RESIDENT PERSPECTIVE

Our clinical training provides us with a solid foundation in Pediatrics that is second to none.

During inpatient months, residents cover general, as well as subspecialty patients. Our continuity clinics are modeled to represent a real life group practice setting. In clinic we provide a spectrum of care from well-child check ups to a variety of procedures.

The education here is paramount. We have daily didactics and monthly hands-on skills training in our simulation center. Two half-days a month are reserved for study hall. Residents also actively participate in research with the faculty. Our faculty are friendly, knowledgeable and thought-provoking educators. Our program director is approachable, innovative and a true resident advocate.

We are a fun loving group and enjoy working and playing together. We have monthly resident lunches, biannual resident retreats and holiday parties.

This goes to show that while residency can be challenging, our residents find time to balance their work and personal lives. I am thankful to be a part of a program which is committed to helping each resident recognize his or her full potential within an intellectually-stimulating and emotionally-supportive environment.

Tina Siddiqua, M.D.

 Third year Pediatric Resident
 Texas Tech University, M.D.
 University of Texas in Houston, B.S. in Psychology

Resident Life

Even though residency is a full-time job, the residents still seem to find time to spend together both at work and outside of work. Many of the individual classes will get together for dinner or a night of fun a couple of times during the year. Frequently, the ward team will get together to unwind after a month on the ward.

Bi-Annual Resident Retreats

Twice a year, once in the Fall (usually September) and once in the Spring (usually April), the residents are excused from their clinical duties for an entire day to participate in the resident retreats. This is a great chance for residents to bond, kick-back and enjoy each other's company. The first-half of the day consists of educational activities, such as leadership and team building exercises, discussions about resident/program concerns and ways to solve them, lectures with a pediatric twist from outside departments, etc. The second-half of the day is nothing but fun. In the past, they have gone bowling, played laser tag at Main Events Entertainment in Austin and have just “hung out” at nearby Lake Belton.

Birthday Parties and Baby Showers

Since we do have a small residency program, we are able to get together to celebrate birthdays, as well as, the addition of “extended family members.”

Resident Christmas Party

Right before the residents leave for Christmas vacation, they and their families get together for an evening of food, fun and gifts. Weeks before the party, residents draw names to find out who will be their special person. The “Secret Santa” then picks gifts, usually a toy or book, that describes the individual they are buying for. These gifts are exchanged at the Christmas party and donated to the Child Life Department at the Children's Hospital at Scott & White or other local charities.

Resident Meetings

Resident representatives, usually two from each class, meet on a monthly basis with their chief residents to discuss the function of the program and residents. They also use this time to find solutions to problems or active issues and ways to make the program more successful. It also keeps the residents involved and happy.