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Pediatric-Residency-Clinical-Curriculum

X+Y+Z (4+2+2)

In the 2025-26 Academic year, we moved to an X+Y+Z (4+2+2) schedule as we implemented the new ACGME Requirements.  X blocks are 4 weeks, Y blocks are 2 weeks, and Z blocks are 2 weeks. X blocks are mostly inpatient rotations; Y blocks are mostly outpatient rotations; Z blocks are mostly individualized curriculum (ie, "electives"). Residents can take three (3) 1-week vacations per year during Z-blocks.  Residents get an additional 1 week of vacation during the winter holidays. 

Curriculum 2026-7

 

 

Clinical Rotations

• Inpatient Pediatric Wards – There are four ward teams that care for patients admitted to our children's hospital. Each team cares for both general pediatrics and subspecialty patients. Each team has a pediatric hospitalist attending and 1-2 supervisory residents, 1-2 interns, 2-3 M3s, and 1 M4. The teams rotate daytime call, taking new general pediatrics admissions every fourth day. During the week, call ends at 5 p.m. when patients are signed out to the night float team. On the weekends, call lasts until 10 p.m. for the interns, and the supervisory residents stay overnight (maximum number of overnight calls is 2 for the 1 X-block during PGY-2 year). Upper levels must be dismissed by faculty at 10 a.m. the day after overnight call. Residents will see and care for a variety of patients from "bread and butter Peds" (bronchiolitis, asthma exacerbations, neonatal fever, pneumonia, febrile seizures, etc.) to multidisciplinary patients (osteomyelitis, Kawaski disease, pyloric stenosis, complicated pneumonia with empyema, etc.) to complex and unique pathologies (Propionic Acidemia, ADEM, FUO, botulism, etc.). 
• Night Float – During the week (Sunday through Thursday), a night float team covers patient care for patients admitted to pediatric services and overnight admissions. The team consists of 1-2 supervisory residents and 1-2 interns. A night float shift is from 5 p.m. until sign-outs with the day teams (starting at 6 am) are completed. 
• Complex Care – At least one supervisory resident and one intern make up the inpatient complex care team. This service follows medically complex patients on a multidisciplinary team with a pediatric complex care hospitalist attending. 
• Pediatric Emergency Department (PED)– In the PED, residents generally work approximately 12-15 twelve-hour shifts per 4-week block. During this rotation, residents see a variety of pathologies ranging from cough and congestion to DKA to trauma. Upper-level residents typically carry the sickest patients in the ER, including the trauma patients.
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)– As the only Level IV NICU in the state and one of the largest NICUs in the country, our NICU cares for extreme premature infants as well as babies with complications from congenital conditions. Residents take care of the babies in the NICU and attend high-risk deliveries. 
• Newborn Nursery – There are ~3,000 babies born every year at UMMC. In our Newborn Nursery, residents learn all about healthy newborns. In addition to well babies on our Mother-Baby Unit, residents see babies in our intermediate nursery (a step-down unit for the NICU). Residents also have the opportunity to attend low-risk deliveries and perform procedures such as circumcisions.
• Pediatric Intensive Care Unit – During this rotation, upper-level residents take care of the sickest of our pediatric patients. In the PICU, residents learn critical care medicine and perform procedures such as central lines and intubations. The PICU rotation utilizes a rotating night-float system (no overnight call).
• Hematology/Oncology – During the inpatient hematology and oncology rotation, residents will care for our pediatric patients admitted to the Heme/Onc service with Heme/Onc attendings. Residents have additional exposure to procedures such as bone marrow aspirations and lumbar punctures for intrathecal medication administration.
• Child Development Center – At our Center for Adolescents and Youth (CAY) Clinic, residents learn the ins and outs of developmental and behavioral pediatrics. On this rotation, residents will see patients with ADHD, autism, and various developmental delays and learning disabilities.
• Electives/Individualized Learning – During these blocks, residents choose from a wide variety of subspecialty rotations. In addition to core pediatric subspecialties, residents can choose from numerous other rotations tailored to the individual's career goals. These include mission trips for residents interested in global health, lactation, research, Clinical Educator Track, and dedicated study time for Step 3/Complex 3.
• Subspecialty Clinic – During this rotation, residents rotate through our various subspecialty clinics such as Cardiology, Endocrinology, Allergy/Immunology, Nephrology, Neurology, Rheumatology, ID, and others. 
• General Pediatrics Clinic – In addition to continuity clinic, the general pediatric clinic rotation is a dedicated time for residents to hone their clinical skills in outpatient pediatrics. Residents rotate at the Batson Kids Clinic and with local Jackson Metro area pediatricians. With advanced notice, residents can elect to complete this rotation at a pediatric practice of their choice.