What’s the Best Pediatric Residency Program for You?

List of Best Pediatric Residency Programs

1. Pediatric Residency Program at University of Pennsylvania Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) 
2. Pediatrics-Medical Genetics Residency Training Program at Children’s Hospital/Boston Medical Center 
3. Pediatric Residency Training Program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital 
4. Core Paediatric Resident Program at University of Toronto 
5. General Pediatric Residency Training Program at University of British Columbia 
6. Pediatric Residency Program at Massachusetts General Hospital 
7. Pediatric Residency Program (MacPeds) at McMaster University 
8. The Harriet Lane Pediatric Residency Program at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine 
9. General Pediatrics Core Residency Program at McGill University 
10. Pediatric Residency Program at University of California San Francisco 
11. UW Pediatric Residency Training at University of Washington 
12. General Pediatrics at University of Calgary 
13. Pediatric Residency Program at University of Colorado 
14. Pediatrics Residency at Duke University School of Medicine 
15. General Pediatrics Residency Program at University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry 

Want to learn common residency interview questions? Watch this video:

What Makes a Pediatric Residency Program the Best? 

While there is no conclusive answer to this question, there are quite a lot of factors that can determine which pediatric residency program is the best for you. A program that fulfills all the criteria for one student may not check all the boxes for another student, which makes the phrase “best residency program” quite subjective. 

When it comes to what makes a program stand out, it could be the variety of facilities, the faculty members, affiliate hospitals, comprehensive curriculum, suitability to the student’s goals, focus on research, potential outcomes, urban vs rural residency locations, and more. This is a decision that will require some introspection and looking at a few of the best pediatric residency programs should help you make your decision. Here are 5 programs (3 of which are in the US, and 2 in Canada) that are considered to be ‘top’ residency programs for pediatrics: 

Best Pediatric Residency Programs in the US

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania 

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

Program Length: 3 years 

Accreditation: ACGME 

Program Structure and Highlights

• Faculty Appointments: All residents are offered instructor positions in the School of Medicine. 
• Scheduling Model: Follows an X+Y structure (six-week + two-week). 

1. X: Includes ED, ICU, and floor rotations. 
2. Y: Includes academic half-day, continuity clinic, advocacy time, and individualized educational units (IEUs). 

Training Tracks

• Physician-Scientist Program (PSP): Various pathway options including traditional, modified traditional, accelerated research, and integrated research. 
• Global Health Track: Includes mentorship, international rotations, and educational sessions. 
• Leadership in Equity, Advocacy, and Policy (LEAP) Track: Focuses on pediatric equity, advocacy, and policy. 

Resident Outcomes

Career Paths

Support and Feedback

• Mentorship and Meetings: Regular housestaff meetings, resident representation on committees, and annual retreats. 
• Resident Feedback: Consistently reported support from peers and administrators. 

Key Specialties:

1. Pediatrics 
2. Pediatric Surgery 
3. Pediatric Oncology 

For more details, refer to official resources from NRMP and AMA's FREIDA database. 

Want to know the most competitive and least competitive residencies? Watch this video:

2. Children’s Hospital/Boston Medical Center

Program Overview

• Location: Boston, Massachusetts
• Duration: 4 years
• Specialties: Pediatrics, Medical Genetics

Program Structure

• Pediatrics Training
• Care for infants, children, and adolescents.
• 50% ambulatory setting rotations in fields such as oncology, emergency medicine, child development, and gastroenterology.
• Medical Genetics Training
• Dysmorphology, inborn errors of metabolism, prenatal diagnosis, genomics, adult genetic disease, cancer genetics.

Individualized Curriculum

• Duration: 6 months over three years.
• Components: 3 months Academic Development Block, 3 months other relevant rotations.

Training Tracks

Clinical Experience

Hospitals

• Boston Children’s Hospital: 3 months inpatient and outpatient care.
• Massachusetts General Hospital: Rotations.
• Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Veteran’s Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute: 2 months rotating.

Unique Features

• Combined resources of Boston Combined Residency Program in Pediatrics and Harvard Medical School Residency Program in Medical Genetics.
• Access to leading hospitals and research opportunities within the Harvard Medical School system.

3. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital University of Cincinnati

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

Duration: 3 years

Specialties: General Pediatrics, Subspecialty Pediatrics

Program Structure

• PL-1 Year: Broad practical experiences in inpatient and ambulatory settings.
• PL-2 and PL-3 Years: Strengthening clinical skills with subspecialty electives and rotations through emergency department and ICUs.

Unique Pathways

Program Highlights

• Broad and rigorous exposure to general and subspecialty patients.
• Research and quality improvement opportunities.
• Strong mentorship and supportive environment.
• Six unique pathways for career development as part of six-month protected rotations.

Best Pediatric Residency Programs in Canada

Canada uses the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS), a not-for-profit organization and residency match service that provides a computer-based match for students to enter a residency program of their choice. The application process also includes creating an ROL or residency rank order list.

1. University of Toronto

Program Overview

• Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Duration: 4 years
• Focus Areas: Patient care, education, scientific investigation

Program Structure

Core Knowledge Areas

• Adolescent Medicine
• Care of the Newborn
• Community Pediatrics
• Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Yearly Focus

• Year 1: Core pediatric knowledge and skills.
• Year 2: Pediatric subspecialty experience in fields like cardiology, endocrinology, oncology, neurology, gastroenterology, and developmental pediatrics.
• Year 3: Graded responsibility and supervisory experiences in a CTU setting.
• Year 4: General pediatrics training.

Clinical Rotations

Primary Sites

• Hospital for Sick Children: Exposure to a wide range of common pediatric problems.
• Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.
• Michael Garron Hospital.
• North York General Hospital.

Evaluation and Assessment

• Competence Committee: Evaluates each resident’s progress twice a year.
• In-Training Examination: American Board of Pediatrics exam at the beginning of each year.
• Academic Half-Day Exams: MCQ and SAQ exams twice a year.
• OSCE: 10-station examination once a year.
• Electronic In-Training Evaluation Reports (ITERs): Submitted at the end of each rotation.
• Clinical Skills and Work-Based Assessments: Ongoing evaluations to support resident improvement.

Program Highlights

• Diverse Resident Population: Residents from around the world.
• Multicultural Patient Population: Unique exposure to diverse patient demographics in Toronto.
• Supportive Environment: Testimonials highlight the friendly and supportive atmosphere.
• Resident Engagement: Social functions including a baseball game, holiday party, annual fundraising gala, and other activities to foster a wholesome learning environment.

For more detailed and up-to-date information on each of the programs mentioned, consult the following sources, as well as each program’s individual website:

• National Resident Matching Program (NRMP): NRMP Main Residency Match Data
• American Medical Association (AMA) FREIDA: FREIDA Residency Program Database

2. University of British Columbia

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Duration: 4 years

Focus Areas: Social pediatrics, care of vulnerable children and youth

Program Structure

Competence By Design (CBD)

• Transition to Discipline: 4 weeks at BC Children’s Hospital.
• Foundations: 10 weeks at BC Children’s Hospital and/or rural centers.
• Core: Neonatal care (Level II-III nursery), pediatric intensive care, emergency medicine, psychosocial, anesthesia, and electives.
• Transition to Practice: Junior consultant roles, emergency medicine, complex care, subspecialty electives, and electives.

Clinical Rotations

Acute Care and Ambulatory Pediatrics

• Inpatient care, community general pediatrics, neonatal care, and subspecialties.

Subspecialty Rotations

• Neonatal intensive care, pediatric intensive care, emergency medicine, and others.

Research Opportunities

Integrated Research Program

• Basic science, clinical, or medical education research.
• Presentation opportunities at Celebrate Research Day or conferences.
• Resident Journal Club focusing on clinical research methodologies and literature appraisal.

Unique Features

Local and Global Health Initiatives

• Local health advocacy projects and outreach programs.
• Global partnerships with countries like Australia and South Africa.

Strong Focus on Research

• Encourages participation and independent research.
• Residents gain significant experience and exposure to various research methodologies.

Tips to Match With the Best Pediatric Residency Programs

You can improve your chance of matching by improving individual components of your residency application, and knowing what residency program directors look for in order to shine and stand out among other applicants. Here are some tips:

 1. High USMLE Scores

Aim for Excellence: Strive for USMLE Step 1 scores above 235 and Step 2 CK scores above 240. These scores significantly boost your chances of securing interviews at competitive pediatrics programs.

2. Strong Letters of Recommendation

Choose Wisely: ERAS letters of recommendation, or CaRMS reference letters, are essential for a strong application. Obtain letters from academic pediatricians, especially those who are leaders in their fields, such as department chairs or program directors, who can speak to the qualities you have that would make you an exceptional pediatrics resident. For instance, perhaps you have a gentle nature that children and parents are drawn to, or you’re talented at explaining scary or complex diagnoses with consideration and care. Typically, 3 letters are ideal; and it’s best to always give 2-3 months’ notice to your referees, too!

3. Pediatrics-Specific Personal Statement

Focus on Commitment: Highlight your dedication to pediatrics through relevant experiences, such as pediatric rotations, volunteer work with children, and any relevant research. Clearly articulate your career goals within pediatrics and why you are drawn to this very sensitive specialty​; you’ll have an enormous impact on many young lives, and you must communicate how you will bring positive expertise to the field. Maybe this is a passion you developed as a child when you helped a sibling during an accident, or perhaps you have a special passion for working in oncology and with children. Have a look at some pediatrics personal statement examples to inspire your writing!

4. Comprehensive Residency CV

Showcase Experience: Include detailed information on your academic background, clinical rotations, research, volunteer work, and any pediatric-specific experiences. Keep your CV updated and well-organized to reflect your ongoing growth and achievements​; ask for residency CV editing help if you need it.

5. Elective and Audition Rotations

Gain Exposure: Participate in pediatric elective or audition rotations at prestigious institutions. This not only gives you valuable experience but also allows you to obtain strong letters of recommendation from well-known pediatricians at these institutions​, which will only help enhance your pediatrics residency application.

6. Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)

Continuous Improvement: Work on enhancing your clinical performance by seeking feedback and incorporating it into your practice. This evaluation highlights your academic progress and noteworthy characteristics, which are crucial for residency applications.

7. Interview Preparation

Mock Interviews: As part of your ERAS interview prep or CaRMS interview prep, a great way to stand out from the competition and gain confidence is to participate in residency mock interviews. The committee will be assessing your communication skills, interpersonal skills, professionalism, and more, so make sure you share experiences that highlight these skills. You should also review different pediatric residency interview questions and be sure that you’re ready to answer why you’re passionate about the field and the future career path/goals you have in mind. You may even be asked, “Why pediatrics?” This is a question you don’t want to be stumped on!

8. Research and Publications

Relevant Contributions: While not the most critical factor, engaging in pediatrics-related research and having publications can strengthen your application. Highlight any research experiences in your CV and personal statement​.

9. Community and Extracurricular Involvement

Holistic Profile: Demonstrate your well-roundedness through involvement in community service, especially activities related to children’s health and well-being. This can make you a more attractive candidate to residency programs that value holistic development​.

10. Diverse Clinical Experience

Broaden Your Horizons: In pediatrics, you’ll be exposed to a diverse range of people, challenges and settings; that’s why we recommend that you gain diverse clinical experience, including international rotations if possible. This can enhance your understanding of pediatric care in different settings and make you a more versatile candidate​.

By focusing on these tailored tips, you can improve your chances of matching with top pediatric residency programs. Remember to start early, stay organized, and seek guidance from mentors and advisors to ensure all aspects of your application are as strong as possible

FAQs

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

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