Resident education is emphasized, both on and off the wards. The residency curriculum is designed to supplement clinical training with the ultimate goal of building a foundation in basic and clinical sciences in pediatrics. Residents will be prepared for the certification process of the American Board of Pediatrics.

Weekly conference schedule

Monday

7:45 – 8:15 a.m.Morning report with program co-directors
12:00 – 12:45 p.m.Separate intern/senior resident noon conference
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.Each resident has 4-6 simulation/code training sessions a year

Tuesday

7:45 – 8:15 a.m.Morning report
Resident-led cases; critical care conference led by PICU attendings once monthly; quality improvement conference once monthly
12:00 – 12:45 p.m.Clinical case conference; all residents and faculty

Wednesday

7:45 – 8:15 a.m.Morning report (resident-led cases)
12:00 – 12:45 p.m.All-resident noon conference (core curriculum)

Thursday

7:45 – 8:15 a.m.Residents report – chief residents & resident cases
12:00 – 12:45 p.m.Pediatric molecular medicine series
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.Code training/Simulation Center

Friday

9:15 – 10:15 a.m.Grand rounds
12:00 – 12:45 p.m.All-resident noon conference (core curriculum)

Conference descriptions

Morning conferences

Residents report (Morning report)
Interactive daily discussion between medical students, residents, faculty, program director, and chairman about the patients currently or recently treated at SLCH. It is an opportunity to refine our skills generating broad differential diagnoses, taking a history, managing a variety of diseases, and brainstorm together on the ongoing management of patients.

Quality improvement conference
Resident-driven quality improvement conferences are held once monthly. These conferences allow residents to gain understanding of the process of quality improvement in the hospital and showcase resident QI projects.

Grand rounds
Lectures are on a wide range of topics by Washington University faculty and visiting speakers. Ten named lectureships provide support for the most sought-after pediatric speakers in the world.

Noon conferences

Intern conference: Each Monday, first-year residents meet with the chief residents for lectures that are more targeted to the needs of junior residents. Intern conferences focus on discussing interesting patients and exploring diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Senior resident conference: Each Monday, second- and third-year residents meet with fellows for specialty-specific board review.

Clinical case conference: Each week, a resident presents a clinical case and a faculty member teaches in-depth about the presentation, diagnosis, and management.

All-resident core curriculum conference: Conferences are led by Washington University faculty physicians and cover general pediatrics and subspecialty topics. Annual highlights include a residents-as-teachers curriculum and an emergency medicine series designed to prepare residents for acute patient care.

Pediatric molecular medicine conference: Led by researchers at Washington University and focuses on cutting-edge research that provides a deeper understanding of modern clinical medicine.

All-resident wellness conference: Monthly conferences provide time for residents to unwind and decompress (including resident-favorite “pet therapy”) and explore work-life balance and strategies for resiliency.

Additional educational conferences

There are many additional conferences that take place on a weekly or monthly basis that are open to interested residents. These conferences are devoted to neurology, pediatric research, gastroenterology, pathology, radiology, pediatric infectious disease, immunology, and many other subspecialties.

Other Educational Activities

Simulation Center

The Saigh Pediatric Simulation Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital features three high-fidelity electromechanical pediatric mannequins and two simulated patient care rooms.

  • The chief residents lead simulated code training twice weekly
  • Each resident attends 4-6 sessions per year.
  • Interdisciplinary Mock Codes supported by the Sim Center take place on most inpatient floors each resident block.