Introduction to the Program

Number of Residents:

• 20 Pediatric Residents per year
• 4 Medicine/Pediatric Residents per year
• 1 Pediatric/Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Resident per year

Hospitals:

• Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
• Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
• Christiana Care Health System

The Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, an entity of Nemours, serves as the primary teaching hospital for the pediatric residency program. The magnificent campus is located in Wilmington, Delaware, 35 minutes from the Jefferson campus. The program has a large full-time faculty of general pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists representing all disciplines. Residents in the program are members of the Jefferson house staff.

The residency program emphasizes balance, diversity, and flexibility. It is designed to provide the resident with exposure to a wide variety of pediatric pathology and patient-care environments while serving the urban, suburban, and rural pediatric populations in the Delaware Valley and surrounding areas. Throughout the three-year training period, residents are progressively given more responsibility, not only in patient care but in the teaching and supervision of students, junior residents, and other health care professionals.

Through the National Resident Match Program, there are 20 appointments each year to the pediatric residency program for those physicians planning a career in either general pediatrics or a pediatric subspecialty. In addition, we offer a combined six-year program in pediatrics/ physical medicine and rehabilitation. With Christiana Care Health System, we also offer four appointments in medicine-pediatrics each year.

For more information about the medicine-pediatrics program: visit Christiana Care Health System Residency Program.

Skills are developed in a step-by-step manner to ensure that each resident acquires independence and confidence while undergoing careful supervision.

The goal of the Pediatric Residency Program of Thomas Jefferson University is to train compassionate, clinically superior pediatricians who are prepared for private (office) practice or further subspecialization. The program exposes residents to a wide variety of pediatric pathology and patient-care environments while serving urban, suburban, and rural populations in the Delaware Valley. The main teaching site is the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, which offers a wide range of subspecialties and the latest advances in pediatric care. The Christiana Care Hospital and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital add busy NICU, ambulatory, and well-baby experiences. All residents get exposure to a childrens hospital and a university hospital serving distinct communities.

The entire spectrum of pediatric medical and surgical subspecialties is offered, with multiple pediatricians in each subspecialty. Although we have several fellowships available (including neonatology, critical care, rheumatology, gastroenterology, allergy, and emergency medicine), we are a resident-run program. We are now offering one position per year for a combined six-year pediatrics/physical medicine and rehabilitation program sponsored jointly by the pediatrics physical medicine and rehabilitation departments at Jefferson.

One of the strongest aspects of our program is the ambulatory care teaching rotation. The residents work in private pediatricians offices, as well as traditional hospital clinics as part of their longitudinal continuity experience. The health care issues in suburban private offices and urban hospital clinics are quite different and provide complementary experiences in our unique continuity practice program. Nationally-recognized experts in primary care and medical education provide close supervision in a state-of-the-art ambulatory care facility at Jefferson. Our modern pediatric emergency department treats approximately 35,000 children annually (staffed 24 hours a day by pediatric emergency attendings) and provides valuable hands-on experience with close supervision and teaching.

All residents get exposure to a broad range of experiences outside the traditional medical setting from child care facilities to high school health clinics. Electives in all pediatric and pediatric/surgical subspecialties are available throughout our medical system. All residents are certified in PALS and Neonatal Resuscitation Program in the first year of training.

Our varied conference schedule includes ethics, journal clubs, case conferences, and board review, generally with meals provided. Our trainees also can elect to participate in outside rotations in other cities or countries to broaden their pediatric educational experience during their call-free elective time.

With our $9 million in grant funding, active mentor support, and schedule flexibility, resident research is strongly encouraged. Involvement in community advocacy projects is also fostered. About half of our graduates routinely pursue primary care opportunities, and half go on to further subspecialty fellowship training.

The personal needs of our house staff are also important to our faculty. Annual overnight retreats, flexible call schedules with designated back-up call residents, call-free electives, regular stress reduction and career planning seminars, and generous education stipends are all part of our program. The house staff is very active in curriculum planning and regularly receives and gives feedback on performance and the quality of each rotation. Funds are available to support resident purchase of books, journals and computer supplies.

Flexibility Integral to Program

The curriculum is open to modification to accommodate residents interests. Upper-level residents have an opportunity to select specific elective rotations in subspecialty areas of interest, in private offices, or electives away from the hospital or an overseas elective based on individual needs. The program can be directed to support each residents career goals. For example, those who want to pursue fellowships may incorporate a strong research component into their curriculum.

As a growing medical center with unparalleled resources and committed physician educators, we are truly excited about our Pediatric Residency Training Program.