Residency Program | The Application Process

	Infant examining intern Jon Chiles.

The Department of Pediatrics participates in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). The dean's office at your medical school will facilitate the submission of your application.

The deadline for completion of the application is November 15. A complete application consists of the following: Dean's letter, transcript of grades, USMLE Step 1 scores, personal statement, and at least two letters of recommendation written by physicians with whom you have worked during medical training. Preferably, one letter will be written by the chairman of the Department of Pediatrics or the pediatric residency program director. A third letter is welcome, but not required. Foreign medical graduates will also need a valid ECFMG certificate. All candidates are expected to visit the hospital, meet the house staff and faculty, and tour the patient and educational areas.

Interviews are concentrated in the three months following the mailing of medical school deans' letters - November, December and January. If a student requests an earlier interview, every effort will be made to accommodate him or her. We strive to conduct interviews in small groups so that we may provide you with personal attention while you visit. The interview day begins at 8 a.m., joining the units for work rounds to offer a clear glimpse into the first-year experience with our training program.

Applicants can expect to meet individually with at least two faculty members and to share lunch with pediatric residents. When regular conferences occur on the day of a visit, applicants are invited to attend. Candidates will be free by 3 pm, although the department encourages each applicant to browse around the units, the emergency room, library or rounds, as schedules permit.

The program will pay for and arrange accommodations for one night at a local hotel when reservations are made through the house staff office. The hotel is located on the Washington University Medical Center campus near an historic neighborhood, featuring great architecture, awardwinning cafes, antique shops and fine-arts galleries. This neighborhood is home to many residents, medical students and others affiliated with the Medical Center. Accommodations are within walking distance of the hospital.

The Department of Pediatrics has a policy of not pursuing additional recruiting activities after candidates' visits. Please do not interpret this as a lack of interest. Washington University is eager to fill its ranks with enthusiastic, compassionate and able physicians.

	"Throughout my time as a supervising resident, I have enjoyed the level of autonomy in decision making, as well as the opportunity to teach interns and medical students. This experience has given me the confidence to happily anticipate starting my career as a general pediatrician." Staci Young, PL-3

You may contact the residency program office with any questions:

Pat Jacobi, Coordinator
St. Louis Children's Hospital,
Room 3 South 34
One Children's Place
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 454-6006
peds.wustl.edu/residency

Special Alternative Pathway

The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) recognizes that occasionally there will be an exceptional candidate who should be given special consideration to begin pediatric subspecialty training after completion of the PL-2 year, reducing the time needed to complete general pediatrics and a subspecialty from six to five years. Candidates for the Special Alternative Pathway (SAP) are reviewed and tested by the ABP before they are accepted into the program. A special test is given to interested residents during the PL-2 year.

"I'm truly enjoying doing subspecialty rotations in my PL-2 year. I have the opportunity to see and read in detail about specific disease processes that I did not see during my intern year. - Kathleen Berchelmann, PL-2

Integrated Research Pathway

The Board of Directors of the ABP has approved a training pathway for individuals who wish to pursue academic careers as pediatric physician-scientists. Application to the Pediatric Research Pathway (PRP) is open to individuals with M.D./Ph.D. degrees or to those with equivalent evidence of research experience and commitment. The pathway allows trainees to continue their research during general pediatric training. Apply before or early in PL-1 year.

Accelerated Research Pathway

The Accelerated Research Pathway (ARP) is designed to accommodate and encourage candidates who are committed to an academic career as physician scientists with a strong research emphasis in a pediatric subspecialty. Candidates entering the ARP may begin subspecialty training after completion of two years of general comprehensive pediatric training. The availability of this pathway is at the discretion of the general pediatrics program director/subspecialty fellowship program director. Candidates should be identified early in the PL-1 year.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Washington University encourages and gives full consideration to all applicants for admission, financial aid, and employment. The University does not discriminate in access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or disability. Present Department of Defense policy governing ROTC and AFROTC programs discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation; such discrimination is inconsistent with Washington University policy. Inquiries about compliance should be addressed to the University's Executive Director of Human Resources, Washington University, Campus Box 1184, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899, (314) 935-5990. The School of Medicine is committed to recruiting, enrolling and educating a diverse student body.

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