Curriculum
Continuity Curriculum
Residents and faculty meet for 45 minutes during the noon hour to discuss the weekly topic of the continuity clinic curriculum. The curriculum was developed by CAPT Joseph Lopreiato in 1995 and has been continually updated to provide residents and faculty with the up-to-date knowledge about primary care health-maintenance. The small group, case-based discussions covers screening, nutrition, immunizations, behavior, normal development, educational testing, and other topics useful for caring for patients in a busy primary care practice. In the spring, the curriculum covers more global practice topics such as telephone triage and cultural sensitivity and more specific topics such as primary care of premature infants.
SIM and Skills
Our hospital boasts one of the most extensive medical simulation facilities in the United States. Our residents use the USUHS Simulation Center to practice procedures, interview and examine mock patients and perform simulated telephone triage. An additional facility dedicated to simulation of newborn delivery and premature infant care located at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is using for Breaking Bad News simulations and practice on procedural trainers. Weekly mock codes on the ward use simulation..
Global Humanitarian Curriculum
All residents take the Military Medical Humanitarian Assistance Course (MMHAC), a course the NCC Pediatrics Residency co-designed with the pediatrics residency at Wilford Hall in 1995. Residents have the opportunity to take the Humanitarian Medicine elective in the PGY2 and PGY3 year, in locations such as Honduras, Peru, Kenya, Nepal, Ghana or aboard the USNS Comfort. We embrace the Simulation Use for Global Away Rotations (SUGAR) Curriculum. Click here for more information.
Morning Didactics
Our program has a dedicated 60 minute daily morning report and lecture that is attended by all residents. The first 20 minutes is Morning Report which reviews recent admissions and highlights a case presented by an intern or junior trainee. Morning Report is led by the senior pediatric resident. This role for a senior resident is unique among pediatric residencies, and is aligned with the reality that our graduates practice as the local pediatric expert in remote locations where they must teach and lead medical teams who may not have much pediatric experience.
A 40 minute lecture follows morning report. Lectures are approved for CME credit. Topics are aligned with the American Board of Pediatrics content specifications. The first month deals with emergency and acute care pediatric topics from all specialties including general outpatient pediatrics. Our current academic calendar details past and upcoming lectures. Faculty (and residents) receive training in teaching techniques, and the program’s culture of expecting critique and feedback from all levels of learners have resulted in an excellent lecture series.
Military Unique Curriculum
All residents receive training and exposure to operational medicine and pediatrics. Interns attend “C4,” the Combat Casualty Care Course. All residents take the Military Medical Humanitarian Assistance Course, where they learn the knowledge and skills to perform basic epidemiological monitoring, administer oral rehydration solution, assess nutritional status and treat infectious disease in a humanitarian disaster. Operational medical topics such as sports injuries, eye injuries, dive medicine, flight medicine and field dermatologic conditions are offered during seminars and during morning report. Click for more information.
The ARM program offers a longitudinal curriculum experience throughout the PGY2 and PGY3 levels. Residents in this voluntary program spend up to two 1/2 days per month participating in an individualized curricular experience. These can include participation in a subspecialty or multi-disciplinary clinic, school-based health clinics, clinics for underserved immigrant or socioeconomically disadvantaged children, clinical or bench research, teaching and educational positions or advocacy in the hospital or community. Residents apply for the ARM Program at the end of intern year with the help of an advisor.
Research
The NCC Pediatrics Residency has a strong active research community in pediatric basic science, clinical studies, and educational research . Primers on conducting pediatric research are incorporated into the morning lecture series. A constantly updated online database of projects and mentors is available. There are many active protocols initiated by our residents.
All residents are required to complete a scholarly project by the time of graduation. Topics in basic research methods are offered through the morning conference schedule, and a two-year mentored research curriculum which culminates in a completed IRB-approved research project of the resident’s own design is offered. A monthly research conference is held prior to Grand Rounds and highlights an area of active research within the Department of Pediatrics at the hospital and at the medical school. A yearly Resident Research Conference provides a forum for residents to present their projects. Residents also are encouraged to submit abstracts of their research to national meetings, and funds are provided by the residency for travel for research presentations. Our residents, fellows, faculty and medical students annually submit over 50% of abstracts for the American Academy of Pediatrics Uniformed Services Pediatric Seminar Scientific Awards Competition.
Performance & Quality Improvement
In fitting with the ACGME's Core Competencies, residents take-on Problem-Based Learning & Improvement (PBLI) projects as part of their Continuity Clinics, learning the basics of PI/QI and applying them to a self-selected primary care topic. Additionally, residents participate in the monthly Performance Improvement meeting at the morning conference. All projects are designed to meet the requirements of MOC Part IV for the American Board of Pediatrics for both faculty and for residents. All selected medical students for our program - and all military pediatric programs - are required to complete the Basic Certificate in Patient Safety & Quality from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement prior to reporting.
Grand Rounds
The Department of Pediatrics of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences sponsors Grand Rounds, a twice-monthly invited lecture given by pediatricians who are leaders in their fields.
Advanced Life Support Classes
All interns become qualified in PALS, NRP, STABLE as well as ACLS and ATLS. Residents are required to become NRP, STABLE, and PALS instructors by the time of graduation. Residents also take the Pediatric Fundamentals of Critical Care Skills Course.