Department of Pediatrics

Rotations and Responsibilities

The three year residency training program in pediatrics includes rotations in Inpatient Pediatrics, Neonatal, and Pediatric Intensive Care units, the General Pediatric clinic, and a full menu of electives. A unique feature of our training program is an opportunity to gain experience in rural pediatrics, whether on a rural pediatric elective or seeing children referred here from throughout the state. Residents attend continuity clinics one-half day per week throughout their three years. While these clinics are usually done on campus, arrangements can be made to have continuity clinics at an off-campus site. Sample Schedule - Click Here.

The PL-1 resident devotes most of his or her time to direct patient care, with two months on Newborn Nursery; two months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and three months on the Pediatric Inpatient Service. All of these rotations take place in the WVU Children's Hospital. One month each is spent on Developmental Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine, and Emergency Medicine. Two months in the General Pediatric Clinic round out the year. All rotations take place on campus, with the exception of some ancillary and outreach experiences during the Developmental and Adolescent rotations. PL-1s are encouraged to take on a major responsibilities for individual patient management, with care guided by junior and senior residents as well as attending faculty.

The PL-2 resident on the Inpatient Service has significant responsibility for supervision and teaching of third year medical students, fourth year sub-interns, and interns from our department as well as other rotating services. He or she is responsible for directing work rounds of the ward team, in which management plans for the patients are made. A PL-2 spends two months as a supervising resident on the Pediatric Inpatient Service, one month in NICU, and one month in PICU. In addition, residents spend a month as our "Night Float" resident, a month in Pediatric Acute Care Clinic and one month in Community Pediatrics, with the remainder of the time spent on electives. Primary care skills are shared as the resident's continuity clinic expands.

In addition to supervising all patient care when on the Inpatient Service, the PL-3 resident participates with attending faculty in the teaching of junior house staff and students. He or she coordinates teaching rounds on the floor and acts as the main inpatient consultant in Children's Hospital. Ambulatory training includes functioning as a pediatric consultant during the Pediatric Acute Care Clinic, and as a family pediatrician in the continuity clinic. The PL-3 resident's schedule is similar to the Pl-2 year, with six months available for electives.

PL 2 and PL 3 residents are encouraged to engage in a research project during one or more of their elective months. Other elective opportunities include spending time in a remote rural site through our Rural Health Education Partnership Program or spending time at an overseas international site.