171 Ashley Ave.
Charleston, SC 29425
843-792-1414
800-424-MUSC
|
 |
June 2006
Feature Story
Well-matched: New pediatric residents join the MUSC team
 |
| George Johnson, MD |
Fourteen new pediatric and combined medicine/pediatric residents come onboard this month, joining the MUSC team
in providing the best care for children.
"We have residents with a wide variety of pre-medical school experiences, from a large swath of the country,"
explains George Johnson, MD, director of the pediatric residency program and vice chair for education at MUSC.
Seven male residents and five female residents will be joining the pediatric program. "Overall, women make up the
majority of pediatric residents," says Dr. Johnson, "Nationwide figures indicate that more than 60 percent of
residents are female, so this new group is a little different." Of the two students joining the combined
medicine/pediatric program, one is female and one is male. "Three of the new pediatric residents are our own MUSC students."
The match process always begins in the fall.
"In late October, we began interviewing fourth year medical students who were interested in pediatrics," explains
Dr. Johnson. The selection process continued through the end of January. About 450 applicants applied for the 12
positions in the pediatric program at MUSC, and about 110 applied for the two available slots in the combined
medicine and pediatrics residency program.
"Of those applicants, we interviewed 160 fourth-year students for the peds program, and 25 for the combined program,"
says Dr. Johnson. Around 25 of the applicants were MUSC fourth-year medical students."
In February, students submit their top choices for residency programs to a national database and programs their top
choices of the applicants interviewed. The database makes matches based on those choices.
The process takes into account academic performance and personal interviews with faculty members. Then, explains
Dr. Johnson, computers take over and make matches using an algorithm-based system.
"It's a pretty well-balanced system," says Dr. Johnson. "Most students end up with one of their top three or four programs,
and the programs generally get the applicants they hoped for."
Then comes a day of celebration for both programs and students. "Every March, 'Match Day' is celebrated on the same day at
the same time at the medical schools across the country," says Dr. Johnson. "That's when we learn which applicants we got
and the medical student learn where they're going."
After match day, each residency programs helps new residents apply for licenses and look for housing. "The residents arrive
in June and begin a week-long orientation process for both the Children's Hospital and MUSC at large," says Dr. Johnson.
"We're all looking forward to fresh new faces," he says.
Last year, the program initiated an evidence-based medicine component of the resident education system, which is being
modified and expanded with the new intern class. "We've reworked it based on input from the last intern class," says
Dr. Johnson. "Upper level residents who are now experienced will help train the incoming class. We expect that this new
component will give our resident additional skills as they move into their own practices."
Over the next several years, the new residents will decide if they want to remain in general pediatrics or if they want
to pursue additional training -three years is usually required to sub-specialize).
"Deciding on a sub-specialty is often difficult and involves a similar interview process and, for many sub-specialties,
another match process," explains Dr. Johnson.
The MUSC pediatrics program has had an impact on future doctors. "This is the largest group of students from MUSC who've
decided to go into pediatrics since I've been here," says Dr. Johnson. "We had an unbelievable class this year. Other
programs, as well as ours, definitely benefited from our efforts."
"That so many medical students are interested in pediatrics is wonderful," he continues. "Their motivation is based on
caring for children and on wanting to improve kids' health. And that's very encouraging in the larger picture."
|
|
Print Version