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Frequently-Asked-Questions

How many residents are in your program?

We have 15-17 Categorical Pediatrics positions each year. In addition, there are six (6) Med-Peds residents per year and 1-2 Child Neurology residents per year. Our total number is 65-70 residents.

What are the perks of your program?

• $1,000 in funds toward educational materials (over 3 years)
• Free covered parking
• Reimbursement for Step 3 passage in PGY-1 year
• Vacation/personal leave: 15 weekdays per academic year (plus 7 calendar days over winter holidays)
• Conference time and travel funds available each year of training
• Personalized white coat provided
• Health insurance through Mississippi State and School Employees' Health Insurance Plan administered by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi
• UMMC employee discounts with UMMC providers and services
• Other health and wellness resources including access to Quick Care Clinic, UMMC 2 You Telehealth, and the UMMC Employee Assistance Program
• Professional liability coverage through UMMC
• Paid subscription to AAP's PediaLink, including online subscription to PREP question bank, Pediatrics in Review, and Pediatrics journal
• Paid access to Amboss, the online medical knowledge platform, which includes journal articles, question banks, Exam prep for Step 3 and Pediatric Boards, and Clinical tools
• Paid membership to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Mississippi Chapter of the AAP
• Certification courses including BLS, PALS & NRP
• Pediatric Resident Lounge space with computers, stocked refrigerator, pantry of snacks, and coffee maker
• Free, catered lunch every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday with free breakfast once per block
• Annual full-day resident retreat
• Web-based procedure documentation and evaluation system (MedHub)
• Fitness centers: Access to UMMC Student Union; Discount to YMCA, Fondren Fitness, and Madison Healthplex
• Favorable rates for dental, health, and life insurance plans for residents, spouses, and children

Are rotations available in every major subspecialty?

Yes, we have every major Pediatric subspecialty available at Children’s of Mississippi. Residents can rotate through each of the following pediatric subspecialties: Allergy/Immunology, Cardiology, Child Development, Critical Care, Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Endocrinology, Forensic Pediatrics, Gastroenterology, Genetics, Hematology/Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Neonatology, Nephrology, Neurology, Palliative Medicine, Pulmonology, and Rheumatology.

How is call structured?

We have four inpatient teams that rotate call every fourth day, during which the call team admits all the new general pediatric patients. On Fridays and Saturdays, upper-level residents have 1-2 24-hour calls per Wards block. The other nights are covered by a dedicated night float service and float call. There is a separate inpatient day team for Hematology/Oncology and Complex Care. Residents on Hem/Onc and Complex Care do not have overnight responsibilities. 

How much independence do residents have?

Residents are expected to generate and present the plan of care for all their patients. There is guidance from attending physicians for all services around the clock. There is a graduated level of responsibility for interns as they progress during their PGY 1 year to prepare them for the supervisory role of a PGY 2.  PGY-3 are given more independence with supervision as needed until competent for independent practice at graduation.

What about continuity clinic?

All residents have continuity clinic experience at our new Batson Kids Clinic where they see general pediatric patients in an ambulatory clinic two afternoons per week while on Y and Z blocks. During X block months, residents do not attend continuity clinics to allow them more time to focus on inpatient rotations.

What is the average patient volume?

Typical inpatient wards services carry an average of seven to fourteen patients and have three to four residents per team. The continuity clinic schedule has increasing patient numbers with PGY 1 residents starting at 3 patients per half-day clinic. The number of patients increases until PGY 3 residents see a maximum of eight patients in a half-day clinic.