Pediatric residency chances

[dentalstuden245]

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Hello everyone, I’ve been extremely intrested in attending pediatric residency and wants to know what things should I do to improve my application and what programs value in their applicants. Also interested in learning about what programs are known to provide best clinical experience to their students.

Stats:

1. Rank top 30%
2. Currently leader of an organization running 2 separate dental clinic that provide free services to people in need
3. Position In pediatric club
4. 2 research projects pediatric related
5. Hold position in research club
6. Have been to multiple givekidsasmile events to provide sealants.
7. Started chapter for special needs patients
8. Completed an externship (outside us) and focused on treated kids to gain more experience
9. Run a school bases program to provide funding for patients in needed
10. started spending more time in pediatric department at school
11. passed boards and adex

Any advice would be greatly appreciated thank you!!!

 

[Lemillion]

Sounds like you're on a good track! I would recommend setting up a meeting with the pediatric faculty (program director, chair, anyone full time there) to get know what they look for in applicants and any advice.

*Consider doing some externships to see how other programs function and network
*Try to see if you can attend AAPD-it's in Las Vegas for 2026. Good opportunity to see what's new in peds and potentially meet program directors
* Shadow some private peds practices to see what their day to day is like and get a pulse. Shadow diff ones (solo, group, pedo-ortho)
Programs wise-most programs will do a solid job training you. Hospital based, low tuition/free tuition are the most popular ones. Think about where you want to practice long-term and focus your efforts on the programs in that region. Those programs will mirror the practice climate of where you are wanting to live.
(For example, certain areas practice oral sedation. If you go to a program that does not do a lot of sedation (bare CODA minimum) and doesn't expose you to a variety of medications, you want feel overwhelmed trying to join a practice that does a lot of sedation and expects you to be comfortable with their meds/protocols.)