During the PGY2 year, residents rotate with our pediatric adolescent medicine specialists. They learn to care for patients with complex adolescent issues including eating disorders, gynecologic needs, mental health concerns, and weight management. They also care for youth at the community-based Job Corps clinic, at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center, and at the Adolescent and Young Adult HIV clinic at the Core Center.

PGY2 residents spend one month with our development/behavioral pediatrics specialists, Dr. Shah, Dr. Acharya and Dr. Saulsberry. They learn to care for children with complex developmental and behavioral concerns in the developmental/behavioral pediatrics clinic, and they work with experts at the Chicago Lighthouse, the UIC Division of Specialized Care for Children and at Easter Seals.

Interns spend one month learning about community pediatrics and advocacy with Dr. Kenan. They meet with community partners from El Valor, the UIC Children’s Center, Journey Care Hospice, Almost Home Kids, the Fussy Baby Network, the UI Health Food Pantry, Marillac House, the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and more to learn about the numerous resources available to support our patients and families in their communities. They complete an advocacy project in which they identify and research a child health issue, then write a letter to the editor of a local paper and a letter to their elected representative advocating on behalf of children.

Each resident has the opportunity to follow their own panel of patients over the 3 years of pediatric training at UIC. Residents provide all of the primary care services to their patients, including preventative well child care, immunizations, and follow-up for chronic pediatric problems such as asthma and obesity. The resident’s educational experience is enriched by participation in our biweekly clinic conference, where the focus is on issues common to outpatient general pediatrics.

Residents spend time each Y week rotating at the busy Child and Youth Center at UI Health, caring for children with acute illnesses under the supervision of our academic general pediatricians and learning how to do common outpatient pediatric procedures. As senior residents, they serve as the Ambulatory Chief, supervising patient flow in the clinic, working with the nursing staff on acute issues, and teaching our medical students. Residents who choose to do the Ambulatory Subfellowship have the opportunity to train to do circumcisions, and they meet with our office staff to learn key aspects of outpatient practice management.