Medicine-Pediatrics Curriculum

The combined Medicine-Pediatrics residency program at Baylor College of Medicine is fully integrated within the categorical internal medicine and pediatric programs and meets all of the requirements set forth by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The program is integrated by block assignments over four years alternating between the two categorical programs. The four years of training provide a total of 12 months of internship (six months in pediatrics/six months in medicine) and 36 months of residency (18 months in pediatrics/18 months in medicine) for a total of 48 months (24 months in pediatrics/24 months in medicine). Electives on internal medicine can be done at any of the affiliated training sites including MD Anderson. The academic calendar each year is divided into 13 four-week blocks. Residency start date is June 24.

Key for Hospital Sites

*BT = Ben Taub Hospital
*SL = Baylor St. Luke's Hospital
*TCH = Texas Children's Hospital
*VA = Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center

In the first year, interns switch between medicine and pediatrics approximately every twelve weeks (the 13th block is divided into two weeks of pediatrics and two weeks of medicine rotations). Half of the intern class starts on pediatrics rotations, the other half will start on medicine rotations and after the first twelve weeks will switch to the other discipline. Throughout all rotations, residents will have at minimum one half-day of clinic at MLK to maintain patient continuity, with an effort to prioritize full clinic days.

In the second and third year of residency training at Baylor College of Medicine, residents alternate between medicine and pediatrics every four-five blocks. This results in having one year on predominantly medicine rotations (eight medicine/five pediatrics blocks) and one year on predominantly pediatrics (eight pediatrics/five medicine blocks) rotations. The curriculum was designed in this fashion to allow for summer and winter seasons in each discipline, providing clinical exposure to illnesses with seasonal variation. Below is an example of what to expect during the PGY-2/3 years.

The fourth year of residency at Baylor College of Medicine is designed similar to the first year, alternating between medicine and pediatrics every three blocks and a 13th block that is split into two weeks of pediatrics and two weeks of medicine. The fourth year of residency training is primarily in a supervisory role in both disciplines.

Each resident is assigned a faculty advisor. The advisor acts as counselor for both professional and personal matters. The system for evaluating is designed to help each resident reach his or her full potential. Residents are evaluated following each rotation by their attending physician and supervising resident or fellow. Resident evaluations are based on their new core competencies or patient care, medical knowledge practice based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism and systems based practice.

Evaluations are continually reviewed by the resident's advisors as well as by the director and/or co-directors. The faculty steering committee meets quarterly to discuss resident evaluations. In order to provide an analysis to aid in improving fund of knowledge, the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Internal Medicine in service examinations are offered to residents annually.