Program History
The Pediatric Residency Program was established in 1985 and is fully accredited by the ACGME. The emphasis is on general pediatrics with innovative rotations in the psychosocial aspects of pediatrics emphasized in experiences in Adolescent Medicine, Continuity Clinic, Behavior/Development, Community Medicine and Advocacy, Child Abuse Assessment, and chronic illness of childhood.
About the Program
The Children's Health Center of St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center is located in the heart of Phoenix and provides the stage for one of the most comprehensive residency programs in the Southwest. We also have local community based training in numerous sites including schools, health centers, private offices, and subspecialty offices. Our program integrates inpatient and outpatient services for children across the continuum of care to provide an excellent educational base for either the practice of primary care pediatrics or for further training in subspecialty pediatrics—a path chosen by more than 25% of our graduates.
Residents have one half–day continuity clinic per week throughout their three years. In addition to the designated curricular rotations, other curricular topics are interwoven longitudinally: health systems and continuous quality improvement, school age behavioral issues, ethic, residents as teachers, evidence based medicine, communication, practice management, management of children with special health care needs, interdisciplinary approach, cultural awareness and opportunities for scholarly work and research.
Currently we accept 10 residents each year with a fourth year chief resident.
Duty Hours
Throughout the residency program, call is no more frequent than an average of every fourth night. During the second and third year residents participate in a night float system of one week per month while on the in-patient ward rotation. Our program complies with the Resident Duty Hour requirements as set forth by the ACGME and the Pediatric RRC.
Resident support and retreats
A consistent comment from our housestaff relates to the “family” atmosphere they enjoy. The faculty is small enough that each resident is known by the entire faculty, no anonymity, and all the faculty is dedicated to the success of All our residents. Residents are encouraged to bring questions or concerns not only to the program director or their advisor, but that any faculty member is willing to talk with them.
Although the faculty are supportive, the most important support during residency comes from peers, experiencing the same life stressors you are. Our program strives to encourage resident collegiality by sponsoring regular evening “rounds” at a local restaurant, celebrations to mark yearly events, (onset of interviewing season, end of interviewing season, Christmas, graduation, beginning of the new academic year, etc.) and encouragement of frequent casual get-togethers.
Our Philosophy
Residents are trained to be compassionate, clinically excellent pediatricians who are prepared for either primary care pediatrics or further training in subspecialty pediatrics. The program teaches pediatrics by providing a vast exposure to a clinical diversity of patients and settings as well as assorted didactic and interactive learning sessions throughout the three years. In addition to the educational opportunities, our residents and faculty are involved with various community service programs. We are committed as an institution and a program to integrating education with opportunities for service and community advocacy. The Pediatric Residency Program is to provide broad experiences for the pediatric resident to prepare him/her for Board Certification after three years of training.
Mission Statement
Children’s Health Center provides high quality inpatient and outpatient hospital and community-based health care for children from all over Arizona. Children’s Health Center develops and provides innovative programs, including medical education, that complement other community pediatric services, and emphasizes fulfilling both the medical and psychosocial needs of the child and family. These services are offered in an atmosphere that incorporates the tradition and values of the Sisters of Mercy.
