Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University/Nemours Children's Health, Wilmington Program

The Pediatric Residency Program at the Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, seeks to provide a comprehensive educational experience that merges practical training with academic rigor. The program emphasizes a supportive and inclusive community of learners, focused on promoting the health and well-being of children. It merges resources from two prestigious institutions: Nemours Children’s Hospital and Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, creating a high-quality environment for pediatric training.

The program is particularly focused on fostering a sense of family among residents, embracing diversity, and extending care and warmth to patients. It offers unique opportunities in global health and health equity tracks to cater to residents’ diverse interests.

Curriculum and Rotations

The residency program features a dual curriculum structure known as the “X+Y” curriculum that comprises six-week inpatient rotations followed by two-week outpatient blocks. This innovative approach allows for diverse training experiences across various pediatric disciplines, including major rotations in inpatient pediatrics, neonatal intensive care, and pediatric emergency medicine, among others.

During their training, residents engage with patients across different settings: hospital inpatient wards, emergency departments, and outpatient clinics. They also receive exposure to multiple hospitals, including Nemours Children’s Hospital as the primary training site and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in nearby Philadelphia.

Key Rotations Include:

• **Inpatient Pediatrics**: A significant portion of PGY-1 training encompasses inpatient care, with residents acting as primary contacts for patients and families, gaining experience in both routine and complex cases.
• **Pediatric Emergency Medicine**: Residents gain hands-on experience in a Level I Trauma Center, participating in over 50,000 annual emergency visits.
• **Well-Baby Nursery**: Provides valuable insight into neonatal care and parental counseling.
• **Neonatal ICU**: Residents participate in managing a variety of medical conditions in high-risk neonates.
• **Electives**: PGY-1 residents are offered diverse electives that help them explore various subspecialties.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The program has a strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). It aims for representation in its residency body that reflects the diverse communities served. The DEI efforts focus on training culturally humble residents capable of providing comprehensive care for marginalized populations, emphasizing advocacy, community involvement, and collaborative medicine.

Resident Well-Being

Recognizing the potential for burnout within the rigorous training environment, the program prioritizes resident well-being through thoughtful scheduling, mentorship opportunities, professional counseling, and various wellness resources. Activities designed to support residents’ mental health include facilitated debriefings, wellness Fridays, and program-sponsored outings.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit a standard ERAS application, including a personal statement, board scores, three letters of recommendation, and a Dean's letter. While the program does not specify a maximum number of failed Step exams, it follows a comprehensive application review process that includes an emphasis on holistic assessment.

Competitiveness and Visa Support

The Pediatric Residency Program is characterized by a competitive applicant pool, welcoming not just graduates from MD programs but also DO and IMG candidates. The program offers visa sponsorship for eligible candidates, primarily for J-1 and H-1B visas.

Training Sites

The residency training primarily occurs at several key locations:

• **Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware**: The main teaching facility.
• **Thomas Jefferson University Hospital**: Located in Philadelphia, it provides additional training opportunities.
• **Christiana Care Health System**: Nearby Newark, DE, offering complementary experiences.

These sites enhance the residents’ experience by exposing them to a broad range of pediatric conditions and diverse patient populations, aligning with the program's mission of delivering high-quality care to all children.