Pediatrics is an interesting aspect of medical practice. Some fresh graduates decide to specialize in it immediately after med school. Pediatric medicine is the branch of medicine responsible for children’s health care. The average pediatric patients usually range from infants to children and adolescents under 18.
The duties and obligations of a pediatric doctor include prescribing medications and instructing the parents on treatment plans plus strict adherence to them, stating therapeutic measures, and daily check-up on the health status of ill children in the wards.
Doctors who want to specialize in this branch of medicine must do a Pediatric Residency Program. If you’re a pediatrician doctor, you may be looking for the top pediatric residency programs best suited for you.
In that case, read this article to discover which of the enlisted ones is right for you. First, let’s understand what a pediatric residency program is about.
Table of Contents
- What Is A Pediatric Residency Program?
- How Competitive is Pediatrics Residency and Why Bother Enrolling in the First Place?
- What do Pediatric Residents do?
- How Much Does a Pediatric Resident Make?
- Which Body Accredits Pediatric Residency Programs?
- How Much Does it Cost to Enroll in a Pediatric Residency Program?
- How Many Years Does it Take to Complete a Pediatric Residency Program?
- What Are The Requirements You Need To Apply For Top Pediatric Residency Programs?
- How Does One Apply for Pediatric Residency Program?
- Top 10 Pediatric Residency Programs in 2024
- Conclusion
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What Is A Pediatric Residency Program?
Usually, at around the final year of medical school, arrangements are put in place for new doctors to apply for a residency program of their choice.
A pediatric residency program is post-graduate training that dives deep into the specialty of Pediatric Medicine for fresh MD (Doctor of Medicine) holders. This time period will drastically increase your medical knowledge base and clinical skills.
A resident must be present for clinical rotations and ward rounds with the team throughout the course of the residency program. In addition to that, pediatric residents must commit to learning the diagnostic techniques and treatment plans for various patient cases.
Residents need not only to show off their clinical acumen in the wards or theaters but also to continuously study, attend conferences, and write exams at some intervals. Once enrolled, you’re working, learning, and improving while earning. How awesome!
How Competitive is Pediatrics Residency and Why Bother Enrolling in the First Place?
The pediatrics residency program is quite competitive compared to other medical subspecialties of lesser demand.
Pediatric residency programs are training grounds for aspiring young doctors to improve their unique skills and advance their medical careers. Residency programs enable graduates to understand the nitty-gritty of the profession intentionally.
This branch of medicine is so intricate because it involves babies, toddlers, children, and young adults whose body systems are small and underdeveloped. Thus, the need for thorough training and the acquisition of clinical acumen. Nevertheless, with an MCAT score of 200, your chance of being matched with a hospital is 95%, and with a score >240, you are almost certain of getting matched.
Because medical schools are hard to complete, some students are already downhearted by the unlikelihood of scaling through the duration of the residency. They don’t see the need to struggle to enter hospitals that painstakingly pick a select few doctors for their residency programs. With all this in mind, enrolling in a pediatric residency program is still good if you’re serious about becoming a certified pediatric doctor.
One big reason to enroll is that residency allows you to work with real-life patients and handle them yourself without the much supervision you get while in medical school.
Also, you get to learn teamwork with fellow resident doctors and even take leadership roles in helping medical students and interns.
What do Pediatric Residents do?
A resident typically starts the day early and updates herself with the medical or surgical reports of the night before. The junior doctors present previous or new cases, and the patients on appointment are presented to you to take care of.
In addition to the duties and obligations of a pediatrician doctor that was briefly highlighted in the opening paragraph, a pediatric resident also attends lectures and closely follows the senior doctors during ward rounds in the hospital.
Depending on some factors, you may work about 40 hours a week or as much as 80 hours. Certain factors determine your work hours, such as the number of available resident doctors and how intense your rotation will be (proportional to the number of in and outpatients).
How Much Does a Pediatric Resident Make?
Glassdoor reports that pediatricians receive an average base pay of $163,116 annually. Of course, this is the US national average for pediatric doctors, but it varies depending on your location.
If you stay in Los Angeles, your living expenses will be higher and, thus, higher salary than in Georgia.
Concerning the job outlook of the profession, Learn.org tells us more. It says that statistical studies reveal a 2% job growth for pediatricians between 2018-2028.
Which Body Accredits Pediatric Residency Programs?
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) is the main body that accredits all the 199 existing Pediatric Residency Programs in the USA.
ACGME states the criteria for one’s qualification into any residency program in all 1000+ medical and surgical subspecialties.
How Much Does it Cost to Enroll in a Pediatric Residency Program?
An average Pediatric Residency Program will cost between the price range of $50,000 to $85,000. This varies significantly according to the residency program you’re enrolling in.
In addition to that, you’ll pay an Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) fee upon application.
How Many Years Does it Take to Complete a Pediatric Residency Program?
Residency in North America and some parts of the world usually lasts 3 years. But it may exceed that if you choose to subspecialise in a specific niche of pediatrics, for instance, pediatric cardiology or pediatric neurology.
After the 3 years of training and clinical residency, the doctor will become eligible for writing the American Board of Pediatrics, assuming he or she is practicing in the States.
What Are The Requirements You Need To Apply For Top Pediatric Residency Programs?
To become a pediatrician, you must first complete your undergraduate studies and obtain a science-related bachelor’s degree (BSc).
The degree will give you the prerequisite knowledge, part of, which will refine your study habits while preparing for the next exam – the MCAT. MCAT stands for Medical College Admission Test; as an option, you might attempt it while completing your BSc degree.
Once done, you can apply to a medical school using the AMCAS website or the school’s specific website portal. Your chances of getting accepted are higher if your MCAT and undergraduate grades are good.
If you gain admission, you must study for 4 years to obtain your MD degree from the chosen university or medical college. That 4 or 5 year MD degree is the entry requirement for getting into any residency program nationwide.
You will need to take the 3-part USMLE exams – each will be taken in your 2nd year ending, your 3rd year, and lastly, you’ll finish Step 3 during the Pediatrics Residency.
How Does One Apply for Pediatric Residency Program?
You must apply for a pediatric residency position in your final year of med school. You can directly apply from the school’s online portal. Alternatively, you can use the services of AAP.org or aamc.org.
Almost all schools sponsoring residency programs will require you to write, and after passing the rigorous exams, you will be offered a letter of acceptance.
And voila, a new pediatric resident doctor is born! However, one must keep up with her educational and clinical requirements for some years before advancing to a higher career rank.
Top 10 Pediatric Residency Programs in 2024
US News Medical School Compass has ranked the top 26 pediatrics residency programs in the United States for 2024. Worldscholarshipforum will highlight the top ten of those clinical training programs.
#1. University of Pennsylvania
Perelman School of Medicine is the primary medical school and teaching hospital founded in 1765. The School is the oldest medical school in the United States, and its Department of Pediatrics is fully functional. It offers Pediatrics and Genetics programs in conjunction with the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine.
There is also room for residency in Pediatric Child Neurology (a sub-specialty of Pediatrics). The Department of Pediatrics at CHOP and the Department of Medicine at HUP are the two sponsors of the residency program.
The M.D. program at CHOP exposes students to neonatal care, respiratory and digestive diseases, pediatric cancers, and endocrine disorders in children. The program is full-time, and the tuition fee is about $64,985.
#2. Harvard University
The pediatric residency program at Harvard University is superb. It’s often ranked first intermittently in previous years but is ranked second place in 2024.
Nevertheless, it is one of the top pediatric residency programs to enroll in. As one of the most prestigious universities, Harvard University offers premium quality training to its resident doctors (i.e., medical graduates).
#3. University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It has an annual enrollment of about 44,000 students, making it the 2nd largest university.
The University teaching hospital is one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the USA. Around 40 different categorical pediatric appointments are made to the PL-1 class through the National Resident Matching Program every year.
Plus, the consultants, senior residents, and children (patients) offer a vast array of high-quality clinical experiences to those doing a residency there.
Out-of-state enrollers are meant to pay $51,244, whereas in-state doctors pay $32,980 in tuition fees.
#4. John Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University is one of America’s most respected schools due to its medical school. It has 9 academic divisions put together as one research university.
Graduates of the school outshine in all aspects of medical and surgical practice worldwide.
Their pediatric academic medical center has trained resident doctors for almost 100 years. The tuition fee is approximately $56,600, but it may be higher depending on the sub-specialty of pediatrics you want to dive into.
#5. University of California – San Francisco
The Department of Pediatrics in UC San Diego is a major medical research center with a large teaching hospital. It is ranked 5th among the top pediatric residency programs in the US.
#6. University of Colorado
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado, United States. They hope their efforts to assist faculty members in setting meaningful goals and in pursuing paths to successful, fulfilling careers.
Three Chief Residents and two Program Coordinators organize resident education and provide the bridge between residents and faculty.
#7. Baylor College of Medicine
This private medical school offers one of the top pediatric residency programs that may suit you.
Baylor College of Medicine has a sizeable amount of well-trained, experienced full-time medical staff of over 2,500. The application fee is $100, while the tuition costs around $19,425.
#8. Duke University
Duke University is ranked 8th in this top pediatric residency program list. But it is the 3rd best medical research school in the country.
Like all the other medical centers outlined in this list, the residency program is full-time, and its application fee is $100. The school is based in Durham, North Carolina.
#9. University of Washington
Washington was first established in downtown Seattle, and now the University of Washington remains there in Settle. The university’s Department of Pediatrics contains around 365 academic faculty members.
The Washington School of Medicine is divided into 6 colleges for new interns, residents, and students, whereby each college has its own lecturing doctors.
The school is ranked1st in the list of best medical schools for Primary Health Care. Full-time in-state participants pay a tuition fee of $37,760 and an out-of-state tuition fee of $69,186. The application fee is $35 only for newcomers.
#10. Stanford University
Everyone knows this list of top 10 pediatric residency programs can’t be over without mentioning the great Stanford University.
Like Harvard and John Hopkins, it is an elite medical center perfect for pediatric residency. They offer general pediatrics and all the pediatrics subspecialties you know of.
What is the Best Pediatric Hospital in USA?
According to a U.S. News & World Report report released on June 15, 2024, Boston Children’s Hospital is the best.
Boston Children’s Hospital maintained its spot for the 8th consecutive year. These rankings were made from clinical survey data from over 193 medical centers.
Top 10 Pediatric Residency Programs In 2024 FAQs
Neonatal-perinatal pediatric medical specialists are the highest-paid pediatric specialty. So, if best means highest earned to you, Neonatal-perinatal pediatric is the best pediatric specialty.
Dr. Benjamin Spock is a well-known pediatrician in the USA. He is currently the most trusted name in child care today.
There are about 210 Pediatric Residency Training Programs in the United States.
Conclusion
Whether your goal is to practice general or subspecialty pediatrics in academic, public health, or private practice settings, these universities will provide outstanding training to prepare you for a successful career.
In conclusion, pediatrics is a unique and thrilling profession. One pediatric doctor says she is simply a humanitarian who gets paid to be children’s guardian angel and advocates for the health of young ones.
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