Overview:

The mission of the Community Pediatrics and Advocacy Track at CHUI is to train pediatric residents to develop community partnerships and advocate for and impact children’s health at the local, state and national levels.

By gaining the tools needed to assess and evaluate their community, residents will develop a greater understanding of their community’s assets and needs. They will partner with community organizations to improve the lives of children through the implementation of projects designed specifically to meet the needs of their community. They will learn the importance of sustainability in community work and develop plans to sustain their efforts after the completion of their residency. Residents also are trained in policy brief creation culminating in a presentation on a relevant pediatric medical topic affecting legislation to an Illinois legislator.

Highlights of the Program:

  • 2 year program (PGY 2-3)
  • Partner with community agencies in collaborative work
  • Expand leadership skills
  • Develop grant writing skills
  • Meet with Advocacy Track participants/mentors for project development
  • Attend Annual Lobby Day in Springfield in conjunction with ICAAP
  • Learn skills to create Legislative Policy Brief
  • Attend community networking events

Calendar

Year 1

  • Complete IRB Training through UIC
  • Identify mentor for advocacy project
  • 2 week block in fall to begin project development and grant application
  • 2 week block in spring for project development and implementation
  • Longitudinal advocacy experience (18 ½ days during non-inpatient months)
  • Case-based advocacy presentations during Adolescent and Development rotations
  • Legislative Policy Brief Presentation
  • Submit project proposal
  • Apply for project grant

Year 2

  • Implement and evaluate advocacy project
  • 2 week block in fall to begin project development and grant application
  • 2 week block in spring for project development and implementation
  • Longitudinal advocacy experience (18 ½ days during non-inpatient months)
  • Mentor community intern—work together on an activity or teaching session
  • Present at Grand Rounds
  • Legislative Policy Brief Presentation
  • Submit an abstract or manuscript based on your work

Track Lead: Kristen Kenan MD, MPH

Goal:

  • To provide individualized educational opportunities for residents interested in a career in either academic or community-based pediatric hospital medicine.

Eligibility and Application:

    • First year categorical pediatrics residents and first or second year med/peds residents
    • Selection requirements:
      • Updated CV
      • Three paragraph essay:
        • Your ultimate career goals
        • What you hope to gain from the track
        • Your research project idea

Track Details:

  • Required Elective:
    • Cook County PICU elective (required once 2nd-4th year)
  • Recommended Electives:
    • Advocate PICU elective
    • Research
    • Anesthesiology
    • Pediatric Surgery
    • NICU sub-fellowship
    • Peds subspecialties: ID, pulmonology, cardiology, neurology, endocrinology
  • Required Scholarly Activities
    • Present at UIC/Rush joint PHM Journal Club (once per year)
    • Attend the monthly UIC/Rush joint PHM Journal Club when available
    • Join the AAP SOHM List serve
    • Complete monthly AAP SOHM journal club article and analysis reading
    • Attend monthly track meetings to review PHM Core Competencies
    • Complete Longitudinal Scholarly Project
      • Submit an abstract to regional/ national conference
      • Present at Research in Progress
      • If participating in QI Project – Submit to UIC QI symposium
    • Meet quarterly with track director and participants

Completion of Track: track certificate/plaque

Track Directors:
Meghan Harding, DO
Stacy Laurent, DO

Goal:
  • To provide focused, individualized education in the area of clinical, basic or translational research and establish longitudinal research experience during pediatrics residency

Eligibility and Application:

  • First-year categorical pediatrics residents and first or second-year MedPeds residents apply during fall application period.
  • Selection requirements:
    • Updated CV
    • Three paragraph essay:
      • Your ultimate career goals
      • Why you are interested in a research career
      • Your prospective research focus

Track Details:

  • Research mentor selected upon acceptance to track
  • One protected half-day for longitudinal research project during elective rotations protected
  • Up to 3 dedicated research elective rotations (coordinated with pediatric chief residents)
  • Meet with research mentor on a monthly or bimonthly basis
  • Meet with track director twice yearly
  • Required scholarly activities
  • One longitudinal research project to be performed during residency
  • Design and conduct a hypothesis-driven project within any area of pediatrics
  • Submission of one small grant proposal (AAP Resident Research, APA Resident Research Award, CCTS Pilot Grant, etc.)
  • Attend regularly scheduled Research In Progress meetings

Completion of Track:track certificate awarded at residency graduation

Track Director: Meghan Harding, DO