricular design, the track will develop residents' skills as a medical educator, with additional teaching opportunities both at the residency and medical school level. Track residents are exposed to mentors and leaders in medical education throughout the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Mount Sinai Health System.

Applicants interested in the Medical Education Track should apply to the Categorical Residency Program at Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West. Interested applicants should make note of their interest on their application, so appropriate interviews can be arranged.

Examples of projects developed by Mount Sinai Morningside/West Track participants:

2021-2023

• Guideline directed medical therapy in heart failure
• Simulation-based curriculum on non-invasive mechanical ventilation and high flow oxygen therapy
• Cardiac point of care ultrasound (POCUS)
• Podcasts on goals of care discussions
• Curriculum on HF in women
• PROMPT HF: ACS and heart failure, decreasing readmissions cost awareness
• Harm Reduction
• Empathy in Residency training
• GI procedures: 3 sessions, UGIB, LGIB, advanced GI procedures IPASS (handoff)
• CCU curriculum focused on heart failure
• Cardiology lectures/curriculum (Cardiology for the Internist)
• Impact of remote teaching (ie, zoom) on medical education/learners
• Financial literacy for the Resident
• Statistical programming 101 modules (SAS, SPSS, R)
• Evidence-based medicine on the inpatient service

2022-2024

• Curriculum on Integrative Medicine
• Teaching the physical examination
• Taking a medical history in oncologic patients
• Rheumatology for the Internist: A web-based module learning project; flipped classroom
• Medical errors in transition of care, medication reconciliations
• Managing sleep in the inpatient population
• Penicillin allergy de-labeling
• Longitudinal EKG, video series
• Preparation for STAR/ED boarding team, curriculum/workshop
• Simulation education to train senior residents in the art and skill of providing impactful verbal and non-verbal feedback to Interns
• Orientation process/boot camp/documentation workshop for PGY1s
• Health equity curriculum, case-based
• Procedural curriculum

2023-2025

• Medication reconciliation for geriatric patients
• Increasing comfort managing sedation drips in the ICU
• Screening and implementing brief intervention techniques for patients with harmful alcohol use
• Introduction to non-invasive ventilation (BiPAP and high flow machines)
• Advocating for anticipatory medication prescribing in the end-of-life patient
• Curriculum on hematologic and oncologic emergencies
• Culinary medicine curriculum
• Management of unit-to-floor transfer patients
• Strategies to tackle vaccination hesitancy in patients
• Increase resident confidence/competence in treating gastroenterological conditions
• Teaching residents how to deliver a difficult diagnosis/initiate difficult conversations with patients

This is a longitudinal pathway that provides an opportunity for internal medicine residents to be trained in obesity medicine and complete all ABOM certification requirements (except the exam) prior to graduation. If selected, guaranteed clinical experience based at the Weight Management Clinic at Ryan Health & development of a scholarly project with the mentorship of ABOM-certified faculty.

Housestaff stories

Christopher Matthews, DO

CATEGORICAL PGY-3
From the time I began exploring residency programs, Mount Sinai Morningside-West has stood out in all the right ways. I applied for a sub-internship with the program my fourth year of medical school, and I was thrilled to have an interview on my second day. Everyone was just as warm and inviting on Zoom as they are in person. When I began my residency at Mount Sinai Morningside-West, I appreciated the immediate sense of community between the residents. There are always opportunities to go out in the city, meet up in the park on the weekend, and enjoy our time off together. I have experienced amazing support from the chiefs and leadership of our program, and I have already been immersed in an array of learning experiences from the diverse patient population that we treat. I am confident that the training I am receiving from Mount Sinai Morningside-West will provide me with the opportunity to grow and succeed in my next career endeavors.

Norah Sadek, MD

CATEGORICAL PGY-3
My first priority when looking for a residency program was location - I'm a born and semi-raised New Yorker and wanted to stay as close to the city I love as possible. However, my next priority was a program that had not only a diverse patient population but also diversity within the program. In the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Mount Sinai Morningside/West, we see patients of every socioeconomic and cultural background and I'm proud that our House Staff that reflects that population. At any given time, there is almost surely someone on the team who speaks the patient's language and provides exceptional culturally competent care. As a Moroccan American, I recognize how significant this is not only for patient outcomes, but also as a part of my residency training. I could not have asked for a more supportive and well-rounded educational experience. At every turn, there is someone to assist when I have a question or concern, to take the time to teach me concepts or procedures, or sometimes just listen when I've had a bad day. It's made the transition from medical student to resident as seamless and enjoyable as possible. And to be in NYC, with the food and culture and, in my case, family nearby - I couldn't ask for a better residency experience.

Anne Mercurio, MD

When applying to residencies, I had my eyes set on Mount Sinai Morningside/West. I was eager to stay close to home in Manhattan, and I was already familiar with what an incredibly rewarding experience it is to care for New York’s diverse patient population, having volunteered at the Morningside ER and in my career as a nurse prior to medical school. I knew that by pursuing my medical training at Morningside/West I would have the opportunity to serve the community on the Upper West Side where I live, and to provide for patients whom I consider my neighbors. When I interviewed with the program, it was evident that Morningside/West was the right fit for me -- I could sense the close bonds that residents shared, and how supportive the environment was to resident learning and professional growth. I was also drawn to the program because it includes rotations at a variety of clinical sites, including MSKCC, Mount Sinai Hospital, and the federally funded Ryan Clinic, where MSMW residents provide culturally competent care to a panel of deserving patients. Not only do I look forward to exploring different clinical environments in Internal Medicine, but as someone who is interested in sub-specializing in hematology/oncology, I am also excited about to pursue research and mentorship among expert oncologists at these renowned academic centers.

Since the start of my intern year, I have felt tremendously supported by an outstanding group of passionate and motivated co-residents from all over the world. The medical faculty has been nothing short of welcoming and encouraging, and whenever I find myself sharing my career goals, someone is always eager to point me to a helpful resource or a colleague who can offer advice. Each rotation has brought about new friendships and traditions, like weekend outings on clinic blocks, and grabbing gourmet sandwiches from Milano Market for lunch. Even more, our residency has the benefit of proximity to some of the best restaurants, shows, museums and events in the world, which guarantees a great time on days off. I am so happy to be training in a program where I feel like I belong, and where I can continue building my medical career in the city that I love. I look forward to becoming a senior resident and welcoming new interns to join us at Mount Sinai Morningside/West!

Primary Care Residency

Housestaff stories

Brent Arcayan, MD

Primary Care Residency PGY-2
As a primary care physician, we have the unique privilege and responsibility of being the go-to liaison for individuals seeking guidance in navigating their health and wellness journeys. We are all flawed individuals with our own unique stories and baggage just trying to be well, so I strive to get to know my patients, establish trust, and deliver personalized care. My perspective has been profoundly shaped by my experiences advocating for LGBTQ+ health equity in my home state of Texas. This involvement has given me intimate familiarity with the understanding that our health is influenced by more than just chemistry and biology; it is deeply intertwined with real-life factors like access to transportation, availability of nutritious meals, certain opportunities afforded to us, and the policies that affect our day-to-day lives.

Although I’ve only just begun my training towards becoming the fully-fledged primary care physician I aspire to be, I feel a deep sense of belonging alongside my new friends and mentors, particularly within the Primary Care Track at Mount Sinai Morningside and West. I am immensely grateful to be part of a program that equips me with the skills to provide compassionate, practical, and impactful care in a supportive learning environment, surrounded by mentors and colleagues who also value and celebrate the person behind each patient.

Raul Benavides Leon, MD

Primary Care Residency PGY-3
I recognized the importance of primary care (PC) early on in my training. It started as a passion for caring for people living with chronic conditions and a deep curiosity for the context in which their lives unfold, which occasionally can be a contrasting reality that most of us ignore. This was even more evident to me after I practiced rural medicine in the Ecuadorean Andes.

The truth is, the practice of good PC medicine is complex for many reasons, including a diverse, demanding, and frequently underserved population that has to scramble through a complicated healthcare system. However, I chose the PC track since it embraces the challenge of becoming a modern PCP capable of taking on the role of educator, scientist, and advocate for our patients and our community.

Since I started, I have learned to use different tools to supplement routine medical encounters and transform them into more comprehensive ones, like caring for my patient's ability to afford their medications, get food access or deal with housing issues. More importantly, I have learned how to hold those conversations with compassion and empathy.

I am grateful for being surrounded by great minds and role models that have made this learning process exciting from the beginning. This environment has fostered my critical thinking, creativity, and sensitivity beyond expectations, and I am thrilled to continue sharing the privilege of training in primary care with them.

Kaitlyn Clausell, MD

When my grandmother was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I knew this meant her memories would slowly disappear; but it wasn’t until she moved in that I realized there’s much more complexity to this disease. The ensuing violence, vulgarity, and lewdness was not the grandmother who raised me, but another patient entirely. At her doctor’s appointments, I realized that her quality of care was subpar, as she only spoke Spanish. When I decided to pursue medicine, it was with my grandmother in mind. I recognize the lack of Spanish-speaking health care providers, and I resonate with the many barriers to care that our underserved population has to endure. Coming from medical school in the Bronx, the majority of the patients I cared for only spoke Spanish, which I found to be rewarding and meaningful. I was drawn to the MSMW program for the diverse patient population that I would work with.

Pursuing geriatric medicine with a focus on dementia and end of life care was a non-negotiable. The geriatrics program at Mount Sinai was the first of its kind and is world renowned. I applied for the geriatrics-primary care track, as it encompassed my values of commitment to serving the underserved, community outreach, and culturally-sensitive care. I have the privilege to work at Thelma as a PC track resident, and here I am able to directly engage with the community that I grew up in while maintaining my humility. I know that the MSMW program will foster my aspirations to practice preventive medicine, while also spreading healthcare literacy in communities that have historically been ignored.

Preliminary Residency

Additionally, residents in the Preliminary/Neurology track and Preliminary/Ophthalmology track have the same schedule as other preliminary residents, but must apply using a separate NRMP number if they will be applying for the advanced programs at Mount Sinai West (Neurology) or at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary at Mount Sinai (Ophthalmology).

Housestaff stories

Adedeji Adeniyi, MD

I knew Mount Sinai Morningside and West was the right place early in my search for preliminary year programs. I had gone to medical school at Columbia University in NYC, so I wanted to remain in an environment where I would be surrounded by a diverse population and see a variety of cases.  I love that I am receiving well-rounded training as residents have the opportunity to rotate throughout the Mount Sinai network. I took advantage of that by doing an EMG elective through the neurology department as a PM&R prelim. Furthermore, we have protected academic half-days where we learn a wide range of topics. The program has been very supportive with subsidized housing plus meal and educational stipends, as well as with mental health with personal days.

Marie Mazzeo-Weaver, MD

Mount Sinai Morningside/West was my top choice for my preliminary year, and my first few months here have only reaffirmed that decision. I was initially drawn to this program for its diverse patient population, incredible location, large program size, and the resources available to residents, particularly the guaranteed subsidized housing and “The Jitney,” which provides convenient transportation between sites. As a preliminary resident, the flexible electives have been a crucial part of my intern experience; during this time, I’ve had the chance to enhance my POCUS skills and gain valuable exposure to my future specialty. I have felt supported in my transition from student to resident, and I am truly grateful for the wonderful community here.

Our four-year ACGME accredited program is a track designed for applicants interested in a career in Geriatrics.

Residents will train for three years either through our Internal Medicine or Primary Care Track followed by a guaranteed one-year Geriatrics fellowship at Mount Sinai. Six months of geriatric training is built into residency, including a secondary continuity practice in geriatrics, and an additional 6 months of scholarship time in their fellowship.

Housestaff stories

Hyuck-Jin (Dan) Kwon, MD

Med-Geri Track PGY-2
When I first started medical school at SUNY Downstate, I was very interested in pursuing critical care/emergency medicine due to the high intensity nature of the practice. However, what I found to be most valuable during those clinical experiences were the patient-centered discussions that I had, especially with my older adult patients. Quality of life is very important to me and I often found myself asking my patients "at this point of your health journey, what is most important to you?" Geriatrics was always a field of interest for me, as I had grown up volunteering in nursing homes and skilled care facilities as well as having a very close relationship with my grandparents. When I was recommended by a pulmonary-critical care fellow to do an away sub-internship at Mt. Sinai Morningside-West, I immediately fell in love with the program. Every senior resident I rotated with made it their priority to make sure that I was learning, and would prioritize educational discussions even in the middle of their busy work day. It was evident that I would be ranking this program #1 on my list, but when I heard that there was a dedicated Geriatrics Track in the program, my choice was obvious.s.

As a Categorical Medicine-Geriatrics intern, you rotate through all the same clinical blocks as your co-interns, but you have dedicated geriatrics clinic days during your clinic weeks. As early as your first day, you are already integrated into the Geriatrics fellowship program, and you have access to resources you would only have as a fellow at the Mt Sinai Hospital. Between Mt. Sinai West, Mt. Sinai Morningside, and Mt. Sinai Hospital, you get the most diverse patient populations in NYC, and early exposure to Geriatrics even as an intern. I am so happy with my decision, and I am thankful for all my coresidents. I am ecstatic to be spending 4 years at all the Mt. Sinai campuses training towards becoming a Medicine-Geriatrics physician.

Stefano Gattazzo, MD

Med-Geri Track PGY-3
I completed my residency program in Geriatrics in Italy, and I decided to challenge myself to become a physician doctor in the United States. I love the complexity of care of the elderly, and I positively value the holistic approach to patients, taking care of all the different aspects and trying to give them the best quality of life. I could not have asked for a better outcome than matching to the Internal Medicine-Geriatrics combined residency program at Mount Sinai Morningside-West. This combined program allows the Internist to develop excellent skills in caring for elderly patients. It provided me with Geriatric Medicine knowledge, frameworks, and skills since the beginning of the intern year. I have the privilege of having more considerable exposure to the geriatric population, working more days in the Geriatric clinic and floor, and helping with Geriatric consults. This environment allows me to connect with fellows and attendings, whom I will have the pleasure of working with during the Geriatric Medicine fellowship.

The Morningside-West program provides me with extensive clinical training and excellent academic activities such as academic half days and afternoon reports. In addition, through this program, I have the possibility to see patients of every socioeconomic and cultural background, which allows me to be exposed to different diseases.

The best thing about the program is the friendly environment. I have experienced amazing support from our program's chiefs and leadership. There is always someone to help me when I have questions or concerns and to teach me concepts or procedures.

Last but not least, New York City offers the best cultural activities like music concerts, museums, theaters, and especially restaurants, which are fundamentals for an Italian immigrant!!!

Kaitlyn Clausell, MD

When my grandmother was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I knew this meant her memories would slowly disappear; but it wasn’t until she moved in that I realized there’s much more complexity to this disease. The ensuing violence, vulgarity, and lewdness was not the grandmother who raised me, but another patient entirely. At her doctor’s appointments, I realized that her quality of care was subpar, as she only spoke Spanish. When I decided to pursue medicine, it was with my grandmother in mind. I recognize the lack of Spanish-speaking health care providers, and I resonate with the many barriers to care that our underserved population has to endure. Coming from medical school in the Bronx, the majority of the patients I cared for only spoke Spanish, which I found to be rewarding and meaningful. I was drawn to the MSMW program for the diverse patient population that I would work with.

Pursuing geriatric medicine with a focus on dementia and end of life care was a non-negotiable. The geriatrics program at Mount Sinai was the first of its kind and is world renowned. I applied for the geriatrics-primary care track, as it encompassed my values of commitment to serving the underserved, community outreach, and culturally-sensitive care. I have the privilege to work at Thelma as a PC track resident, and here I am able to directly engage with the community that I grew up in while maintaining my humility. I know that the MSMW program will foster my aspirations to practice preventive medicine, while also spreading healthcare literacy in communities that have historically been ignored.