Focus on pediatrics in FM

[Doohickey550]

I am currently an FM resident and I have a very strong interest in pediatrics. My goal is to try to end up practicing mostly in a pediatric setting after residency. I haven’t really decided on the exact setting that I’d like to be in, but traditionally, I have not really enjoyed working in primary care clinics. I am leaning more toward urgent care/hospital medicine/community ER.

What recommendations would you all have regarding how to focus more on pediatrics during residency? I’m not sure exactly how many electives I will have in 2nd and 3rd year, but I am hoping to be able to use those for pediatrics. What rotations would you all recommend as most potentially beneficial considering my career goals?

Also, is anyone aware of any official or unofficial pediatric fellowship or something that I could do after residency to get extra training in pediatrics?

What other things would you recommend for me?

Thanks in advance.

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[galactus]

There are plenty of opportunities to have a pedi-focused FM practice. One common way is to accept newborns and up in your patient panel. I'm the only one in my group practice that has that distinction, so it definitely keeps my practice on the younger side.
You can do an adolescent medicine fellowship from FM. Sports Medicine sees youths as well.
Other option is that some medical institutions have teen health clinics that are run by FM, Peds, and gyn docs.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

There are plenty of opportunities to have a pedi-focused FM practice. One common way is to accept newborns and up in your patient panel. I'm the only one in my group practice that has that distinction, so it definitely keeps my practice on the younger side.
You can do an adolescent medicine fellowship from FM. Sports Medicine sees youths as well.
Other option is that some medical institutions have teen health clinics that are run by FM, Peds, and gyn docs.

Yep. Nursery call is a great way to do that.

 

[Doohickey550]

There are plenty of opportunities to have a pedi-focused FM practice. One common way is to accept newborns and up in your patient panel. I'm the only one in my group practice that has that distinction, so it definitely keeps my practice on the younger side.
You can do an adolescent medicine fellowship from FM. Sports Medicine sees youths as well.
Other option is that some medical institutions have teen health clinics that are run by FM, Peds, and gyn docs.

Thanks for those suggestions regarding how to structure my future practice. My question at this point is more about how I can maximize my training as a resident so that I get as much pediatric exposure as possible, and which particular pediatric rotations I should try to do in order to get the most bang for my buck. Do you have recommendations along those lines? Thank you.

 

[galactus]

You can ask for a pedi ambulatory rotation or an adolescent medicine rotation. That’s what I did in residency. I ask always offered to be the pediatrician for every baby I delivered. The residents of the program im currently at rotate though teen health clinics to add their pedi numbers.

 

[NeuroticByN8ure]

Are you saying that your end goal is to work in a pediatric UC, ER, or hospital?

 

[deleted480308]

Thanks for those suggestions regarding how to structure my future practice. My question at this point is more about how I can maximize my training as a resident so that I get as much pediatric exposure as possible, and which particular pediatric rotations I should try to do in order to get the most bang for my buck. Do you have recommendations along those lines? Thank you.

Tell the inpatient peds team you will take on any unnassigned kids that come to hospital and need a pcp. They will fill your schedule

 

[Blue Cohosh]

My understanding is that peds hospitalist is a subspecialist pathway now, requiring fellowship after peds residency.

And pediatric emergency medicine has been a subspecialty attainable after a peds or EM residency.

 

[deleted87716]

Are you saying that your end goal is to work in a pediatric UC, ER, or hospital?

I think that would be difficult, as these are usually restricted to board certified pediatricians. As an FP, it would be much more realistic to try to build a pediatric-heavy outpatient practice. There are some good suggestions above. Also, it would be to your advantage to locate your practice in an area where there aren't a lot of pediatricians.

 

[Atlas Shrugged]

My understanding is that peds hospitalist is a subspecialist pathway now, requiring fellowship after peds residency.

And pediatric emergency medicine has been a subspecialty attainable after a peds or EM residency.

It shouldn’t be. Embarrassing. Any graduating pediatrician should be able to handle hospitalist work.

Same goes for internists and FP.

 

[Ironheme]

My understanding is that peds hospitalist is a subspecialist pathway now, requiring fellowship after peds residency.

And pediatric emergency medicine has been a subspecialty attainable after a peds or EM residency.

I know an FM doc that is working as peds hospitalist. I believe Joint Council of Pediatric Hospital Medicine want to (require fellowship for peds hospitalist), however they have not been able to implement due to backlash.

 

[AMEHigh]

Yeah these days I think it’ll be very difficult to work as a peds hospitalist or in peds ED as FM. I’m sure there are rare cases of it happening, but I wouldn’t hang your hat on it. In some rural areas I know those type of things are more possible, but even people I know that practice full spectrum FM in cities it doesn’t include peds hospitalist or peds ED work.

If you want to work with a lot of kids I’d probably focus on the outpatient aspect. You could do any elective peds rotations you’re interested in, but I think it’d probably be a waste of time to do a rotation in peds cardiology for example. I’d probably do a rotation in general peds and adolescent medicine.

 

[FrustratedFamDoc]

It shouldn’t be. Embarrassing. Any graduating pediatrician should be able to handle hospitalist work.

Same goes for internists and FP.

It absolutely shouldn't be, but the more patients a hospital can pawn off on the fellows and residents, the less hospitalists they need to hire, the more money they make.

 

[Doohickey550]

Are you saying that your end goal is to work in a pediatric UC, ER, or hospital?

Yes, something like that.

 

[PTPoeny]

I know an FM doc that is working as peds hospitalist. I believe Joint Council of Pediatric Hospital Medicine want to (require fellowship for peds hospitalist), however they have not been able to implement due to backlash.

They are definitely starting the fellowships and offering a board exam...