Our Curriculum

PL1 - First Year

During intern year, the PL-1 serves as the patient's primary physician on inpatient and outpatient services under the supervision of a senior resident and an attending physician. Academic pediatric hospitalist faculty provide 24-hour in-house supervision for both general pediatric inpatient teams.

All interns complete 5 blocks of inpatient pediatrics, including 2 blocks of general pediatric wards, and 3 blocks of subspecialty wards, including Pulmonology, Adolescent Medicine, Gastroenterology, Neurology and Endocrinology. All interns also complete one block of Well Baby Nursery, one block in The George Washington University Level III(b) NICU, spend time in our Children’s National Emergency Department and one block in outpatient general pediatric clinic.

On Saturday and Sunday, call is covered by PL-1 residents in either a 24 hour call format or day and night shifts, depending on the rotation. There are four weeks of vacation and four weeks of call-free time.

PL2 - Second Year

During the second year, pediatric residents broaden patient care experience and skills and increase autonomy. Residents begin assuming leadership roles, both in the outpatient and inpatient areas. Residents serve as the primary supervisors over interns on overnight and some inpatient rotations, and also have the opportunity to work directly with attendings and supervise medical students and Family Medicine interns on our “bread and butter” general pediatric service. PL-2s rotate through the pediatric and neonatal intensive care units at the Children's National main campus and broaden their exposure to subspecialties, including Hematology/Oncology and Cardiology. Second-year residents are also given additional elective and selective time to explore individual interests.

Night call during the second year is provided by a night team from Monday through Friday nights. On Saturday and Sunday, call is covered by the senior residents from the individual ward via 24 hour call format. There are four weeks of call-free electives and four weeks of vacation.

PL3 - Third Year

During the third year, residents assume a position of leadership in all areas by supervising first-year residents' patient care and providing teaching on both the inpatient and ambulatory medical units. Third years rotate through our pediatric and neonatal intensive care units and spend two blocks in a purely supervisory role on inpatient ward teams. Third-year residents have increased elective and selective time to pursue individual career and academic interests.

Night call during the third year is provided by a night team from Monday through Friday nights. On Saturday and Sunday, call is covered by the senior residents from the individual ward via 24 hour call format. There are four weeks of call-free electives and four weeks of vacation.