The Ultimate Guide to Researching Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Programs

Understanding the Med-Peds Landscape Before You Start

Medicine-Pediatrics (Med-Peds) residency is a unique combined training pathway that prepares you to care for patients across the lifespan. Because programs are smaller and fewer than categorical Internal Medicine or Pediatrics programs, your program research strategy needs to be deliberate and organized.

Before you dive into specific programs, clarify three foundational questions:

1. What do you want your future career to look like?

   • Primary care vs. subspecialty
   • Academic vs. community-based
   • Urban vs. suburban vs. rural
   • Predominantly adult, predominantly pediatric, or mixed practice
   • Interest in advocacy, global health, medical education, hospitalist medicine, research

2. What are your training priorities?
   Examples:

   • Strong inpatient exposure vs. balanced inpatient/outpatient
   • Early autonomy vs. more structured supervision
   • High-volume tertiary/quaternary center vs. smaller, more intimate setting
   • Specific subspecialty exposure (e.g., combined adult/peds endocrinology, cardiology, transition medicine)

3. What constraints or preferences do you have?

   • Geographic ties (family, partner, visa constraints)
   • Financial considerations (cost of living, moonlighting culture)
   • Program size and culture
   • Desire for global health, advocacy, or research tracks

Answering these will help you filter programs and avoid getting overwhelmed. Med-Peds is a small world; nearly every program is accessible to you for program research if you take a structured approach.

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Step 1: Build a Strong Foundation – Where and How to Start Your Search

Use Official Databases and Directories

Start by compiling a master list of all Med-Peds programs, then narrowing it down.

Key resources:

• FREIDA Online (AMA Residency & Fellowship Database)

  • Filter by: Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics
  • Note: Program size, number of positions, program type (university, community, community with university affiliation), location, and visa information.

• NRMP and AAMC resources

  • NRMP data books can show competitiveness of Med-Peds and past medicine pediatrics match trends, including:
    • Fill rates
    • Number of applicants vs. positions
    • US MD/DO/IMG statistics

• Specialty-specific resources

  • National Med-Peds Residents’ Association (NMPRA): Often maintains updated lists of Med-Peds programs, maps, and sometimes program-specific details.
  • Individual program websites and institutional GME pages.

Create an initial spreadsheet with all programs that are even potentially interesting. You’ll refine later.

Core columns to include:

• Program name
• City, state, region
• Hospital(s) affiliated (adult & children’s)
• Program size (total residents / class size)
• Type: University, community, hybrid
• Contact information and website link
• Visa sponsorship (if applicable)

This sets up the backbone of your program research strategy.

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Clarify What “Fit” Means for You in Med-Peds

Med-Peds training is inherently flexible, but programs vary significantly in focus. Before diving deeper, define your non-negotiables and “nice to haves.”

Non-negotiables (examples):

• Geographic region (e.g., must be within one day’s drive of family)
• Sponsorship for J-1 or H-1B (for IMGs)
• Couples Match compatibility (if your partner is applying to another specialty)
• Presence of a dedicated children’s hospital vs. pediatric department within a general hospital

“Nice to haves” (examples):

• Med-Peds hospitalist or transition-of-care services
• Combined specialty clinics (e.g., adult congenital heart, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell)
• High percentage of alumni going into certain fellowships
• Structured global health/advocacy tracks

Write these down; you’ll use them as filters.

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Step 2: Gather Core Program Data Systematically

Once you have your master list, your next task in evaluating residency programs is collecting structured information from each program’s website and public sources.

Key Domains to Research for Every Med-Peds Program

Organize your data collection around a few major domains.

1. Structure and Curriculum

Look for:

• Duration & accreditation

  • 4-year ACGME-accredited Med-Peds program
  • Check when last ACGME site visit/review occurred, and the accreditation status.

• Adult vs. pediatric time distribution

  • Typical pattern: 24 months IM / 24 months Peds, but how they structure that matters:
    • Month-by-month rotations
    • 3–6 month blocks on each side
    • Longitudinal clinic scheduling patterns

• Continuity clinic structure

  • Separate adult and pediatric clinics vs. combined Med-Peds clinic
  • Number of continuity sessions per week and when they start in PGY1
  • One clinic site vs. multiple clinic sites

• Unique rotations

  • Med-Peds specific rotations: transition medicine, complex care, combined ICU experiences, subspecialty clinics serving adolescents/young adults with chronic illness
  • Global health, advocacy, QI/research rotations

2. Clinical Exposure and Volume

Research:

• Hospital types

  • University tertiary center vs. community hospital vs. VA
  • Free-standing children’s hospital vs. children’s hospital within larger system

• Patient population

  • Diversity (socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, language)
  • Urban vs. rural catchment area
  • Safety-net/underserved focus, refugee health, immigrant populations

• Clinical intensity

  • Average admissions per call/night
  • ICU exposure (adult and pediatric)
  • Emergency department involvement
  • Balance of inpatient vs. outpatient overall

If details aren’t explicit online, note questions to ask on interviews or in pre-interview communications.

3. Outcomes: Board Pass Rates and Fellowship Match

For medicine pediatrics match applicants interested in subspecialty, this is critical.

Look for:

• Board pass rates

  • ABIM (Internal Medicine) board pass rate over 3–5 years
  • ABP (Pediatrics) board pass rate over 3–5 years
    Programs may report these separately; some list combined Med-Peds pass rates or just reassure that Med-Peds residents match or exceed categorical peers.

• Fellowship and job placement

  • Percent of graduates going into:
    • Primary care Med-Peds
    • Adult subspecialty (e.g., cardiology, GI, ID)
    • Pediatric subspecialty (e.g., NICU, PICU, heme-onc)
    • Med-Peds-specific roles (transition care, complex care, combined hospitalist)
  • Recent fellowship destinations (institutions + subspecialties)
    If a program consistently matches graduates into competitive fellowships (e.g., NICU at major academic centers), that signals strong training and mentorship.

4. Program Size, Culture, and Support

Med-Peds programs are often small (4–8 residents per class). Culture matters.

Collect data on:

• Program size

  • Number of residents per year and total Med-Peds complement
  • Ratio of Med-Peds to categorical IM and Peds residents

• Faculty composition

  • Number of Med-Peds trained faculty
  • Presence of Med-Peds leadership in key positions: program director, chiefs, hospital leadership

• Resident support & wellness

  • Formal mentorship programs (Med-Peds specific? cross-specialty?)
  • Wellness initiatives, retreats, resident support services
  • Protected didactic time and attendance policies

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)

  • DEI committees or tracks
  • Support for underrepresented in medicine (URiM) trainees
  • Experience with and support for international graduates

5. Scheduling, Call, and Work-Life Balance

Even if specifics change year to year, general structure matters.

Investigate:

• Call schedule models

  • Night float vs. 24-hour call
  • Weekend frequency and golden weekends
  • Differences between adult and pediatric sides

• Rotation schedule flexibility

  • Ability to tailor electives (e.g., more Med-Peds oriented rotations, research blocks)
  • Support for away rotations or global health experiences

• Leave policies

  • Parental leave, family leave, vacation structure
  • How time away is handled given the 4-year structure (this can be more complex for Med-Peds)

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Step 3: Go Beyond Websites – Deep Dive into Culture and Fit

Once you’ve captured the “hard data,” the next level of how to research residency programs is understanding culture, mentorship, and real resident experience.

Use a Multi-Modal Research Strategy

Think of this as triangulation: combining online data, conversations, and lived experience.

1. Talk to People in the Med-Peds Community

• Your home Med-Peds faculty (if available)

  • Ask for honest impressions of programs
  • Ask where alumni have gone and how they felt about their training
  • Get help with tailoring your application and targeting programs

• If you don’t have a home Med-Peds program:

  • Reach out through NMPRA’s “find a mentor” resources
  • Ask your Internal Medicine and Pediatrics clerkship directors if they know Med-Peds physicians or alumni
  • Attend national conferences (e.g., ACP, AAP, combined Med-Peds events) and introduce yourself to Med-Peds clinicians

When you speak with faculty, ask targeted questions such as:

• “Which programs have strong reputations for Med-Peds hospitalist training?”
• “Where do you see graduates who are particularly well-prepared for combined adult/peds practice?”
• “What programs should be on the radar for robust advocacy or global health?”

2. Connect with Current Residents and Recent Alumni

This is one of the most valuable ways of evaluating residency programs beyond marketing.

How to connect:

• Email the program’s Med-Peds chief residents; request to speak with current residents.
• Use alumni networks (your med school, NMPRA listservs, student interest groups).
• Attend virtual open houses or Q&A sessions, which many programs now host.

Questions to ask:

• “What surprised you about the program after you started?”
• “Have you felt supported when things were difficult?”
• “How integrated are Med-Peds residents into both departments?”
• “How does the program respond to resident feedback or concerns?”
• “Do Med-Peds residents get equal access to competitive rotations and fellowships?”

Pay attention not just to content but to tone: Are residents proud of their program? Are they candid about limitations?

3. Look at Social Media – Critically

Many programs have Med-Peds–specific social media accounts (Instagram, Twitter/X, occasionally TikTok). These can show:

• Resident camaraderie and culture
• Retreats, socials, wellness events
• Advocacy/DEI activities
• Schedules of conferences, grand rounds, and educational events

Use social media to supplement, not replace, direct conversations. Remember it’s curated, but patterns over time can tell you something real.

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Step 4: Compare Programs Using a Structured Framework

With all of this information, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. A deliberate program research strategy can help you move from data gathering to decision-making.

Build a Scoring or Tiering System (But Keep It Flexible)

Consider categorizing features into three buckets:

1. Must-haves – deal-breakers if absent
2. Strong positives – features that significantly increase your interest
3. Neutral/negatives – factors you’ll tolerate or that lower preference

Create a simple scoring system for each program (e.g., 1–5) across several domains:

• Location & lifestyle
• Clinical training strength (IM and Peds)
• Med-Peds identity and visibility
• Fellowship/job outcomes aligned with your goals
• Culture, support, and wellness
• DEI and service to underserved populations
• Flexibility and mentoring for career development

You don’t need a perfect algorithm; the goal is to force yourself to articulate why you feel drawn to or wary of specific programs.

Example: Comparing Two Hypothetical Med-Peds Programs

Program A: Large Urban Academic Center

• Pros:

  • Strong, nationally recognized IM and Peds departments
  • Freestanding children’s hospital with quaternary care
  • High volume, broad pathology, many subspecialty electives
  • Long track record of matching to competitive fellowships nationally
  • Med-Peds specific transition clinics and hospitalist service

• Cons:

  • Very large city with high cost of living
  • Heavy workload and high-intensity environment
  • Less close-knit feel; Med-Peds residents spread across many sites

Program B: Mid-Sized City, Hybrid University-Community

• Pros:

  • Smaller, close-knit program with strong Med-Peds identity
  • Lower cost of living, easier commute
  • Significant exposure to underserved populations in both adult and pediatric settings
  • Graduates often stay regionally as primary care Med-Peds or hospitalists

• Cons:

  • Fewer subspecialty electives on-site; may require away rotations for niche interests
  • Less name recognition nationally (may matter for some fellowships)
  • Smaller children’s hospital; some complex cases referred elsewhere

Depending on your future goals (e.g., academic subspecialty vs. regional Med-Peds hospitalist), you might rank these very differently. The comparison exercise helps clarify your priorities.

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Step 5: Tailor Research to Your Personal Goals

Different applicants should emphasize different aspects of evaluating residency programs.

If You’re Subspecialty-Oriented

Focus on:

• Fellowship match outcomes in your area of interest (look at several years of data if available).
• Access to mentors in both adult and pediatric subspecialties.
• Research infrastructure:
  • Availability of research time during residency
  • Ongoing projects you can join
  • Publications and conference presentations by Med-Peds residents
• Program reputation in your target subspecialties (based on mentors’ input and fellowship destinations).

Questions to ask during interviews:

• “How often do Med-Peds residents match into my subspecialty of interest?”
• “Are Med-Peds residents competitive for fellowships here and nationally?”
• “Is there protected research time or flexible scheduling to complete projects?”

If You Want Combined Primary Care or Hospitalist Medicine

Focus on:

• Strength and depth of outpatient experiences in both adults and children
• Presence of Med-Peds clinics and combined care clinics (e.g., transition clinics)
• Hospitalist exposure:
  • Med-Peds hospitalist services
  • Opportunities to moonlight as upper-levels (if allowed)
  • Role models who practice true combined hospitalist medicine

Questions to ask:

• “What proportion of graduates enter general Med-Peds practice or hospitalist roles?”
• “Do grads feel prepared to manage complex adult and pediatric patients independently in community settings?”
• “What is the mix of urban/suburban/rural practice exposure?”

If You’re Focused on Advocacy, DEI, or Global Health

Focus on:

• Institutional commitment:
  • Established advocacy tracks, policy electives, or global health programs
  • Partnerships with community organizations, FQHCs, or international sites
• Med-Peds leadership in these areas (e.g., faculty who do advocacy or global health work).
• Support for funded projects and conference travel (e.g., to AAP, ACP, SGIM, PAS).

Questions to ask:

• “Are there Med-Peds residents or faculty currently involved in advocacy or global health projects?”
• “How is resident time protected for this work?”
• “Have Med-Peds residents presented or published in these domains?”

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Step 6: Organize, Refine, and Prepare for Applications

After thorough program research, you’ll need to turn information into a final list.

Narrowing Down Your Program List

Typical Med-Peds applicants apply to fewer programs than in some other fields, but the exact number depends on your competitiveness and constraints.

As a rough framework:

• Strong US MD/DO applicants often apply to ~15–25 Med-Peds programs.
• Applicants with geographic restrictions or application concerns (low scores, leaves of absence, re-applicant, IMG) may apply more broadly (25–35+).

Use your spreadsheet to:

1. Remove programs that fail major non-negotiables.
2. Flag “reach,” “target,” and “safer” programs based on:
   • Your academic profile
   • Program selectivity (small size, historically competitive)
   • Visa or IMG friendliness (if relevant)

Prepare Targeted Questions for Each Program

Your earlier program research strategy should naturally generate questions. Create a program-specific note section that includes:

• What attracted you to this program
• Gaps in information from the website
• Specific rotations, clinics, or faculty you’d like to ask about
• Culture/fit questions tailored to each site

This preparation will help you during virtual events, emails with residents/faculty, and interview day.

Revisit Your Priorities as You Learn More

As you dig deeper, your preferences may shift.

For example:

• You might realize you value program culture over prestige.
• You might discover you love children’s hospitals more than you expected.
• Your interest in a given subspecialty could strengthen or change.

Update your spreadsheet and notes to reflect this evolution; your evaluating residency programs process should be iterative, not fixed.

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FAQs: Researching Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Programs

1. How early should I start researching Med-Peds residency programs?
Ideally, begin broad research in late third year or early fourth year of medical school. That timeline allows you to:

• Clarify your career goals
• Explore Med-Peds via rotations or electives
• Attend open houses and talk with residents
• Build a thoughtful, targeted application list before ERAS opens

If you start later, prioritize big-picture filtering (location, program type, outcomes) and then dive deeper on your top 15–20 programs.

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2. How many Med-Peds programs should I apply to?
It depends on your overall application strength and constraints, but typical ranges are:

• US MD/DO with solid application, no major red flags: ~15–25 Med-Peds programs
• Applicants with geographic limits, lower scores, or IMGs: ~25–35+ Med-Peds programs, often plus some categorical IM and/or Peds programs as a safety net

Discuss your specific situation with a Med-Peds advisor or mentor; they can calibrate these numbers to current medicine pediatrics match trends.

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3. Is it important to have a home Med-Peds program to match into Med-Peds?
No. Many successful Med-Peds residents come from schools without Med-Peds programs. However, if you lack a home program, it becomes especially important to:

• Seek Med-Peds mentors via NMPRA, conferences, or virtual mentorship programs
• Do away/audition rotations in Med-Peds, if feasible
• Be intentional and organized in your program research strategy so your application list is realistic and well-informed

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4. What if I’m torn between Med-Peds and a categorical specialty—should I still research Med-Peds programs?
Yes. Researching Med-Peds programs can:

• Clarify whether the combined training structure aligns with your goals
• Help you understand how Med-Peds graduates actually practice
• Give you insight into flexibility—some Med-Peds programs are open to applicants also considering categorical IM or Peds

If you remain undecided late into the application season, speak honestly with mentors. You may decide to apply to a mix of Med-Peds and categorical programs while maintaining a coherent narrative that emphasizes your core interests (e.g., complex chronic disease across the lifespan, transition care).

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By approaching your Med-Peds search with a structured, intentional process—starting broad, collecting key data, talking to people, and then narrowing thoughtfully—you’ll transform an overwhelming task into a strategic, empowering step toward the right residency fit.