Residency Training Program in General Pediatrics
Training Experience
The Pediatrics Residency Program at º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿Ëù Downstate is committed to providing residents with a comprehensive foundation in general pediatrics while fostering the skills, confidence, and clinical judgment needed to become outstanding pediatricians and leaders in child health.
Our curriculum is designed around progressive responsibility, evidence-based practice, collaboration across disciplines, and compassionate, family-centered care. Residents train in a diverse clinical environment that serves children and families from Brooklyn and the surrounding communities, gaining exposure to a wide range of medical conditions, healthcare needs, and social determinants of health.
The residency curriculum is organized into thirteen 4-week blocks each academic year and is structured to meet the 2025 ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Pediatrics. Training experiences include inpatient pediatrics, newborn medicine, pediatric intensive care, emergency medicine, ambulatory pediatrics, pediatric subspecialties, developmental and behavioral pediatrics, adolescent medicine, mental health, quality improvement, research, and individualized elective experiences.
Longitudinal continuity clinic is integrated throughout all three years of residency, allowing residents to develop meaningful relationships with patients and families while building expertise in preventive care, chronic disease management, and population health.
Clinical Training Sites
Residents receive training across multiple clinical sites, providing broad exposure to diverse patient populations and healthcare systems:
- University Hospital at Downstate – A tertiary academic medical center providing comprehensive inpatient and specialty pediatric care.
- Kings County Hospital Center – A major public hospital serving a diverse urban population with a wide range of acute and complex pediatric conditions.
- South Brooklyn Health – Providing community-based pediatric care and inpatient experiences within an evolving healthcare system.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center – Offering exposure to pediatric oncology and complex subspecialty care.
- Maimonides Medical Center – Providing additional experiences in pediatric inpatient care.
Together, these sites provide residents with a balanced experience across academic medicine, community pediatrics, tertiary care, and population health.
Curriculum Structure
PGY-1 Curriculum
The intern year focuses on developing strong clinical foundations, acquiring essential pediatric skills, and transitioning into the role of a pediatric physician.
PL-1 residents gain experience in:
- Inpatient Pediatrics
- Emergency Medicine
- Newborn Medicine
- Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
- General Ambulatory Pediatrics
- Outpatient Pediatric Subspecialties
- Individualized Curriculum Experiences
During the first year, residents develop proficiency in history taking, physical examination, clinical decision-making, communication with families, and the management of common pediatric conditions.
PGY-2 Curriculum
The second year emphasizes increasing independence, leadership development, and management of more complex clinical situations.
PL-2 residents participate in:
- Senior Inpatient Pediatrics
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Emergency Medicine
- General Ambulatory Pediatrics
- Outpatient Pediatric Subspecialties
- Ambulatory Pediatrics Experiences
- Individualized Curriculum Experiences
Residents refine their supervisory skills while teaching junior trainees and taking on greater responsibility for patient care.
PGY-3 Curriculum
The final year of residency focuses on clinical mastery, leadership, teaching, career development, and preparation for independent practice or fellowship training.
PL-3 residents participate in advanced experiences including:
- Senior Inpatient Pediatrics
- Supervisory and Leadership Roles
- Pediatric Intensive Care
- Emergency Medicine
- Ambulatory Pediatrics
- Pediatric Subspecialty Experiences
- Individualized Curriculum Experiences
- Advocacy, Research, and Scholarly Activities
- Career Development Experiences
Senior residents serve as role models for the residency program and contribute to the education of medical students, interns, and junior residents.
Individualized Curriculum
A unique strength of our residency program is the opportunity for residents to personalize their training through an Individualized Curriculum.
These experiences allow residents to explore specific areas of interest and tailor their education toward their future career goals. Residents may pursue focused experiences in:
- Pediatric subspecialties
- Inpatient pediatrics
- Pediatric emergency medicine
- Intensive care
- Research and scholarly activity
- Quality improvement
- Advocacy
- Urgent care
- Additional clinical or academic interests
The Individualized Curriculum encourages residents to develop expertise in areas that align with their professional goals while maintaining the broad foundation required of a general pediatrician.
Educational Experiences
In addition to clinical training, residents participate in a comprehensive educational program designed to support lifelong learning and professional development.
Core educational experiences include:
- Simulation training
- Procedural skills workshops
- Quality improvement education
- Health disparities and advocacy curriculum
- Research and scholarly activity
- Case-based conferences
- Multidisciplinary learning opportunities
- Resident wellness initiatives
Our educational approach emphasizes active learning, clinical reasoning, teamwork, and preparing residents to provide high-quality care in an evolving healthcare environment.
Evaluation and Feedback
Resident growth is supported through a comprehensive evaluation system aligned with ACGME requirements.
Residents receive ongoing feedback through:
- Direct clinical observation
- Milestone-based evaluations
- Faculty and multidisciplinary feedback
- Procedural competency assessments
- Semiannual performance reviews
- Individualized learning plans
The program is committed to helping every resident identify strengths, address areas for growth, and achieve their personal and professional goals.
A Complete Pediatric Training Experience
The º¬Ðß²ÝÑо¿Ëù Downstate Pediatrics Residency Program provides a rigorous yet supportive training environment where residents develop the clinical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to advocacy needed to care for children in diverse communities.
Through comprehensive clinical experiences, individualized learning opportunities, dedicated faculty mentorship, and a commitment to education and innovation, our residents graduate prepared to excel in general pediatrics, fellowship training, and leadership roles in child health.