The third year continues the indepth education including pediatric subspecialties.

Pediatric Level-3 Academic Year

Objectives for the third year include continuation of in-depth education in pediatric subspecialties, development of supervisory and teaching capabilities, increased familiarity with the role of consultants and refinement of primary care pediatric skills. 

Elective (20-24 weeks)

Elective opportunities include infectious disease, nephrology, hematology/oncology, pulmonology, rheumatology, allergy, cardiology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, genetics, immunology, neonatology, radiology, anesthesia, general surgery and surgical subspecialties, neurology, psychiatry, research and private practice. There is also a “call free” month during the year that can be used for electives at other institutions or abroad. Residents on elective will periodically cover jeopardy and weekend call for their inpatient colleagues.

Inpatient/ICU (8 weeks)

The PL-3 resident serves four to eight weeks as floor chief on the inpatient services. They run the team and make patient care decisions in conjunction with the attending physician. They are directly responsible for teaching and supervision of sub-interns as well as ensuring a strong team morale. They also coordinate with the nursing supervisor and learn a great deal about the administrative aspects of patient care.

Emergency Department (8-12 weeks)

The senior ER resident acts as a junior attending. They have knowledge of every patient in the emergency room and are responsible for coordinating all admissions and facilitating consultations.  Their role is mainly supervisory but if the ER is busy they may "push charts" to help the team catch up.

Intensive Care Unit (0-4 weeks + 2 weeks of night float)

1/2 of the PL-3 class will spend a month as the ICU supervisor. They are responsible for overseeing and advising the underclass residents, organizing mock codes, and for collaborating with the nursing supervisor to ensure the inpatient beds are being used appropriately. 

Teaching Resident (4 weeks)

This innovative experience allows the PL-3’s to become more effective teachers via structured educational sessions on bedside teaching, formal presentations, feedback and precepting. Following instruction, the resident is directly observed performing many teaching interventions followed by feedback. The PL-3 has the opportunity to practice teaching techniques with interns and third year medical students in several inpatient and outpatient settings. The techniques learned during this rotation are used to create an effective CPC (an evidence based, power-point, 1-hour, grand rounds-style presentation created by each PL-3 and presented to the house staff and faculty). 

General Outpatient Pediatrics (0-4 weeks)

Residents interested in primary care may elect to spend 4 weeks at our downtown clinic supervising PL-1’s and medical students in a private practice setting.

Night Float (6-8 weeks) 

PL-3 residents supervise junior residents on night float 6-8 weeks during the year (in two week intervals).  In conjunction with the PL-1, you will handle all admissions and patient care issues on the floors. An attending physician is always available for questions at any hour of the night. 

Continuity Clinic (1/2 day weekly)

The third year is bittersweet. While the patients that you’ve cared for are growing up right in front of your eyes, they discover that their beloved doctor will soon be leaving. PL-3’s are scheduled for at least 3 twenty-five minute pre-clinic talks per year and 9 patient visits per session.

Vacation (4 weeks)

Click Next to read more about the Chief Residency part of the program.