Description by Year

PL-1 Year

During the first year of training, residents acquire clinical skills and knowledge for the care of children through guided yet independent decision-making. All first-year residents complete the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) course.

The first year consists of 13 four-week blocks. Three to four of these blocks focus on inpatient general pediatrics, and one concentrates on inpatient hematology/oncology. Residents spend one block in the busy nursery learning normal newborn care, physical examination skills, an introduction to breastfeeding and basics of newborn resuscitation in the delivery room. There is the opportunity to follow infants born at Inova Children's Hospital who then receive follow-up care at Inova Cares Clinic for Children, offering continuity for both the resident and the family.

PL-2 Year

Second year is one of increasing responsibility and independence. The second year resident accepts and triages admissions with the role of a teacher and supervisor. As a budding senior, they also get experience managing an inpatient team during some of the afternoons as well as managing our busy hematology/oncology unit during night team. Residents also act as the hematology/oncology unit supervisors during the day.

One block is spent in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and one in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Our residents have the privilege to attend deliveries at one of the busiest delivery centers in the nation, with the opportunity to lead resuscitation of distressed newborns. Residents also have one block of emergency medicine, one block at Inova Cares Clinic for Children, a half block of pediatric surgery, one block of adolescent medicine, as well as three electives. Overall, residents have ample opportunity to broaden their knowledge base and develop leadership and teaching skills.

PL-3 Year

By the third year, our residents are ready for the challenge of handling a busy inpatient floor, while teaching and supervising residents and medical students at various levels of training.

Third-year residents serve as inpatient team leaders during their ward and night team blocks, with plenty of autonomy to decide the plan of care for their patients. They supervise more junior residents on all rotations, including two blocks on the inpatient ward, one block in the NICU, and two blocks in the PICU. Residents also have at least three elective blocks during the third year and have an opportunity to individualize their curriculum to direct learning for specific future goals. This year residents have arranged rotations including EMS, private practice, medical French, dentistry, the business of medicine, and procedures.

During the one block at the Inova Cares Clinic for Children, residents have their own daily schedule and will see their own patients with minimal supervision from the pediatric attendings.

By the end of the residency, our residents are well prepared to start their careers in inpatient or outpatient pediatrics as well as in pediatric fellowships.

Rotations by Year

IEC – Individualized Education Curriculum. 1 block = 4 weeks