Residency Subspecialty Education

The required rotation in behavioral and developmental pediatrics is an extensive outpatient experience given in a one month block to all residents. Although occasional consultations are made on the inpatient and critical care units at KCHC and UHB, 95% of the experience is had in a variety of outpatient settings. The rotation begins with an introduction to normal development and behavior and instruction in proper technique for performing the Denver Developmental Assessment II and behavioral screening devices.

Throughout the month long rotation at KCHC/UHB, residents can attend:

• Neurodevelopment and High Risk Follow-up Clinics
• Development Evaluation Center (developmental disabilities, autism, pervasive developmental disorders, Aspergers Disorder, communication disorders, mental retardation, learning disabilities, ADHD)
• The early intervention program of the Infant Child Learning Center (premature children, low birth weight, HIV positive, CP, microcephaly, hypotonia, neonatal seizure, hydrocephalus, etc. evaluate psychosocial systems and issues and psychometric testing)
• Walk-in Child Psychiatry Clinic (ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, adjustment disorder, school failure, depression, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, school refusal)
• Audiology/ENT to learn hearing and language evaluation
• Neuropsychology/Psychology Clinic (IFSP, Bayley, Stanford Binet, therapy/counseling)
• Neurobehavioral Clinic
• Occupational/Speech/Language/Physical Therapy
• Psychopharmacology Clinic
• Orthopedics/Rehab Clinic
• Pediatric Ophthalmology Clinic
• Spina Bifida and Neuroanatomical Disorders Clinic
• Neurobehavior Clinic
• Genetics Clinic

In addition to this wealth of experiences, residents are required to make off-site visits to:

• The United Cerebral Palsy School
• The St. Francis School for the Deaf
• League Treatment Center for autistic/emotionally disturbed/neurodevelopmentally disabled children
• Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities

Residents maintain a log of all patient encounters, which is reviewed and discussed weekly with the rotation director. The clinical experiential components of the rotation are enhanced by a comprehensive didactic series.

Longitudinally, the experience and skills acquired during the block rotation is augmented and reinforced in all patient care settings. Developmental and behavioral assessment is an integral component of the evaluation and management of all patient encounters in the inpatient and ambulatory care settings under supervision of pediatric faculty serving as ward and clinic attending. Developmental and behavioral assessment is an important component of the continuity practice. The Division of Developmental Pediatrics and Child Behavioral Services are readily available for education and consultation at all times. Interdisciplinary Psychosocial Rounds are held on an ad hoc basis on inpatient units and critical care units to address the emotional and developmental impact of chronic and life-threatening illness and the antecedents and consequences of traumatic life events.