Curriculum

Program Schedule

7:00 AM - 7:30 AM
Sign-out

7:30 AM - 8:00 AM Morning Report

Mondays - formal case presentation (PGY-1)/Journal Club/Debate/Guidelines (see below)

Tuesdays/Thursdays - oral presentation of a patient that was admitted the previous night (PGY2/3 first half of the year, PGY-1 second half of the year)

Wednesday - “Fascinoma”(a fascinating case or diagnostic dilemma) formal case presentation (PGY-1)

Friday - formal case presentation (PGY-1)

For all morning report presentations, history, physical examination, differential diagnoses and management are discussed with a variety of general and subspecialty faculty. Updates and recent trends in the management of the case are reviewed. Patient-care concerns as well as systems-based practice issues are also discussed.

8:00 AM - 8:45 AM Morning conference

Faculty members from general pediatrics and subspecialties present the "core lecture" series, as well as didactics on common and uncommon pediatrics topics. Board reviews, residents meetings and research meetings may take place instead of conference on certain days of the month.

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Teaching rounds

The service attending conducts rounds with the residents who present their respective patients. Patient's hospital course, management and plans are discussed, as well as theoretical discussions of pertinent cases. Daily Hematology/Oncology rounds take place with the faculty. Diagnostic films are reviewed with the service attending and radiologists. Infectious Disease Rounds take place monthly. Psychosocial Rounds occur every Thursday with a Child Psychologist.

1:30 PM – 5:00 PM Continuity Care Clinic

All residents are required to attend their assigned clinic one afternoon per week, where they follow their own panel of patients for three years.

11:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Residents provide ongoing patient care during this time, write progress notes, perform procedures and admit patients. They also communicate with private physicians regarding their patient's progress and management plans.

7:00 PM
Sign-out

Other Activities

Journal Club/Debate

Every month, a resident presents an interesting journal article hoping to answer a specific clinical question. The article is reviewed systematically for both quality and content. Every other month a debate on a controversial topic takes place between two residents. Each resident argues their side based on supporting literature.

Weekly Reading Assignments and Monthly Quiz

Every Friday, a reading assignment is distributed via email which residents have ten days to read, summarize and submit to the tracking software. The first Monday of each month, there is a quiz where all residents are given board/prep questions. The quiz is based on the previous month’s weekly reading assignments. The answers are discussed and the results are sent by the Program Director to all residents and faculty.

Monthly Guideline Review

The American Academy of Pediatrics has developed clinical guidelines to help in the management of many pediatric diseases. The residents are assigned guidelines and present them during Morning Report along with a clinical scenario in which they were useful.

Resident meeting

Once a month, residents meet with Dr. Fisher, the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics. Here, issues regarding residency are discussed and proposals are brought up.

Board Reviews

Board reviews are being conducted by an attending or assigned resident at least once a month and more frequently during the latter half of the year. The Pediatric Review and Education Program (PREP) set of questions are discussed.

Research Meeting

This is held once a month and conducted by an epidemiologist and an attending. Here, research topics/proposals are being discussed and ongoing research projects are being followed.

Ellen Cosgrove Research Competition

This is a yearly hospital-wide event open to research projects of residents in all specialties. Submitted research papers are evaluated by a group of attendings from various specialties and epidemiologists. Residents can also display posters on the topic of their choice. The winners get the chance to present their papers and take home cash prizes.

Grand Rounds

Every Thursday at 8:00 am, Grand Rounds are presented by either visiting physicians or in-house faculty well known in their respective fields. Updates on the current trends in different subspecialties in the field of pediatrics are discussed.
Annual Symposium

Every year The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center and the Pediatric/Resident Alumni Association sponsors a symposium on a weeknight in September. This gives an excellent opportunity to all residents, faculty and community pediatricians to keep up with current knowledge.

Yearly retreat/Graduation dinner

On the day of the Graduation Ceremony, the residents participate in a day of fun-filled activities with the Program Director and Associate Program Director. It is a day when all residents have off from clinical duties and get a chance to bond and reflect. That night, a great party is held in honor of the graduating residents.

Thanksgiving Luncheon

We just love to eat! Dr. Fisher sponsors the yearly Thanksgiving turkey. Everyone is welcome to bring food! Residents, faculty, students and other department staff share a sumptuous lunch together. It is truly an international affair.

Holiday Celebration

The holiday party is attended by all members of the Department of Pediatrics. Lots of good food and dancing!

Resident Life (Outside of the Hospital)

Who says residents don’t have time to play? We at MMC make time to unwind. The hospital is just a stone’s throw away from the Atlantic Ocean. Some residents are health buffs and enjoy time swimming/surfing or jogging along the boardwalk. The residents often get together to go bowling, eat out or have barbecues at one of the resident’s homes. Since a number of residents come from different countries, we love to swap recipes and cook for each other. There are several clubs and bars within the area as well. Red Bank, which is just 6 miles from the hospital, has a variety of restaurants, lounges, cafes and designer stores. For the shopaholics, several malls and department stores are also within reach. Just to mention a few of the spots we love to visit in the area: Sandy Hook (which features the oldest light house in the USA); Allaire State Park; Six Flags Great Adventure; Delicious Orchards; PNC Bank Arts Theatre (where live concerts are usually held); Monmouth Mall and Pier Village. And, New York City is only a train-ride away!

Rotations

Rotation/ # months

PL1

PL2

PL3

Floor

2

1

2

Night Shift

2

1.5-2

1

Clinic

2

1.5-2

1

Pediatric ER

1

1

1

NICU

1

1

1

PICU

0.5

2

0

Nursery

2

0

0

Adolescent

0

1

0

Developmental

0.5

0.5

0

Electives

1.5-2

2-2.5

5-6

Vacation

1

1

1

Pediatric Floor

The Pediatric Floor Team is composed of a senior and an intern. They admit patients, formulate management plans for patient care and are also involved in various pediatric procedures. Daily progress notes and discharge summaries/dictations are expected of the resident in charge of the patient. Rounds are conducted every day with a service attending as well as various specialists. Residents work with highly skilled pediatric nurses, in-house child life staff and social workers. Our residents are also involved in teaching third and fourth year medical students rotating in the department.

Ambulatory Pediatric Clinic

Residents are supervised by a general pediatric faculty member in assessing and managing a variety of ambulatory care patients. The patients vary from newborns to adolescents for both acute and chronic problems. All residents have assigned days for their Continuity Care Clinic where they follow a number of patients for their regular well check-ups as well as chronic care.

Pediatric Emergency Medicine

One or two residents are assigned per month in the pediatric ER, supervised by a fellowship-trained pediatric ER attending. Residents are in charge of assessing and formulating immediate management plans for patients, as well as performing various procedures. Residents also have an active role in working with various sub-specialists to complete urgent care of patients.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

One or two residents rotate in the NICU per month. Our NICU is a Level III facility capable of caring for the most premature and ill newborns. The residents work with six in-house neonatology attendings, nurse practitioners, highly trained nurses and respiratory therapists. Residents admit critically ill newborns and participate in every aspect of their care from delivery to discharge. Rounds are conducted in the morning with the NICU team.

Newborn Nursery

A resident is assigned to the regular nursery each month. He/she is on call for deliveries and is supervised by a faculty member. The resident is responsible for all admission, daily progress notes and discharges for all newborns on the housestaff service. In addition, the resident is in charge of arranging transfers of babies who need closer observation and further management to the neonatal intensive care unit. Residents are also responsible for arranging follow up care plans after discharge from the hospital.

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

A resident is in charge of a 4-bed intensive care unit. Rounds with in-house Critical Care Faculty are conducted at least once daily. The resident also has one on one didactics with the PICU attending. Special procedures like intubation, sedation, PICC line placement, and thoracocentasis are also performed by the resident. Daily progress notes and flow sheets are completed.

Adolescent Medicine

In the Adolescent Clinic, the resident evaluates teen patients, formulates respective management plans and presents the case to the adolescent faculty member. In this rotation, the resident has the opportunity of doing local school sports physical examinations and receives an introduction to college health. This rotation is supervised by a board certified adolescent faculty member.

Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

This is a one month long rotation with a board-certified Pediatric Developmental and Behavioral faculty member. A wide variety of patients are encountered including those with Autism, Learning Disabilities, Intellectual Disability and ADHD.

Child Psychiatry

In the Pollack Outpatient Clinic, the resident is exposed to various pediatric psychiatric cases. Residents also get exposure to patients admitted to the inpatient pediatric psychiatric unit.

Electives and Individualized Learning Curriculum

Residents are required to take 4 “Core” electives and 3 other electives of their choosing. We offer the following elective experiences: Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Infectious disease, Endocrinology, Pulmonology, Neurology, Hematology/Oncology, Cardiology, Nephrology, Anesthesia, Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Psychiatry, Ophthalmology, ENT, Orthopedics and Radiology. The Individualized Learning Curriculum is 6 rotations of experiences tailored to the future career aspirations of each resident.

For more information on our Pediatric Divisions, please see the Unterberg Children’s Hospital website.

Divisions

Pediatric Emergency Services

The Pediatric Emergency Room with a vibrant under the sea theme, fosters a child friendly atmosphere. We treat more than 15,000 children each year. We are staffed full time by a team of board certified physicians, two of whom are pediatricians with fellowship training in pediatric emergency medicine. The nurses are specially trained and certified in pediatric advanced life support. Here, we are putting big smiles back on little faces!

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Pediatric Gastroenterology is staffed by two board certified gastroenterologist, involves the care of children with disorders of the esophagus, stomach, intestines, pancreas, and liver. Common problems include constipation, acid reflux, allergic disorders, abdominal pain, diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, and hepatitis. The use of radiographic imaging and endoscopic visualization with biopsy aid in diagnosis.

Pediatric Endocrinology

The Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes is dedicated to care for infants, children and adolescents. We present a team approach to the care of patients with Endocrinopathies and Diabetes. This team includes physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, nutritionist, exercise physiologist, and psychologist. Every aspect of the child is addressed. Besides the usual patients with diabetes we have established a Center of Excellence for Disorders of Insulin Metabolism. This center is dedicated to provide care for patients with diagnoses that include Diabetes Mellitus Type II, Obesity and Insulin resistance, and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

The Valerie Fund Children’s Center for Childhood Cancer and Hematological Disorders caters to a wide variety of patients. The Center is a member of Pediatric Oncologic Group (POG) and has the largest number of patients with sickle cell anemia in the State of New Jersey. A state funded comprehensive hemophilia center is also part of the program.

Pediatric Infectious Disease

The Pediatric Infectious Disease subspecialty involves the care of children with recurrent infections, fever of unknown origin, Lyme disease, bone and joint infections, HIV/AIDS, and Kawasaki disease and infection control issues etc.

Pediatric Cardiology

Involves care of infants with congenital cardiac anomalies, screening of young athletes for the diagnosis and treatment of heart problems, and for expectant mothers whose fetus may have heart problems.

Neonatology

23 bed state designated level III unit cares for premature infants, high risk infants, infants with congenital disorders, and acute life threatening infections and diseases. This provides exposure to advance respiratory management techniques for extremely premature babies.

Pediatric Pulmonology

Involves the care of children with chronic lung disease, asthma, chronic cough, bronco-pulmonary dysplasia and cystic fibrosis. Residents get to see patients under the guidance of two pulmonologists, and also participate in the care of chronically ill patients with Cystic fibrosis.

Pediatric Neurology

A board-certified Pediatric Neurologist supervises residents in taking care of patients with a variety of neurological disorders including epilepsy, headaches, and CNS infections among others.

Pediatric Nephrology

This elective gives the residents a chance to understand and learn the management of common and uncommon kidney diseases. They are also exposed to the management of dialysis in the pediatric population.