National Human Genome Research Institute/Children's National Medical Center Program

The Combined Pediatrics and Medical Genetics Residency Program is a remarkable opportunity for medical school graduates to complete a combined, five-year residency program in pediatrics and medical genetics. This program is offered in conjunction with Children's National Hospital (CNH) in Washington, DC, and it trains physicians in pediatric medicine as well as in the diagnosis, management, and counseling of patients with genetic disorders. Residents in this program gain broad experience in pediatrics, clinical and molecular genetics, metabolic diseases, and cytogenetics 1.

Throughout the training, approximately 50% of the time is spent in pediatrics residency at CNH, while the remaining 50% is dedicated to clinical genetics residency. This dual training model entails seeing patients at the NIH Clinical Center and in hospitals and outpatient clinics across the greater metropolitan DC region. The clinical training emphasizes the integration of genetics into general medicine, pediatrics, oncology, ophthalmology, cardiology, and perinatal medicine. In the fifth year, residents focus on a research project of their choosing or delve into a clinical subspecialty 1.

Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of both pediatrics and medical genetics. Residents complete 24 months of training in pediatrics at Children's National Hospital and an additional 24 months in clinical genetics through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center. The clinical genetics training includes rotations at various sites in the DC metropolitan area, showcasing the significance of genetics in multiple fields, including adult medicine and diagnostics 1.

During the residency, trainees attend several lecture courses such as Introduction to Medical Genetics, Developmental Biology and Human Malformations, Inborn Errors of Metabolism, and Current Concepts in Clinical Molecular Genetics and Molecular Diagnostics. Participation in the weekly Clinical Genetics Case Conference and bi-weekly Cytogenetics/Molecular Genetics Sign-Out Conference is also required. An optional opportunity exists for residents to attend the Short Course in Medical and Experimental Mammalian Genetics at the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine, typically held in July 1.

Rotations

Training rotations occur at several prestigious institutions, including:

• NIH Clinical Center
• Children's National Hospital
• Inova Cancer Center
• MedStar Washington Hospital Center
• GeneDx
• Quest Diagnostics

Additional elective sites include:

• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
• Pediatric Specialists of Virginia
• Johns Hopkins Hospital
• University of Maryland

Application Process and Eligibility

Candidates must possess a medical degree (MD, DO, or equivalent) and are encouraged to have strong research backgrounds. This program is highly competitive, accepting only one candidate per year, making it critical for applicants to clearly demonstrate their qualifications and interests 1.

Applicants must submit their materials through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) to both the Children’s National Hospital and NIH Clinical Center programs under the combined “Pediatrics/Medical Genetics” specialty. To be considered, candidates must receive invitations to interview from both the pediatrics and genetics tracks. The program participates in the Main Residency MATCH and can be ranked using a singular NRMP code linked to Children’s National 1.

Visa Support

The program offers visa support for international medical graduates. Typically, the program sponsors J-1 visas, which are common for residency training, and candidates are encouraged to clarify specific visa requirements during the application process.

Competitiveness

This program is regarded as highly competitive, establishing a rigorous standard for applicant selection. Additionally, the program is known to be friendly towards DO and IMG applicants, recognizing diverse backgrounds and experiences that contribute to the medical field 1.