Training Curriculum
Residency at Children's Hospital delivers in-depth experience in both inpatient and outpatient areas, while progressively increasing individual responsibility and opportunities for elective study. In light of their important role as teachers, all residents are also offered faculty appointments in the School of Medicine as instructors.
First year
During their first year, house officers work in the Hospital's outpatient clinics and inpatient units, with primary responsibility for their assigned patients. Supervised by senior residents and staff physicians, they make initial evaluations and administer diagnostic studies and technical procedures for these cases. Residents write patient orders and provide the majority of their patients' care while coordinating and carrying out the recommendations of primary physicians and consultants. Only residents may write orders on pediatric patients. Medical students on their core pediatric clerkships are assigned to residents as part of the team.
First-year residents rotate through the five general medical units, emergency department and neonatal intensive care unit at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP). A portion of the class rotates in the cardiology, oncology, and pediatrics intensive care unit in the second part of the year. All interns get one month each for primary care and normal development, abnormal child development and community outreach (advocacy) for children with special health care needs, and elective.
Second year
The second year is an important period of transition. During this time, residents assume greater responsibility for patient care in the emergency department and intensive care units. In addition, they begin to take on a supervisory role, directing medical students on the Hospital's patient floors. Second-year residents rotate in the pediatric intensive care unit, the CHOP NICU, oncology unit, and cardiology unit. Rotations in community outreach (advocacy) for youth, an ambulatory experience in adolescent medicine and a primary care rotation round out the required rotations. The second year also provides elective time for residents to pursue areas of individual interest.
Third year
About 60 percent of the resident's third year is devoted to supervisory functions on the inpatient and outpatient services. The remaining 40 percent is reserved for elective activities.
Senior residents serve as supervisors on the inpatient units, in the emergency department and in the HUP neonatal intensive care unit. Their guidance in these areas plays a major role in teaching and directing junior residents and medical students from the University of Pennsylvania.
Electives during the third year include further study in any of 25 pediatric subspecialties, as well as opportunities to work in a variety of community settings outside Children's Hospital.
Preparation for the future
At the conclusion of their training at Children's Hospital, residents have a diverse choice of career paths. In the past, about one-third of the Hospital's graduating residents have embarked on a career in primary care pediatrics. The remainder have pursued a pediatric subspecialty or a career in academic medicine.
In addition, many Children's Hospital residents arrange to study abroad within cultures that match their specific interests. The rich network of international connections available at both Children's Hospital and the University of Pennsylvania has resulted in post-residency study in such locations as Shanghai, St. George's Island and Kenya.
Get more information:
Pediatric Residency Program
- 215-590-2437
