West Virginia University Program

The Pediatric Residency Program at West Virginia University (WVU) offers a comprehensive educational experience tailored to cultivate skilled pediatricians. WVU Children's Hospital is the primary facility where residents engage in a wide range of clinical activities, located within Ruby Memorial Hospital situated on the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center Campus in Morgantown. This facility stands as a state-of-the-art healthcare center that integrates advanced medical and surgical subspecialties crucial for pediatric care.

The program is committed to training graduates who possess the comprehensive knowledge and expertise required for safe and effective pediatric care. Residents are educated in various competencies such as health promotion, disease prevention, and the management of both acute and chronic pediatric conditions affecting infants to young adults. This residency program promotes self-directed learning and critical analysis of medical literature, ensuring that its graduates emerge as leaders within diverse healthcare systems.

Curriculum Overview

The pediatric residency curriculum is designed to meet the ACGME's most up-to-date requirements and is structured across three distinct career tracks: Generalist, Specialist, and Intensivist. Residents are encouraged to work in association with mentors to delineate and pursue their objectives throughout the residency.

The residency begins with the PGY-1 year, which integrates clinical experiences in both inpatient and outpatient settings. This year is characterized by:

• Three months of inpatient wards
• One month each in PICU, NICU, Term Newborn Care, Pediatric Emergency Department, Development, and Research/Radiology
• Two Individualized Plan Rotations

As they progress into PGY-2, residents participate in subspecialty rotations, community pediatrics, and advocacy experiences, which prepare them for roles in broader healthcare contexts.

In the final PGY-3 year, residents take on supervisory roles across all clinical settings and engage in high-acuity emergency care. This is complemented by additional individualized plan rotations aligned with their specific interests.

Rotations and Training Sites

WVU provides extensive hands-on experience throughout various clinical settings, integrated seamlessly into the residency training. The facilities available to residents include Ruby Memorial Hospital, which houses the latest technology necessary for pediatric diagnostics and treatment.

Residents will uphold high standards of clinical training that includes dedicated time in specialized units like the NICU and PICU, as well as opportunities for community engagement through rotations in rural areas as part of the Pediatric Residency Rural Scholars Program.

Research and Professional Development

The program emphasizes research involvement, providing both technical and financial resources to support residents' scholarly activities. There is a strong commitment to professional development through funding that residents can use for educational resources, conferences, and research expenses.

Competitiveness and Application Process

The Pediatric Residency Program is highly competitive, offering up to six PGY-1 positions per year. Prospective candidates are required to submit their applications through ERAS by a specified deadline and to register for a PL-1 position via NRMP.

Special application requirements include USMLE or COMLEX scores (USMLE is preferred), and a minimum of three letters of recommendation, with one from a pediatric faculty member. International Medical Graduates must fulfill additional criteria, including six months of clinical experience in the U.S., and must be eligible for ECFMG certification.

Visa Support

The program does accept International Medical Graduates and specifically sponsors only J-1 visas. All applicants must have a valid J-1 visa at the time of beginning residency.

Salaries and Benefits

Residents receive various benefits including vacation time, professional development funds, and access to a range of health benefits. Specifically, residents are entitled to 15 vacation days per year, parking accommodations, and access to multiple wellness resources on campus.

Additionally, on-campus childcare is available for residents with children, and there are provisions for meals during on-call shifts through a cafeteria card.