Pediatric Residency Program

Children, adolescents, and young adults are admitted to UC Davis Children's Hospital ward, located in the Davis Tower. In this setting, residents are exposed to patient problems ranging from common pediatric disorders, such as diarrhea and dehydration or respiratory illnesses, to complex problems requiring tertiary care management.

Coverage for all such patients, except hematology/oncology, is divided between two teams, each consisting of two PG-1 and one PG-2 or PG-3 residents. First year residents are responsible for the initial patient work-up, daily patient care, and writing all orders. Each team is supervised by a PG-2 or PG-3 resident and a faculty attending. Patients with cancer and blood disorders are admitted to a separate hematology/oncology service consisting of one PL-1 and one PL-2 resident. Residents on the hematology/oncology service also care for approximately 1 to 2 bone marrow transplant patients.

Resident autonomy is encouraged and only residents may write orders on patients (except chemotherapy orders on the oncology service). The senior resident is responsible for leading morning work rounds and supervising PG-1 residents and medical students. The faculty attending, and subspecialty attending(s) if appropriate, supervises both ward teams. Residents also work closely with a dedicated nursing staff, as well as pharmacists, respiratory therapists, social workers and a very active child life program.

All residents play a major role in teaching medical students during their ward clerkships. Periodic workshops are offered to residents to help enhance their teaching skills.

The Newborn Nursery averages 200 admissions per month and provides residents with an opportunity to manage the common problems of normal newborns. General pediatric faculty with expertise in newborn care, development, psychosocial assessments and nutrition provide supervision. The curriculum includes didactic sessions, case conferences, assigned readings and daily rounds with the faculty attending. First year residents spend four weeks in the NNN and then return for 2 more weeks in the PG-3 year.