CHAI is proud to partner with the Pediatric Residency Program, specifically with a number of initiatives in the LAUnCH track. Under the leadership of Cara Lichtenstein, M.D., the mission of the LAUnCH Track is to train a new generation of residents who will create successful community partnerships and integrate public health concepts into the everyday practice of medicine to improve the health of under-resourced communities. The training for the LAUnCH Track is integrated within the overall pediatric residency program to ensure excellence in attainment of clinical skills.
First Year
The Community Building Blocks (CBB) rotation is offered to first year pediatric residents who are part of the LAUnCH track. The goal of the CBB rotation is to provide residents with an understanding of how social determinants of health (SDH) affect the local community, to improve their knowledge of community resources, and to train them to incorporate a focus on SDH into their clinical care and future careers. Each week of the rotation is focused on one of four SDH: poverty; trauma and adversity; schools and education; and the neighborhood and built environment. The curriculum consists of required readings, meetings with interdisciplinary leaders in the field, community-based experiences and weekly reflections with rotation leaders.
Second Year
The Child Health Advocacy Institute (CHAI) rotation is offered to second year pediatric residents who are part of the LAUnCH track and focuses on legislative advocacy. The goal of the rotation is to orient residents to CHAI’s efforts and steps to engaging in advocacy, including identification of an issue, review of relevant data and policy, organization of partnerships, development and communication of proposed solutions and implementation. The rotation culminates in a meeting with a legislator or their staff member to present a policy brief prepared by the resident and discuss a child health advocacy issue.
Third Year
In the Population Health and Leadership rotation, third year pediatric residents in the LAUnCH track develop the skills to advance the medical home model in order to improve population health outcomes for children. Through readings, coalition meetings and hands-on activities, residents learn how community partnerships and governmental policies advance population health.