Pediatrics Residency Program

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mission Statement and Program Aims

The mission of our program follows that of the USA Office of Graduate Medical Education: to develop the clinical competency, medical knowledge, and professional attributes of pediatric physicians, to promote the safe and effective care for children, to advance the art of healing through quality improvement and medical research, and to develop skills of lifelong learning. 

The goal of our program is to train a diverse group of resident physicians to become:

1. Professional and competent pediatricians to care for infants, children and young adults of the Gulf Coast, the State of Alabama and the nation, with a focus on quality and safety;
2. Advocates for children at the local, regional, national and international level;
3. Dedicated to lifelong learning and advancement of knowledge, and achieving a work-life balance to allow long-term success;
4. Qualified to take the certifying examination of the American Board of Pediatrics and well prepared to become leaders in their personal and professional communities through independent practice of pediatrics or through fellowship training in any pediatric subspecialty.

Overview of the Program

The Department of Pediatrics at the University of South Alabama offers a three-year residency program in an environment that is both stimulating and friendly. Our residency program prepares the pediatrician-in-training to practice effective primary care pediatrics in the community, while simultaneously providing flexibility, allowing those interested in subspecialty training, academic pediatrics, and research the necessary background to pursue their professional goals.

USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital is a free-standing facility dedicated to providing quality care to the children and women of the Gulf Coast area.

Our pediatric resident training program is open and friendly, providing an atmosphere where housestaff and faculty interact at a level that promotes rapid professional growth. The faculty are readily available for consultation and informal discussion of patient-related problems. Regularly scheduled conferences are presented in an open and non-threatening atmosphere optimal for learning and promoting communication between housestaff, faculty, and community pediatricians. As there are no pediatric fellowships at USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital, residents achieve greater autonomy and a close relationships with attending physicians.

We believe that learning is best accomplished through:

• Hands-on experience
• Warm, supportive working and learning environment
• Progressive responsibility for taking care of patients and their families
• Progressive responsibility for teaching families, students, and fellow residents
• High quality and readily available contact with faculty
• Establishing primary care relationships with patients and their families
• Interactive and structured conference; and
• Independent, systematic study

We offer 12 residency positions for each year level in the categorical Pediatric Residency Program. In addition, there are 2-3 positions for each year level in the Internal Medicine / Pediatrics Combined Residency Program. Therefore, there is a peer group of 15-16 residents for each year level. This number provides for a good mix of abilities, talents, and personalities while allowing residents to forge personal relationships. The Pediatric Leadership team selects two fourth-year chief residents on the basis of outstanding ability in patient care, teaching, and leadership. A Pediatric chief resident supervises in the inpatient and outpatient settings, makes call and clinic schedules, and participates in residency administration.

Graduates of our program choose a diverse mix of general pediatrics and subspecialty options as the next steps in their careers. Of the residents who graduated over the past 10 years, 45 percent chose General Pediatrics and 55 percent matched into subspecialty training and practice.

Our residency program accepts graduates from U.S. and international allopathic medical schools and U.S. osteopathic medical schools. We accept either the USMLE or COMLEX examinations.

Pediatric residency training at USA prepares residents for either general pediatric practice or subspecialty training. The flexible nature of the subspecialty and elective schedule in the PGY-2 and PGY-3 years permits ample opportunity for subspecialty exposure and supervised research activity for residents interested in pursuing an academic career. A wide variety of clinical experiences are coupled with regularly scheduled didactic conferences and a Core Curriculum program.

Resident Progress

• PGY-1: The first-year resident functions as the primary physician for children on the pediatric inpatient service, and in the nursery, the clinic and the Pediatric Emergency Department. The PGY-1 is responsible for the initial history and physical examination, developing an assessment and management plan, performing general pediatric diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, communicating with parents and consulting services, and instructing medical students on pediatric clerkships.
• PGY-2: The second-year resident assumes a more supervisory role on the inpatient, clinic, emergency department, and nursery services as well as a more intensive involvement in the instruction of medical students. The PGY-2 should advance towards independence in the management of routine ambulatory and inpatient pediatric problems and begin to develop expertise in subspecialty areas, including pediatric critical care.
• PGY-3: The third-year resident is the leader of the pediatric inpatient teams. The PGY-3 supervises PGY-1s and PGY-2s; family practice and psychiatric residents on the pediatric service; and junior and senior medical students and physician assistant students on pediatric clerkships. It is anticipated the PGY-3 will demonstrate progressive independence in the assessment and management of complex problems in pediatrics.

Core Curriculum

The Core Curriculum consists of an initial two-month seminar series presented three times per week covering core issues essential to the care of ill children. During each subsequent month, one weekly conference addresses topics and skills important to the practice of pediatrics as well as periodic residency business meetings. A second weekly conference covers the content of the American Board of Pediatrics (AAP) content outline.   These conferences occur at noon and lunch is provided. All conferences are presented by Pediatric and ancillary faculty.

The content of these sessions is organized to assist preparation for the American Board of Pediatrics Certification Examination.  Question banks with explanations covering this core content are available through the American Academy of Pediatrics PREP-Self Assessment and the New England Journal of Medicine Knowledge question bank provided by the program.

Resident participation is tracked through conference attendance and participation, and successful completion of the question bank items.  The Core Curriculum covers the entire ABP content outline over the course of two years.

Conferences

Strada Patient Care Center Conference Room, the location for monthly Pediatric Grand Rounds
 

Morning Report is attended by all students, residents, and faculty involved in the inpatient service at USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital. This conference focuses on evidence-based solutions to clinical issues related to recent admissions.

Grand Rounds is a weekly didactic conference presented by faculty of the pediatric department, supporting faculty from other departments and guest lecturers. Grand Rounds topics are chosen to address new information in the field of Pediatrics as well as the core educational objectives of pediatric residency education. Grand Rounds attendance is open to all interested individuals within the university and community.

Pediatric Case Conference is a weekly conference focusing on clinical application of the Core Curriculum content for that week. Pediatric Conference attendance is open to all interested individuals within the university and community.

Residency Conference is a weekly conference and is primarily an interactive conference that addresses topics and skills important to the practice of pediatrics as well as periodic residency business meetings. Lunch is provided. Active participation is strongly encouraged. This conference is open primarily to residents.

Subspecialty Conferences are held during most of the subspecialty rotations and consist of regular conferences and/or small group seminars. These conferences range from multi-disciplinary to one-on-one sessions.

Grand Rounds and Conference Speakers

From left: 2019 Pediatric Symposium Speaker Robert Moon, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Commissioner, Alabama Medicaid; Haidee Custodio, M.D., Associate Professor; David Gremse, M.D., Department Chair
 

From left: Roger Berkow, M.D.; April 2019 Grand Rounds Speaker Tamara Coyne-Beasley, M.D., MPH, Director, Division of Adolescent Medicine, University of Alabama; Haidee Custodio, M.D. 
 

From left: Cathy L. Wood, M.D., FAAP, Alabama Chapter AAP President; Linda Lee, Alabama Chapter AAP Executive Director; Franklin Trimm, M.D., APPD President; 2017 Grand Rounds Speaker Fernando Stein, M.D., FAAP, 2017 AAP President; David Gremse, M.D., ABP President; Benjamin Estrada, M.D.; LaDonna Crews, M.D. 

X+Y Scheduling at the University of South Alabama

The Pediatric Residency Program at USA is transitioning to an X+Y immersion schedule in July 2019. In this format each resident spends three weeks on a core or block rotation followed by one week of ambulatory pediatrics. This scheduling format is part of a pilot project approved by the Pediatric Residency Review Committee and is implemented at 10 pediatric programs around the country. The goal of this scheduling format is:

• Improved continuity in pediatric resident clinics
• Less conflict between inpatient and ambulatory responsibilities
• Improvement in resident wellness leading to less burnout
• Improved patient and resident satisfaction

During the Ambulatory Pediatric rotation, residents spend four half days in the general pediatric clinic. Additional time during the ambulatory weeks is spent in the Developmental/Behavioral pediatric clinic or Adolescent Medicine clinic, community pediatric activities, a subspecialty clinic, an educational half day, and one half day of academic time to work on research or quality improvement projects. Residents remain with the same cohort of residents for the ambulatory week for the entire year.

One unique aspect of the X + Y schedule at USA is the inclusion of an initial four-week orientation month. New interns spend one week in each of the key areas of the hospital: Inpatient ward, Emergency Department, Newborn Nursery and ambulatory clinic, allowing interns to understand the workings of the entire system beginning with the first month of their residency. Night rotations are not included during this month.

Sample Schedules

Sample PGY Schedules 2020-21 [PDF]

Continuity Clinic

Each resident will spend one week out of every four in ambulatory pediatrics. This will consist of 3-4 half-days of general pediatric continuity clinic, one half-day of community and advocacy clinic, one half-day of subspecialty clinic, and two half-days of adolescent medicine or development and behavioral pediatrics. One half-day each week will be devoted to research, quality improvement, or advocacy projects. Residents rotate during the ambulatory week with the same group of first-, second-, and third-year residents for the entire year, allowing the development of a “Group Practice” model and optimizing teaching and learning. One half-day of each ambulatory week will consist of didactic and interactive sessions developed and presented by the faculty from the Division of Ambulatory Pediatrics.

The children in continuity clinic are followed for the entire duration of the resident's training. Well children are followed for health promotion visits, children with acute illnesses are managed, and children with chronic illnesses are followed concurrently with pediatric subspecialists. The patients are seen by their regular resident physician for as many of their healthcare visits as possible. This experience simulates the usual practice of private pediatricians. It also helps the resident learn longitudinal, ongoing care of children with acute and special healthcare needs in a way that no month-long rotation can provide. Residents follow 150 or more families through the continuity clinic during residency.

The program supports participation of residents in scholarly activity – whether it be related to a clinical question, quality improvement project or advocacy. With the guidance of a faculty mentor, residents engage in every step from conceptualization and development of hypothesis and protocol, attainment of approval from the Institutional Review Board, data collection, data analysis, writing of the abstract or manuscript and presentation of the project.  

Their month-long efforts culminate in the presentation of their project at the annual Department of Pediatrics Research Day in April of their second year of residency. The resident with the best project receives the Charles J. Hoff Research Award.

The residency program also sponsors residents in their participation at the annual Southern Regional Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. Many residents have presented their projects at the University of South Alabama Resident and Fellow Scholarship Exposition, and national meetings.  

Haidee Custodio, M.D., Associate Professor and Associate Pediatric Residency Program Director directs resident research. 

 

 

 

Diversity and Inclusion

USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital is a renowned institution that provides care for a large sector of the Gulf South. Children's & Women's Hospital has deep roots in our local community. Centrally located in Midtown Mobile, Alabama, the USA Health team of physicians and staff are honored to serve a socioeconomically and racially diverse, multicultural community.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the USA College of Medicine encourages resident physician involvement in their diversity initiatives. For more information on additional diversity organizations, including MedPride and Muslims in Medicine, please visit the College of Medicine Affinity Groups.

Pediatric Residency Diversity Coalition

Pediatric Residency Diversity Coalition Co-Chairs

Pediatric Residency Diversity Coalition Mission Statement

The Pediatric Residency Program is strongly committed to increasing awareness of the importance of diversity. We understand that providing patients and families with excellent care requires us to address their physical, emotional, and cultural needs; therefore, our mission is to recruit and support a resident workforce that reflects and fosters the differences of our patient population. We seek to reduce healthcare disparities and create a learning environment for our house staff that teaches culturally competent care.

The Pediatric Residency Diversity Coalition was developed:

• To provide support to existing faculty and residents in creating an atmosphere that fosters culturally competent care.
• To help educate faculty and residents on issues of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Unconscious Bias

To accomplish the mission of the Pediatric Residency Diversity Coalition, subcommittees were established. Each subcommittee appointment is a term of one year. Every member of the Diversity Coalition is welcomed and encouraged to be a part of any of the subcommittees of their choice. There are three subcommittees:

1. Education/Curriculum Subcommittee: Helps to establish diversity curriculum in each clinical rotation; helps to setup diversity book club (Journal Club, Grand Rounds); helps to determine noon conference diversity lecture series for the academic year
2. Community Outreach Subcommittee: Helps to secure opportunities with the community to participate in Health Fairs, Back to School Backpack Drives, provide health information to the local community (i.e., Pamphlets, Brochures); liaison with Community Pediatricians to provide healthcare to patients in the local area
3. Social Media/Publications/Events Subcommittee: Oversees publishing of our Diversity newsletter “Variegated”; Diversity Cookbook; helps to establish social media presence to chronicle activities of the coalition (i.e. Diversity Dinners, Second Look Efforts, diversity mixers, advertising, bi-monthly dinner & discussions); helps to highlight diversity events in Mobile & surrounding areas (i.e. Greekfest, Mobile International Festivals, Pride Mobile, etc.)  

Visiting Student URiM Diversity Scholarship Program

The University of South Alabama, Office of Graduate Medical Education is sponsoring the Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM) Diversity Scholarship for visiting students to provide support for fourth-year medical students interested in participating in a four-week rotation at our academic medical center. The scholarship includes $2000 stipend to help offset the cost of travel, housing, fees, and incidental expenses. It is available for eligible rising MS4 students who wish to rotate as a visiting student in our GME Programs from underrepresented backgrounds. The award aims to increase the number of Under-Represented in Medicine (URiM) trainees in the GME residency programs at USA. Medical students selected for this scholarship will be invited for a residency interview at USA.

Eligibility

• Fourth-year medical student in good standing at an accredited U.S. allopathic/osteopathic medical school
• Student must self-identify as under-represented in medicine by race or ethnicity (URiM - African American, Hispanic, Native American, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian).
• Students must have completed all core clerkships.
• Students must have successfully passed USMLE Step 1.

Scholars Receive

• $2,000 stipend toward travel, food and housing
• Matched with a resident mentor
• Matched with faculty mentor(s)
• One-on-one advisement with the Program Director
• Networking opportunities with faculty, residents and students interested in your success
• One additional $1,500 scholarship available specifically for General Surgery rotations. Learn more about the Department of Surgery's Visiting Student Diversity Program.

Scholar Responsibilities and Rotation Details

• One-month rotation
• Attendance at weekly resident didactics
• Attendance at weekly Grand Rounds
• Visiting students will adhere to the appropriate USA Health and USA College of Medicine COVID-19 safety protocols while participating in an elective.

How to Apply

Please send the following to Tomeika Hawkins-Rodgers, Institutional GME Accreditation Specialist, at thawkins@health.southalabama.edu:

• Personal statement (500 words max) -- Tell us about yourself, delineate your professional and career interest in regards to selected rotation, your interest in the University of South Alabama, and why you qualify for this scholarship.
• Visiting Student URiM Diversity Scholarship Program Application Form [PDF]
• CV
• Letter of good standing from dean’s office
• Standard application through VSAS required

Scholarships will be awarded on a rolling basis.

2022 Diversity Coalition Exemplary Leadership Award Recipients 

This award recognizes residents and faculty who demonstrate a commitment to the values of diversity, inclusion, and multiculturalism. It also recognizes exceptional efforts to promote an environment that is free from bias and discrimination. Initiative, enthusiasm, support, dedication, and contributions made towards advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.

2022 Pediatric Resident Recipients

2022 Faculty Recipients

Building Resident Resilience and Wellness

At USA Peds, we are aware that residency will prove demanding even to those with advanced stress management skills. We provide many activities which foster resident wellness both inside and outside of the hospital. Some of these wellness benefits are:

• Counseling services are available through the Human Resources Office and through the Counseling and Testing Services office, both on the USA campus
• Wellness half-days are periodically scheduled for residents - time intended to schedule self-care, health maintenance, or any activity that contributes to wellbeing. This time is separate from vacation and illness
• Residents are granted four wellness days during the Holiday Wellness Lagniappe Break, either at Christmas or New Year's
• Confidential meetings with the program director are available to help all residents conquer the challenges of completing residency training

The X+Y scheduling is designed to improve wellness in an overarching, holistic approach. In the X+Y schedule, residents have a "golden weekend" (two full days off), once in every four weeks. Residents also receive one day off in seven. The schedule is developed a year in advance, so residents can plan ahead for special events.

Resident Activities

Wellness Retreats
All wellness retreats include Medicine/Pediatric residents to promote team-building.

Senior Resident Wellness Retreats
Senior residents are relieved of clinical duties to spend a day with each other at various locations in Mobile for a wellness retreat. PGY-2 residents take a day in September and PGY-3/PGY-4 residents take a day in October. Retreats include time for group discussion, outdoor exploration and team-building games. In the past, residents participated in a "Chopped" competition, arts & crafts, yoga, and Zumba.

Intern Retreats
In August, interns meet in the evening for a mini-retreat, focusing on getting to know each other, gratitude, and games. In May, the full-day intern retreat is filled with exercise, team-building, and leadership. The May retreat allows residents to reflect on the past year while preparing for their role as leaders in the next two years.

Monthly Wellness Conference
The second Friday of each month is resident wellness conference. Residents with birthdays during that month are celebrated with cupcakes or birthday from the Leadership team. Lunch is provided and the residents participate in different activities such as painting, yoga, Nailed IT competitions, and much more!

Meconium Bowl
An annual Jeopardy-style trivia game played between faculty and residents to end our academic year. Every year has a different theme.

Fitness
The JagFIT gym, a new gym with both cardio and weight equipment/machines, is open 5 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily. Located near the residency office, staff and physicians are encouraged to utilize the gym for fitness and stress management.

 

2022 Pediatric Residency Fellowship Matches

 

 

 

 

2022 General Pediatrics

 

According to the University of South Alabama Department of Pediatrics, the following fee structure applies to requests for postgraduate training verification:

Fees

0-3 years: $65.00
4-8 years: $75.00
8-12 years: $100.00
More than 12 years: $150.00

*This includes verification of training dates and program specifics on training including procedures and narratives on resident performance provided on institution or agency’s form with a valid authorization for release of information.

Additional Fees

Overnight FedEx shipping: $40.00 (No P.O. Box please)
Standard FedEx shipping: $15.00 (No P.O. Box please)
Email or fax: No fee

Please allow up to 10 business days (excluding weekends and holidays) for your request to be processed, as requests are processed in the order that they are received.

Payment by check is to be made payable to:

South Alabama Medical Science Foundation (SAMSF)

Mail to:

University of South Alabama Department of Pediatrics
Pediatric Residency Program Office
1700 Center Street, CWEB Room 1536
Mobile, AL 36604

Requests submitted without payment will not be processed. Requests are to be specific and must be accompanied by an authorization for release form. If you have questions you may contact the Pediatric Education office at (251) 415-1087.

We encourage you to visit Mobile, Alabama and interview with USA Pediatrics. Our residents practice at USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital and USA Health Strada Patient Care Center. Both additions are recent: Strada was completed in 2017, and the pediatric wing at the hospital was completed in 2013.

Children's & Women's Hospital has the area's only Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), admitting more than 1,000 infants a year to its 98-bed facility. Our Pediatric Emergency Department is also a Level III facility. As the hospital is the top provider for children in the area, pediatric patients are transferred up to 100 miles to receive care by our Critical Care team in the PICU, our hematologists/oncologists, and a variety of specialties.

Please view our enthusiastic healthcare community at the following sites:
USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital Facebook
USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital Instagram

Follow @USA_Pediatric_Residency on Instagram and @PediatricUsa on Twitter for content curated by our Pediatric Chief Residents.

How to Apply

We accept applications only via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) from the Association of American Medical Colleges, and all positions are offered through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP).

At least three letters of recommendation are required; however, a letter from your pediatric department chair is not required. All applications received through ERAS are reviewed by the program director.

Applicants who are selected for interview will be invited through ERAS via email. Our residency program coordinator will send your itinerary and detailed instructions about your interview day. Please email pedsresidency@health.southalabama.edu if you experience any scheduling issues.

We interview applicants on Tuesdays and Fridays via Zoom during an AM or PM session. Applicants may select their desired session at the time of scheduling an interview.  We look forward to getting to know you, introducing ourselves to you, and showing you the excellent training experience, we offer.

There are no minimum cut-off scores for USMLE. For international graduates, graduating within the last three to five years is desired, and You must have a valid ECFMG certificate. We do not require U.S. experience. We sponsor J-1 visas only.

For our program, a complete file included in the Eras application are the following:

• MSPE (Dean’s Letter)
• Medical School transcript
• 3 letters of recommendation
• USMLE or COMPLEX scores
• Personal statement

Prior to beginning training, applicants must also: 

• Provide Passing Step 1 and Step 2 (CK) USMLE or COMPLEX scores (CE/PE)
• ECFMG Certificate (if applicable)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an application deadline?

Yes, all applications must be received by the program by October 30th.

How many residents do you match each year?

We are currently approved for twelve categorical spots per year. 

What about Step 1 and 2?

There are no minimum cut-off scores for USMLE, we do take into consideration any failed attempts. Note: Step 2 exam results must be received by November 30th.

What about COMLEX?

We accept both USMLE and COMLEX Scores

What does a typical application consist of for those who are invited to interview?

With your USMLE scores, letters of recommendation have the most weight upon the selection process and should include at least one from a General Pediatrician, a letter from your pediatric department chair is not required. Honors in the pediatric clerkship, and a strong personal statement are also factors. All applications received through ERAS are reviewed by the program director.

Do you offer observerships?

Our department does not process observerships.  If you are interested in doing an observership, you should contact the division you would like to observe directly.

Is there a cut off from date of graduation?

We do not accept applications from applicants who have been out of medical school for more than 5 years. 

Is U.S. clinical experience required?

We do not require U.S. clinic experience to apply to our program.

Do you invite foreign medical graduates?

We invite candidates from foreign medical schools each year.

• We only sponsor J1 Visas sponsored by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
• USA Health Children & Women’s Hospital does not sponsor H-1B visas for graduates of international medical schools.
• Incoming and continuing J-1 visa house staff are required to obtain their J-1 visas before their training. Failure to submit the requested documentation will result in a delayed start date.
• We do not require U.S. experience for international applicants.
• No more than three to five years out of medical school is desired.
• It is not required for you to have your ECFMG certificate to apply, but you must have a valid ECFMG Certificate prior to beginning residency training at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital.
• It is strongly recommended for Foreign Medical graduates to start working to obtain the SoN (Statement of Need) as set by ECFMG in a timely manner, failure to obtain the SoN could potentially delay the J1 visa process and/or residency training.

Once an application file is complete and the applicant has met our eligibility criteria, the program evaluates the applicant for an invitation to interview, and invitations are extended through ERAS to those selected. We will interview between 250-300 candidates.

Interview Dates 2022-2023:

• Tuesday, October 25, 2022
• Friday, October 28, 2022
• Tuesday, November 1, 2022
• Friday, November 4, 2022
• Tuesday, November 8, 2022
• Friday, November 11, 2022
• Tuesday, November 15, 2022
• Friday, November 18, 2022
• Tuesday, November 29, 2022
• Friday, December 2, 2022
• Tuesday, December 13, 2022
• Friday, December 16, 2022
• Tuesday, January 3, 2023
• Friday, January 6, 2023
• Tuesday, January 10, 2023
• Friday, January 13, 2023

*Additional dates may be added throughout the season.

USA Pediatric NRMP Program Number

Categorical Pediatric Residency: 1852320C0

Look for us on the free NRMP Prism^SM app on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

For more information, please contact our residency program coordinator at pedsresidency@health.southalabama.edu.

Department of Pediatrics Residency Program
University of South Alabama
1700 Center Street
Mobile, AL 36604
Phone: (251) 415-1087
Email: pedsresidency@health.southalabama.edu