Pediatric Residency

The St. Christopher's Residency Program prides itself on the emphasis of education, training master clinicians and promoting academic success. As the requirements for the residency curriculum are changing for all programs across the country, St. Chris pediatric residents will have new, exciting and valuable opportunities throughout their education. In addition to an already successful curriculum in primary care, pediatric residents will have a greater opportunity to care for children with special healthcare needs and the capability to shape their own third year continuity experience. Also, categorical residents will have the opportunity to participate in six units of individualized curriculum focused on the career and educational goals of the resident.

Each year St. Christopher's Hospital for Children receives thousands of applications to its Pediatric Residency Program, from which 300 are chosen to interview. From this group, St. Christopher's picks 24 categorical PL-1 residents, who anticipate remaining for three years, two 1-year categorical PL-1 residents, who meet requirements for careers requiring one clinical year, (e.g. radiology, dermatology, PM&R), and two 2-year categorical positions for those planning a career in child neurology through the National Resident Matching Program. The criteria includes community service and enthusiasm for serving children, as well as traditional academic measurements. The residency program at St. Chris requires three letters of recommendation as part of the application process, but it does NOT require one to be from a chair or clerkship director.

Pediatric residents learn primarily through supervised patient care in the clinics and on inpatient units throughout the hospital's many sections. There is also an extensive formal teaching program, including regular attending rounds, daily noon conferences, chief rounds, grand rounds, and numerous subspecialty conferences. Information on conferences can be found here.

Each year, three PL-2 residents are picked to serve a fourth year as chief residents, who serve as leaders and have a wide range of responsibilities, similar to those of junior faculty members.

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

For more information about becoming a resident at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, please contact the Pediatric Residency Coordinator at (215) 427-5127 or patricia.cruz@tenethealth.com. Applications will only be accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).