Additional Opportunities

While we have a solid core curriculum in place to ensure a strong and consistent training experience, we recognize the need for programmatic flexibility to accommodate our residents’ unique interests. During the PL-2 and PL-3 years, residents can take up to 5 months of electives both within and outside of the Department of Pediatrics. In addition, faculty members and program leadership collaborate with each resident to build an educational pathway that helps them meet personal and professional goals.

During the middle of their second year of residency, two individuals are chosen to stay on for an additional (fourth) year as Chief Residents. In this role, they have the opportunity to help supervise first-year residents while gaining invaluable leadership experience in a clinical setting.

Developing and utilizing advocacy skills to improve child health is an important part of our pediatric residency training. In the University of Virginia’s Department of Pediatrics, there are many advocacy opportunities, including:

• Community Pediatrics PL-1 Rotation (Introduction to Community Resources)
• Community Pediatrics PL-2 Rotation (Community Pediatric Practice)
• Annual Pediatric Day at the General Assembly
• Resident Advocacy Projects
• Advocacy Elective
• Resident leadership positions with the Virginia Chapter, AAP, and the national AAP

Pediatric residents have ample opportunities to get involved in research during their training at UVA. Under the guidance of faculty mentors, residents are required to complete a Quality Improvement Project before completing the program. A majority of our residents pursue additional clinical and basic research projects in a variety of areas, and many residents publish or present their research on a national level each year.