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 will complete the United States Medical Licensing Exam III (USMLE III), the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).
The PL-1 year consists of 13 four-week blocks, of which 4 focus on inpatient general pediatrics and 1.5 concentrate on inpatient Hematology and Oncology. Residents spend one block in the busy term nursery learning normal newborn care, a comprehensive newborn physical exam, the intricacies of breast feeding (taught by lactation consultants), and the key elements of a home visit. Many infants born at IFH receive follow-up care at the Inova Pediatric Center, often by the same resident, offering continuity for both the resident and the family.
Additional blocks during the first year include Behavior and Development, Emergency Medicine, and electives. Residents also begin their continuity clinic experience. By the end of the first year, residents will have established skills in a complete and thorough pediatric history and physical exam as well as management of common pediatric medical problems.
PL-2 YEAR
During the second year, residents spend more time in outpatient settings, including Electives, Private Practice, Emergency Medicine, and Adolescent Medicine. The second year is also one of increasing responsibility and independence. Under the tutelage of a third year resident, the junior resident carries a floor team during Night Team and supervises the Hematology/Oncology Unit. Residents also act as Ward Supervisors during the day. One block is spent in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and two are spent in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Overall, residents have ample opportunity to broaden their knowledge base and develop leadership and teaching skills.
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. During this year, residents consolidate their previous two years’ experiences into a more global perspective. Third-year residents serve as inpatient team leaders during their Inpatient and Night Team blocks. They supervise more junior residents on all rotations, including the inpatient ward, the NICU, and the PICU, as well as at the Inova Pediatric Center. The third year culminates in their role as Supervising Senior, where they not only oversee the general inpatient floor, but additionally handle all calls from outside emergency rooms, urgent care settings, and private pediatricians, discussing the diagnosis and plan of care directly with referring attending physicians.
