The primary goal of the Resident Training Program in Pediatrics at the University of Alberta is to enhance and direct the development of young medical doctors so that they can ultimately serve with distinction as pediatric specialists meeting the changing health requirements of the infants, children and adolescents of Canada.
As in all training programs accredited by the Royal College of Physicians of Canada, the Pediatric Resident Training Program at the University of Alberta consists of a core program of 3 years in length plus a 1 year program which can be either individually adjusted to the specific needs of each trainee or the beginning of subspecialty training.
The major objective of the core program is the education of residents as thinkers and problem solvers, skilled in sensing, formulating and managing common pediatric health problems so that they become prepared for expansion of their competencies either in breadth for a career in General Pediatrics or in depth for a career in a particular subspecialty. They are also prepared for continuation of their own medical education throughout their working lives.
Objectives of the core program in pediatrics can be listed under three major headings, knowledge, skills and attitudes.
The general educational objectives relating to knowledge include normal growth and development, disturbed growth and development, normal body structure and function, disturbed body structure and function, definition of disturbed body structure and function, restoration of body structure and function, use of technical procedures, provision of health care and pharmacology.
General educational objectives for skills include clinical skills encompassing interviewing, history taking, physical examination, communication, problem solving and technical skills appropriate to safe and effective pediatric practice.
General educational objectives for attitudes include an interest in people, personal integrity, absence of judgement, awareness of psychosocial factors, appreciation of parental perspectives, recognition of the distinctiveness of the health care needs of children, flexibility and adaptability, promotion of family involvement in child care, interdisciplinary skills, the application of scientific principles to medical practice, the habit of self education, appreciation of societal aspects of pediatric health care, appreciation of cost effectiveness and appreciation of the moral and ethical implications of various forms of patient care.
The final evaluation of the resident's competence as a pediatrician is through the Fellowship Examination carried out by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. In preparation for this examination process, on-going in-training evaluations are carried out throughout the 4 year training period. The department conducts the annual In-Training Examinations of the American Board of Pediatrics. In addition, each resident is expected to undergo at least 2 Mock Oral examinations (based on the Royal College format) per year of training.
The objectives for each year of training are as follows:
The overall objective of the first year of training is to develop an overall, but not necessarily in-depth, appreciation of the field of pediatrics as outlined under general objectives above. During this year the trainee receives 4 months experience in general inpatient pediatrics including first contact, secondary and tertiary referrals under the supervision of practising general pediatricians. The first year trainee also receives 8 weeks of ambulatory experience. The balance of the first year is spent in Level II and Level III neonatology training, as well as one month in the psychiatry department and one month in surgery.
During this year, the first year trainee is expected to devote particular attention to several fundamental areas of pediatrics, namely the social aspect of pediatrics, nutrition, growth and development and behavioral pediatrics in addition to developing clinical skills.
The objectives for the second and third year can be considered together, since this segment of the program is operated as a discrete unit. The overall objective during this period of training is the consolidation of general pediatric skills and the development of capability within various subspecialties of pediatrics. The trainee is expected to develop knowledge and skills appropriate to a wide variety of subspecialties including endocrinology, metabolism, nephrology, haematology, oncology, genetics, pediatric intensive care, neonatology, neurology, gastroenterology, infectious disease, immunology, cardiology, psychiatry, rehabilitation, pulmonology, emergency medicine, developmental and community pediatrics.
During the third year of training, the trainee assumes an additional objective of developing senior supervisory capabilities by working as a senior supervising resident on the general pediatric services and acting as a consultant on unassigned patients.
The overall objective of the fourth year of pediatric training will relate to the career aspirations and prior development of the trainee, and the expansion of the competence of the trainee. This may be either in anticipation of a career in general consulting pediatrics or for a career in a particular subspecialty. It can also be used as a year to remediate existing deficits in training, or as a year devoted to research (The 4th year can be used as the 1st year of fellowship training in a specific subspecialty).
The trainee is expected to develop a core of academic knowledge appropriate to the functioning of a superior consultant in pediatrics. Specific cognitive objectives exist for each rotation and are listed in this document.
The major objective in this area is the development on awareness of research methodology and literature appraisal criteria in order that the trainee can appropriately evaluate the research literature in order to maintain current awareness of pediatric medicine. In addition, a 2 month research elective is available to each resident in any of the last three years of training. The objective here is to expose the resident to the research discipline in either the clinical research area or basic research. The 4th year can be a full year of research training.
The objective under this area is for the trainee to develop attitudes and behaviours appropriate to the practice of pediatrics. Major attitudinal areas in which the trainee should consider his own development are listed above.
There is an ongoing objective in this program that the trainee develop and practice supervisory and teaching skills whenever possible. All residents will be expected to take the TIPS course offered by the Division of Studies in Medical Education in their 1st or 2nd year of training.
Department
of Pediatrics
University of Alberta
Revised: July 08, 1997