PEDIATRICS
Guidelines for Elective Programs and Residency Training

ELECTIVE LIST

The purpose of the senior electives in pediatrics is to offer the student further experience in the medical care of children in a variety of settings. These experiences help the student increase his or her clinical competence as a physician, especially in relation to the special characteristics of health and disease in infants, children, and adolescents. Such electives are intended for students considering a career in pediatrics, family practice, combined pediatrics-internal medicine, dermatology, child psychiatry, pediatric neurology or one of the surgical specialties in which children constitute a part of the patient population.

A student interested in a career in pediatrics or combined pediatrics-internal medicine is advised to take electives which will help the individual to become a better pediatrician. These include electives in general pediatrics and pediatric subspecialties as well as electives in dermatology, radiology, pediatric surgical subspecialties, pediatric neurology, sports medicine, pediatric anesthesiology, genetics, ethics, and child psychiatry to list a few . At least one month should be spent on inpatient services in which the senior student functions as an intern. This expands the student's basic pediatric knowledge, allows the student to gain intensive experience in the diagnosis and management of children with serious illnesses, and helps the student to become comfortable with technical procedures. In addition, electives in which the student functions as an intern enables the student to develop organizational skills which are necessary to become a successful and happy resident. The student is advised to take one month of elective in a busy newborn intensive care unit. Students desiring to improve their fund of pediatric knowledge and to develop advanced life support skills in pediatrics may be interested in the Pediatric Therapeutics elective. If you are interested in pediatrics as a career and design your senior year based on the above recommendations, you will be well prepared for pediatric residency; this preparation will significantly decrease the stress during your residency, make your residency a happier experience and enable you to learn more during your residency, all of which will help you become a better pediatrician.

The student who is interested in a career in academic pediatrics may wish to take one or more months of special electives in research sponsored by the Department of Pediatrics or other departments. Students who may have an interest in this area may wish to contact one of the Pediatric Education faculty members for assistance in finding research opportunities. 

Dr. Schreiner (274-7810), Dr. Rushton (274-4034 ), Dr. Harris (274-3807), Dr. Kunzer (274-3807), Dr. Ciccarelli (278-0003) or other members of the Department of Pediatrics would be glad to counsel students concerning electives. Students who are interested in pediatrics as a possible career choice are encouraged to schedule a meeting with Dr. Schreiner at the end of their junior year or early in their senior year.

The student who is planning a career in family practice is encouraged to take pediatric electives in the following areas: (1) A general pediatric inpatient elective; (2) a general pediatric outpatient elective; and (3) an elective in newborn medicine which includes delivery room experience, normal newborn care, and intermediate-level newborn intensive care experience.

GUIDELINES FOR RESIDENCY TRAINING

Most pediatric program directors like to receive the completed applications for residency/internships by November and have personal interviews with the prospective candidates sometime between November and January. The Department of Pediatrics generally has a series of informational meetings for students as they go through the process of applying to residency programs. To be sure you are included in an email list for announcements, students may contact the Pediatric Education Office at 274-3807. 

Most programs require a transcript of medical school grades and two to four letters of recommendation. For those students interested in pediatrics, it is generally desirable that one or two letters be from faculty members in the Indiana University Department of Pediatrics. Applicants for the pediatric program at Indiana University will be interviewed by appointments arranged through the Department of Pediatrics House Staff Education Office (274-4034). Students desiring a residency in pediatrics should, if possible, schedule at least part of their senior electives in pediatrics from June to January so that their performance can be included in their evaluation and letters of recommendation.

When selecting a program, there are several factors to consider:

  1. Will the program provide a well-rounded experience both in inpatient and ambulatory settings? Will it provide experience in taking care of children with common pediatric problems and children who have serious illnesses?
  2. The highest quality residency available should be sought. The house staff years are probably the most important in one's professional career. The residency should allow responsibility for patients under the supervision of faculty in preparation for independent performance as a practitioner. This experience should be exciting, challenging, and offer opportunities for initiative, and elective experiences tailored to the individual professional objectives and goals of the house officer. It should not merely equip one to deliver today's medical care, but also insure that one acquires those habits of practice, thought, and study that will permit one to keep abreast of the field throughout one's career.
  3. Probably the most important ingredient in a superb residency is the model presented by the faculty and the quality of practice they deliver. In a field as broad as pediatrics, one should look for a wide variety of such mentors. In addition to a large number of pediatric generalists and a full range of pediatric sub-specialists, the program should have pediatric surgical sub-specialists, pediatric radiologists, pediatric pathologists, as well as appropriate allied health services. The residency should be exciting years in an atmosphere that is both practical and academic. The presence of faculty members engaged in research is also advantageous since critical assessment is an integral part of superb patient care.
  4. When one visits a large number of residency programs it is difficult to remember all the important aspects of each program. The student is encouraged to develop a list of important points, a flow sheet, or a photocopied form to score each residency program while reading the brochure. After completion of the visit to the program, the flow sheet should be studied again. Otherwise, it is difficult to remember the various positive and negative aspects of each program. The following are some points that a student might want to consider on this list:

Dr. Richard Schreiner or other members of the Department of Pediatrics would be pleased to serve as advisors in relation to the pediatric training. An appointment can be made by calling 274-7810.

Richard L. Schreiner, M.D.
Gresham Professor and Chairman
Department of Pediatrics

 

ELECTIVE LIST