Message from the Program Directors
Hello future pediatricians and global health advocates!
We’re thrilled to introduce you to the Dr. Kelly DeScioli Global Child Health Pediatrics Residency Program at Baylor College of Medicine. This unique four-year program offers you the chance to spend one year at one of our Texas Children’s Global Health Network sites in Uganda, Malawi, Eswatini, Botswana, or Colombia, or with our partner programs in Peru or Guatemala.
During your global health year, you'll work alongside local partners and clinicians to provide essential care for children and families, gaining clinical experience in many areas including acute care, newborn care, HIV, malnutrition, malaria, tuberculosis, and more in both outpatient and inpatient settings. This invaluable experience will help you understand the challenges of healthcare in resource-limited settings and appreciate the local cultural, historical, and socioeconomic factors impacting patient care. You’ll also learn to strengthen capacity and address power imbalances in global health partnerships. In addition to the standard three-year pediatric residency curriculum, you’ll have opportunities to engage in research, advocacy, and initiatives to improve access to care both locally and globally.
In today’s interconnected world, having a global perspective is essential for pediatricians to address and reduce health inequities. Our graduates are well-equipped to make meaningful impact to address health inequities both locally and globally. Over 60% of our graduates pursue pediatric subspecialty fellowship training, with others entering primary care or working with prestigious organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The Dr. Kelly DeScioli Global Child Health Pediatrics Residency Program will prepare you for a career dedicated to pediatric care and advocacy for children worldwide. Here, you will meet incredible people from all over the globe and build a supportive community of like-minded peers throughout your residency in Houston. We look forward to welcoming you to our program.
Warm regards,
Heather A. Haq, M.D., MHS
Stephanie A. Marton, M.D., MPH
Dr. Kelly DeScioli Global Child Health Pediatrics Residency Program
Baylor College of Medicine
Message from the Global Health Chief Resident
Welcome to the Dr. Kelly DeScioli Global Child Health Pediatrics Residency Program at Baylor College of Medicine!
I’m so excited to introduce you to our truly unique program. We are the only pediatrics residency that offers residents the opportunity to spend an entire year of training fully embedded at one of our global partner sites abroad across Africa and Latin America.
During this year, residents are deeply immersed in local culture and daily life, working side-by-side with our local colleagues to care for children and families facing a wide range of clinical challenges across inpatient, outpatient, acute care and subspecialty wards, while gaining a deeper understanding of the structural factors that shape healthcare delivery in resource-limited environments. However, our global health education doesn’t stop during the year abroad. Residents receive intensive preparation before departure and continue to build on these principles throughout residency by working in Houston, one of the most diverse cities in the USA, reinforcing how global health principles apply close to home.
I spent my global health year in Lilongwe, Malawi, also known as the “Warm Heart of Africa.” There, I had the privilege of learning from incredible colleagues who continuously adapt, innovate, and advance care while navigating the complexities of healthcare in resource-limited settings. This experience profoundly shaped how I think about medicine, partnership, and sustainability in global health, and it continues to guide how I practice and lead today. Many of my wonderful co-residents have brought their partners, children and pets as well, making the year abroad both professionally and personally transformative for the whole family.
This global health community allows residents to enjoy the benefits of a smaller, highly personalized program with focused mentorship and a community with individualized attention that is deeply invested in helping every resident succeed both personally and professionally, all while still training at a world-renowned institution with exceptional clinical and educational resources. This program is a great fit for residents who want to engage with global health at a deeper level, truly immersing themselves in international settings while learning how to approach global health in ways that are sustainable and centered on empowering locally led systems of care.
Above all, what makes this program special is its people. My co-residents are my best friends and the rarity of this kind of experience in residency has brought us even closer as we navigate this life-changing year abroad together. We love this program and the community we’ve built, and we’re always excited to share it with others. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to learn more, ask questions, or connect further. We’d love to talk with you.
Sara Yasrebi, M.D.
Global Health Chief Resident 2025-2026