fast track?

Fastracking is more commonly seen in internal medicine programs, but a few pediatrics programs have this option. Generally speaking, you need to be a M.D.-Ph.D. graduate before a fast track is possible. I believe that the way it works is that you do 2 years of residency and then progress immediately to fellowship. In general, both the residency and fellowship must be done within the same institution.

 

Yep-it's called the Special Alternative Pathway-here's some info from www.abp.org (the american board of pediatrics web site)...

Special Alternative Pathway (SAP)
The ABP recognizes that occasionally an exceptional candidate should be given special consideration to begin pediatric subspecialty or related training after the completion of the PL-2 year of general comprehensive pediatrics. The duration of the pediatric subspecialty training or related training for the SAP must be 3 years. Click here for Guidelines.

Before the start of the PL-2 year, the department chair or program director must petition that a resident be considered for the SAP, indicating that the candidate has superior overall competence. The subspecialty program director must also provide a letter outlining the clinical and research training proposed, including special requirements to be met during the PL-2 and PL-3 years. In addition, such candidates will be required to take a screening examination. The application material and the score on the screening examination will be reviewed by the Credentials Committee.

A SAP trainee may take the certifying examination in general pediatrics in the fifth year of training provided that he or she has successfully completed the required 2 years of general pediatrics residency and at least 12 months of clinical rotations in the pediatric subspecialty.

Special Situations
The ABP recognizes that situations may arise that are not explained by the preceding information. The physician should contact the ABP for further information.

I thought about doing this (I'm not an MD/PhD but have research experience) but I didn't want to miss out on elective time. I think it's offered quietly by most programs with strong fellowships; since there's a dearth of pediatric subspecialists there's an increasing interest in this program. Rochester offers the SAP program (not sure if we've had any takers recently), and also offers a "research track" that gives motivated residents time to do small research projects during the normal 3 year residency.