Pediatrics
What advice would you offer first- and second-year students who are interested in pursuing your specialty?
As you develop an interest in a specialty, it is still good to explore other areas. There is a lot you can learn from all areas of medicine that can make your path in pediatrics, if you ultimately choose that, even richer. Talk to people in your field of interest – not just physicians but other members of the multidisciplinary teams – to get a better sense of what the field is really about.
Specialty Career Advisor:
Sarah B. Leonard, MD, MPH
Director, Pediatrics Residency Program
Associate Professor
Department of Pediatrics
leonardsa15@ecu.edu
Does research experience need to be in the specialty itself?
No, I think an understanding of research processes is important, familiarity with scientific literature and the ability to perform critical appraisal of literature is important, but you do not necessarily need to have research experience.
What M3/M4 electives would you recommend to a student who is interested in pursuing your specialty?
M3 Electives: Any of the pediatric electives would provide a great experience. I’d also recommend child and adolescent psychiatry or radiology.
M4 Electives: Any of the pediatric electives, Emergency Medicine, Dermatology, PM&R, Psych/Behavioral Medicine, Radiology.
Does your specialty recommend doing away rotations?
An away rotation is not necessary. The only time I’d recommend considering one is if you have a compelling reason to be somewhere. For example, if you have family near a program and you are really hoping to be there for residency, then I’d consider going there and making your intentions clear.
If your specialty recommends doing away rotations, how many away rotations do you recommend?
N/A
If away rotations are necessary, when should they be completed?
N/A
Which month/s are interviews most concentrated?
Late October – Early January
Does your specialty recommend that all letters of recommendation be written by members of your specialty?
I’d recommend that most of your letters come from people in the field of Pediatrics. If you have a significant relationship with someone outside of the specialty – maybe a scholarly project, or significant community involvement – then it would be reasonable to ask them. However, I’d limit that to only one of your letters or an extra letter.
If letters can come from other disciplines, do you have a recommendation as to which disciplines are more highly valued?
N/A
Does the academic rank of the letter writer matter?
No. What matters most is the significance of the relationship and experience you had with them.
How competitive are the residency programs in this specialty?
Some programs within Pediatrics are competitive but others not, but as an overall specialty, not very competitive.
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| Shadowing | X | |||
| Leadership | X | |||
| Community Service | X | |||
| Extracurricular Activities | X | |||
| Research / Publications | X | |||
| AOA Membership | X | |||
| Gold Humanism Honor Society | X | |||
| USMLE Step 2 Scores | X | |||
| Clerkship Grades | X | |||
| Top Tier Medical School | X | |||
| MSPE Letter | X | |||
| Personal Statement | X | |||
| Letters of Recommendation | X |