Curriculum & Rotations

Schedule overview


Rotation
First year (weeks)
Second year (weeks)
Third year (weeks)

Ambulatory

4

4

4

ED

4

4

4

Heme-Onc

4

4

 

General Inpatient (includes night team)

12

8

8

PICU

 

4

4

NICU

 

4

4

Well Baby Nursery

4

 

 

Behavior/Dev

4

 

 

Genetics

2

 

 

Adolescent

 

4

 

Scholarly Activity

2

Up to 8 additional weeks

Mental Health

4

 

 

 Continuity 'Y' weeks  4
 Elective / Individualized  4  12  20

Vacation

4

4

4

Educational Sessions

Education is a central component of our residency program. Our diverse patient population offers extensive hands-on experience, while our structured formal teaching sessions ensure a comprehensive educational experience for our residents.

  1. Academic Half Day: Structured teaching primarily takes place on Tuesday afternoons from 1 to 5 p.m. through our Academic Half Day model. This time is fully protected from clinical duties, ensuring that all residents, except those on night shifts or vacation, can attend.
  2. Subspecialty Teaching Timeout: Daily conferences cover additional topics relevant to patient care, with presentations from various subspecialty divisions.
  3. Chief Report: Weekly conference led by chief residents, focusing on board review topics.
  4. Grand Rounds: Monthly lectures presented by a diverse range of regional and national speakers.

Individualized Educational Curriculum

At Inova, we emphasize the education of each individual resident. At the end of intern year, residents start developing their individualized educational curriculum (IEC) with close guidance from their mentor. Our program size allows residents to rotate through traditional electives, such as pulmonology, cardiology, and nephrology, as well as personalized electives, including antimicrobial stewardship, EMS, and the business of medicine. There is opportunity to create your own unique experience under the guidance of your faculty mentor.

Community Outreach

The Inova Cares Clinic for Children, located within five miles of the hospital, offers pediatric care to underserved populations in a multicultural environment. With around 25,000 visits annually, the clinic provides residents with extensive exposure to both common and rare pediatric conditions. Residents play a key role in caring for patients, many of whom are immigrants from around the world. Each resident spends one block at the clinic each year.

In 2019, the program launched the Inova Pediatrics Advocacy and Community Collaboration Committee (IPACCC), which has two main goals:

  1. To enhance residents’ awareness, participation, and skills in advocacy locally, regionally, and nationally
  2. To build and grow partnerships that improve the health of children in our community

Each year, Advocacy leadership assess residents’ top priorities, which recently have included:

  • Addressing food insecurity and other social drivers of health within our patient population
  • Promoting diversity, anti-racism, and inclusion
  • Improving the wellbeing of refugee and immigrant children in our community
  • Sponsoring residents to attend the American Academy of Pediatrics National Legislative Conference in the spring

Research Opportunities

Our residents are actively involved in a range of research projects, have secured first authorship in several medical journals, and are encouraged to attend and present at national conferences.

In their first year, interns engage in a longitudinal research curriculum and are allotted 2 weeks of dedicated research time. This program covers key topics such as study design, medical statistics, and research ethics, and helps residents through the process of designing and submitting research proposals.

Interns also meet individually with our Directors of Residency Research, Dr. Jason Goldberg and Dr. Keith Dockery, to discuss their research interests and to be matched with a mentor or project.

In subsequent years, residents can take additional research weeks and continue to receive support and guidance from our dedicated research directors.

Mentorship

Mentorship is a central element of our program. Residents are paired with a faculty mentor for semiannual meetings to review their progress, develop their individualized curriculum, and address any concerns. They also have biannual meetings with Program Director Kathleen Donnelly and regular interactions with chief residents for additional support. Furthermore, each intern is assigned a "big sib" to ensure a smooth transition into their intern year.

Contact Us


Inova L.J. Murphy Children's Hospital

Inova L.J. Murphy Children's Hospital
Pediatric Residency Program
Inova Fairfax Medical Campus
3300 Gallows Road
Falls Church, VA  22042-3300

Phone: 703-776-6652
Fax: 703-776-4323

A-Z

Health Library
footer top