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.

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.

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.

Teaching Resident (4 weeks)
This innovative experience allows 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, one-hour, grand rounds-style presentation created by each PL-3 and presented to the house staff and faculty).

Attending in Training (4-8 weeks)
In this unique experience, PL-3's are trained to admit, care for, and discharge patients as an independent hospitalist. One week of this rotation is spent triaging patient admissions and overseeing flow on the inpatient services.

Inpatient (4 week block plus 2 weeks as float supervisor)
The PL-3 resident serves six weeks as floor chief on the inpatient services. They run the team and make patient care decisions in conjunction with the attending physician. Here the PL-3 oversees three-four interns, sub-interns and medical students. This serves as an excellent opportunity to sharpen independent decision making skills, learn team management and facilitate personal growth as an educator. They also coordinate with the multidisciplinary services and learn a great deal about the administrative aspects of patient care.

Intensive Care Unit (4 weeks)
As a 3rd year, the intensive care experience is divided within the ICU, cardiac intensive care and special care unit. The PL-3 will gain experience managing the acutely ill patient, trauma patients, children with cardiovascular malformations and technology dependent patients. Also, the PL3 will serve as the team leader on the rapid response team, which will respond to codes and ill patients throughout the hospital. The call schedule follows the traditional q4 system.

Procedures (2 weeks)
PL-3 will have the opportunity to fine tune competencies in a variety of procedures via simulation and models as well as directly observed performance with actual patients. In addition, the PL3 will be responsible for designing and implementing mock codes using simulation models.

Night Shift (2-3 weeks)
PL-3 residents supervise junior residents on night shift two to three weeks during the year. In conjunction with the PL-1, you will handle all admissions and patient care issues on the floors.

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 three 25-minute pre-clinic talks per year and nine patient visits per session.

Vacation (4 weeks)