Pediatric Residency Program Overview

Each year St. Christopher's Hospital for Children receives thousands of applications to its Pediatric Residency Program from which 300 are selected to interview. From this group, St. Christopher's selects 24 PL-1  residents through the National Resident Matching Program. The criteria of the Selection Committee include community service and enthusiasm for serving children, as well as traditional academic measurements.

St. Christopher's also provides positions at the PL-2  and PL-3  levels and two chief residents. 

Pediatric residents learn primarily through supervised patient care in the clinics and on the inpatient units. There is also an extensive formal teaching program, including regular attending rounds, daily noon conferences, chief rounds, grand rounds, and numerous subspecialty conferences.

In addition, residents assist in the instruction of the medical students from Drexel University College of Medicine who have their clerkships and senior electives at St. Christopher's. Senior students may come from other medical schools from across the country. All visiting student rotations must be coordinated through Drexel University College of Medicine.

In addition to inpatient and outpatient clinical experiences, there are several conferences that are part of our core curriculum:

Noon Conference

A daily conference presented to the house staff by the faculty, which covers a three-year curriculum cycle approved by the Resident Education Committee. 

Chief Rounds

The Chief Residents facilitate a daily conference geared toward upper level residents. Interesting case presentations, diagnostic dilemmas and management issues are discussed with Chief Residents and attendings. 

Grand Rounds

A weekly conference attended by faculty and house staff, as well as pediatricians from the community. The format alternates each week between case presentations/discussions and didactic presentations of current pediatric topics presented by St. Christopher's faculty or visiting faculty.

Journal Club

A monthly small-group seminar devoted to the critical review of articles from the current medical literature emphasizing an evidence-based medicine approach. The articles for discussion are chosen by the house staff.

Resident CPCs

During the third year, residents prepare for a clinicopathologic conference (CPC). This 1-hour, power point, evidence based, "grand rounds" style talk is presented by each PL-3 to the house staff and faculty using the principles learned during the 3rd year "teach resident" rotation.

Radiology Rounds

Another highlight of our program is that every radiological study performed our inpatients is reviewed daily with a pediatric radiology attending. Our radiologists are approachable, knowledgeable, and very effective teachers.

Other Conferences

Numerous formal and informal educational opportunities exist for house staff via rounds, lectures and conferences held daily throughout the hospital. Such opportunities include but are not limited to "attending rounds", "subspecialty rounds" and "infectious disease grand rounds.” The house staff is encouraged to attend as many conferences as possible.

More information on a typical daily schedule.

PL-1 Academic Year

PL-2 Academic Year

PL-3 Academic Year

Pediatric Dental Residency Program

For information on this program, click here.