Residency Training Program in General Pediatrics

Formal Teaching

The formal teaching component of the training program is accomplished primarily during patient care rounds, since clinical pediatrics is learned through the challenge of direct responsibility for and involvement with patients. However, in addition, there is a five-day a week program of scheduled rounds and conferences assuring a balanced, complete and comprehensive education. The learning experience is further rounded out by a full calendar of available conferences and meetings, both intra- and interdepartmental, throughout each day of the week. As an integral part of the training program, the following regularly scheduled didactics are provided: Morning Report (4 days/wk), Attending Rounds (daily), Residents' Conference/ABP Review/Core Curriculum Series (twice weekly), Residency Orientation Seminars (June), Orientation Review Series (daily July - Sept.), SUNY Grand Rounds (weekly), Kings County Grand Rounds (monthly) Patient Management/Case Conference (weekly), Ethics Conference (bimonthly), Journal Club (bimonthly), Morbidity and Mortality Conference (monthly), Radiology Conference (biweekly), Pathophysiology Conference (monthly), Continuity Clinic Conference (daily). Pediatric textbook sections or review articles are identified for reading about each of the content topics addressed. The Program's conference schedule is designed to cover the entire Content Specifications from the American Board of Pediatrics each year.

An important strength of a medical school based university training program is the opportunity to interact with other medical disciplines. All residents may attend any of the numerous conferences in myriad disciplines held by the other departments at the Health Science Center. In addition to the pediatric conferences described above, a number of multidisciplinary subspecialty conferences are held regularly. Some examples include:

• Perinatology Conference - conducted jointly with obstetrics and attended by appropriate specialists, such as those from genetics or neurology.
• Neonatal Radiology and Mortality Conferences - parallel the content of the pediatric conferences described above.
• Infectious Disease Conference - co-sponsored by the Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, these conferences include a monthly regional conference attended by infectious disease experts from institutions throughout Brooklyn.
• Immunology Conference - also co-sponsored by the Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, this conference addresses issues of interest to the Allergist/Immunologist.
• Pediatric Tumor Board - attended by pediatric oncologists, pediatric surgeons, radiologists, radiation oncologists, and other surgical subspecialists and neurologists as needed, this conference focuses on management issues in pediatric cancer patients;
• Renal Biopsy Conference - attended by adult and pediatric nephrologists and pathologists, this meeting reviews the clinical picture, renal biopsy results and management of patients with kidney disease;
• Pediatric Gastroenterology Conference - conducted by the Division of Pediatric GI and Nutrition, the conference reviews basic and clinical science topics as well as state of the art research related to this specialty, often with invited speakers from other institutions.
• Pediatric Chest Rounds - a weekly conference during which interesting and challenging cases are discussed in detail with review of pertinent pathophysiology, pulmonary functions, imaging studies, lab studies, procedures, clinical management issues and prognosis. In addition, the conference is often paired with topic reviews and/or journal article review.
• Pediatric Endocrine Conference - an interinstitutional conference conducted by an integrated subspecialty division, new issues are discussed, literature reviewed, research assessed, interesting cases presented with participation from academically oriented specialty faculty.
• Pediatric Catheterization Conference - now a misnomer, at this conference between cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and other subspecialists the clinical history, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, angiographic, and cardiac catheterization data of patients with congenital and acquired heart disease is reviewed to determine management.
• Pulmonary/E.N.T. Conference - is attended monthly by pulmonologists and the E.N.T. surgeons to discuss specific topics and issues of patient management of interest to both groups.

In addition, there are university-wide conferences held such as the Clinical Pathological Conference and the many honorary lectureships and visiting professorships. There are also seasonal didactic events. During the months of July and August, much of the conference schedule is replaced by an Orientation Series of lectures and discussions meant to introduce new residents to some basic topics in pediatrics and review these topics for more senior house staff. The department has sponsored annual conferences with both local and specially invited speakers in Pediatric Endocrinology, Pediatric Asthma, Developmental Disabilities, Pediatric Renal Disease, and Sickle Cell Disease. In the spring, there is Pediatric Alumni Day when distinguished members or alumni of the Department of Pediatrics are invited to give presentations about featured topics. And, in April, as preparation for the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting, time is arranged for residents and faculty whose abstracts have been accepted to give their presentations to the 'home crowd' first and demonstrate some of the research activities occurring within the department.