3rd Year Elective Pediatric Residency question

[phagefighter]

Hello! I am a third-year DO student and interested in Pediatrics. One of my advisors told me that it was required for me to do an in-patients pediatric rotation my 3rd year elective in order to pursue a residency in pediatrics. Is this true? Does anyone have any advice about any other electives I could do if I cannot find a in-patient pediatric elective? My elective block is first. Thank you!

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[Forven]

I am not sure how DO schools work in terms of setting up your rotations, but are you going to have a rotation through pediatrics outside of your elective? If so your elective will just become redundant. Do it something else like peds ortho, peds aenesthesia, ENT, peds neuro etc.

 

[Cuthbert]

Hello! I am a third-year DO student and interested in Pediatrics. One of my advisors told me that it was required for me to do an in-patients pediatric rotation my 3rd year elective in order to pursue a residency in pediatrics. Is this true? Does anyone have any advice about any other electives I could do if I cannot find a in-patient pediatric elective? My elective block is first. Thank you!

As a DO who went through the MD match, I can only give you advice from an ACGME standpoint. If that is the case, you do NOT need an in-patient peds elective during your third year to match peds. However, you SHOULD be doing some kind of pediatric rotation during third year. Inpatient would be best. A general peds clinic would also be appropriate. Pick one of these to give you a solid foundation that you can build on during your fourth year. Then, obtain any subinternships that you can during fourth year. I did both inpatient and NICU - which were very helpful once I entered residency.

If your advisor or school is unable to help you obtain this (as was the case with my school), start calling programs on your own. Often times other medical students will drop their rotation and a spot might open up for you.

 

[phagefighter]

Thank you! Very helpful!