4th year electives

[riverie]

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I know this topic may have been done to death, but I wanted some opinions about my own situation.

So far, the pediatric-related rotations I have done or am planning to do are -- pediatrics core, pedi neuro elective, outpatient pediatric preceptorship, pedi sub-i, and pedi allergy/immuno elective. I am currently deciding between general peds, pedi neuro, or pedi allergy/immuno.

Should I be thinking about other pedi electives that might prepare me for residency? Or as some other posters have noted, should I explore non-pediatric electives or electives that I won't get to do in residency? If so, what are some examples?

Thanks!

 

[fourthyearmed]

I'm a third year peds resident. I recommend electives in things that aren't necessarily part of your peds residency yet knowledge about the topics would definitely help. For example, exposure to ENT, Optho, Child Psychiatry, Dermatology, and Ortho would all be helpful because you will see these things while in your pediatric residency or practice yet we don't really get much training in them. Also if there is something you feel particularly weak in (say, Cardiology) you may want to do that for your own knowledge. I don't recommend doing NICU or PICU unless you are particularly interested in them because you will get more than enough during residency!

 

[jocg27]

Maternal-fetal medicine/high-risk OB: Worthwhile for peds residency?

Discuss!

 

[TheFriedert]

I did a Pedi Ed rotation as a 4th year and had a lot freedom and learned a lot. I would suggest it to anyone

 

[oldbearprofessor]

Maternal-fetal medicine/high-risk OB: Worthwhile for peds residency?

Discuss!

Marginal unless you're going into neo. Even then you'll do it again. I'd go with radiology/derm, etc.

 

[Marigold]

I did Pedi Rhematology, which imho was very good because I finally got decent at doing a musculoskeletal exam (quite important in general peds, which is what I want to do) and now I more easily think about rheum diseases when setting up my differential. I also did a month in the county hospital Level I nursery, which was great because I got really comfortable doing exams on TONS of healthy newborns...so now I have a much better idea of what "normal" looks/sounds like, which will theoretically help me have a feel for whether or not the baby in front of me is truly sick or not. The third one I did was a general peds month (with MY old pediatrician, pretty cool!) and I really enjoyed it, confirmed that general peds is what I will do. 4th one was Pedi Derm, fun and also very useful since rashes/skin complaints are quite common in Peds. And finally, I'm just finishing a month of Pedi EM at the big children's hospital here, and it's been a really great month too, with lots of variety, everything from broken bones to asthma exacerbations to psychiatric problems to GI bleeders and more!

I'm very happy with the electives I chose....some others that are popular here are Pedi Infectious Disease (probably would have done that one too if I wasn't such a lazy 4th year 😉) and Pedi GI...and if you're into critical care a PICU or NICU month could be good too, but don't feel like you HAVE to do a critical care elective. As mentioned before, you'll get plenty of it in residency.

Above all, do what you enjoy! Have fun! 😀