Pediatrics

Pediatrics

This online repository houses relevant resources and contact information for students seeking career advice. We encourage you to review the career-related materials provided (e.g. Specialty Webinar, Interview Questions, Research, etc.) as you seek support in your journey through medical school.

If you have further questions that are not addressed on this page, please feel free to contact a Specialty Faculty Mentor for further guidance.

Match Preparation and Charting Outcomes Heading link

You are more than your Step Scores! Use the NRMP page to look at the qualifications of applicants who have successfully applied to your specialty.

Should applicants do away rotations?

It is not necessary. But if a student does an away rotation, the student should think of it as an audition rotation. The student should be on their best behavior during this rotation, and be sure to prepared clinically and attend conferences and interact with the residents throughout the away rotation.

Research

Research is not necessary. If you list research on your application, you should be prepared to talk about it. Make sure that you contact your PI to find out where the project is currently, and if there have been any subsequent publications.

Letters of Recommendation

  • Number of letters recommended – 3-4
  • Chair’s letter/SLOE/special letter required? Chair’s letter is optional, but if you have one, you should have an additional three other letters.
  • Number of letters from within specialty? 1-2
  • Number of letters from away rotations/institutions? Not needed
  • Do you require the MSPE before offering interviews? No, but some pediatric programs do wait until the MSPE is released to offer interviews.
  • The Chair’s letter is optional for most pediatric programs, but there are some programs that require it. We would recommend getting one, so that you have it in case you apply to a program that requires it. It is written by one of the clerkship directors, and signed off on by the Department chair. It summarizes your performance to date on your pediatric rotations.
  • Personal Statements
  • Be sure to make sure in the personal statement to explain why you want to be a pediatrician. Be sure that there are no spelling errors or other grammatical errors.

Application Timing

  1. When do programs in your specialty generally begin reviewing applications? September 15th. Be sure everything is in before that date.
  2. When do programs in your specialty begin offering interviews? Many programs do it before the MSPE is released. But some will wait until after the MSPE is released.
  3. When does your program generally offer interviews? September 20 –December 1
    Do you require the MSPE before offering interviews? No
  4. Be sure that all of your information is in and uploaded by September 15th.

Interview Advice

We would recommend that you interview at about 10-12 programs. If you don’t have at least 10 interviews by early-October, please contact the program leadership, as you will likely need to widen your search, either geographically or another specialty.

If you schedule more interviews than you plan on going on, please cancel the interviews with enough time for the programs to fill the spot with another qualified candidate.

Often programs have a pre-or post-interview dinner. Attend as many of those as you can. You will get a good sense about the program itself and the trainees in the program.

Post-Interview Advice

We do not expect thank you letters or calls. If you do send a thank you note, be sure that you address it to the right program. We know that many cut and paste, but please don’t send a thank you note to the wrong person or the wrong institution. Second looks are not necessary, nor should you be made to feel by the program that they are necessary. You have already spent a lot of time and money to do this the first time.

Information for junior (M1/M2) students who want to know more about your field:

M1 and M2 students who are interested in pediatrics should contact Dr. Sonia Krishan (skrish4@UIC.EDU)who is the Faculty Leader for Career Advising in the department of pediatrics

Shadowing Opportunities:

Medical students who are interested in shadowing in pediatrics should contact Dr. Sonia Krishan. Most of what a student who is interested in applying into pediatrics needs will be obtained during the clerkship. Early shadowing in the M1 and M2 year is not necessary.

Summer Scholars Program between M1 and M2 year:

The UIC Department of Pediatrics conducts a wide range of research studies, from the community to the clinic to the lab. Whenever possible, we strive to engage students in these projects. The UIC Department of Pediatrics conducts a Summer Scholars Program to enrich the experience of students conducting research in the Department. All students working for faculty in the Department are invited to participate, and all faculty in the Department have the opportunity to participate as mentors.A description of the program is available at https://chicago.medicine.uic.edu/departments/academic-departments/pediatrics/research/education/. The site contains listings of specific summer opportunities as well as links to all research conducted in the department.

For further guidance, contact our specialty faculty liaison:

Sonia Krishnan, MD
skrish4@uic.edu

Should applicants do away rotations?

It is not a must to do away rotations, but it is a nice way for our applicants to learn about the program and residents, and the program to see applicants in a clinical setting. It certainly gives you an advantage to do an away rotation with us.

Research

We require our residents to do and present a research project during residency. We have several students that participate in research with our faculty. Students who have a strong interest and activity in research and volunteer experiences will be viewed more favorably on their application.

Letters of Recommendation

  • Number of letters recommended – 3
  • Chair’s letter/SLOE/special letter required? Yes-most of our own students get a letter from the Chair. However, it is not a definite requirement as most of our applicants do not have one. However, if you do get a letter from the chair or program leadership, please label it so, so that it won’t get lost in a sea of LORs
  • Number of letters from within specialty? At least one
  • Number of letters from away rotations/institutions? It would be great to have one, but not necessary
  • Do you require the MSPE before offering interviews? We start offering our first round of interviews a week or so before the MSPE is uploaded

Personal Statements

Why do you want to become a Pediatrician should be on there. Any shortcomings on your application will need to be addressed in the Personal Statement. Humility goes a long way. Don’t be over dramatic in the Personal statement. If you had an interesting patient that made an impact on you as a budding physician, talk about them.

Application Timing

  1. When do programs in your specialty generally begin reviewing applications? September 15th. as soon as ERAS opens
  2. When do programs in your specialty begin offering interviews? The week before MSPE releases
  3. When does your program generally offer interviews? Mid October to Mid January
  4. Do you require the MSPE before offering interviews? No

Interview Advice

Do not apply to too many programs. Ideally plan to interview in about 10-15 programs. Be genuine and yourself during the interview. Please research the program and website before you go to an interview. Do not yawn during your interviews or presentations. Be friendly and courteous to the residents and Program coordinator. Be humble.

Post-Interview Advice

If you are sending a thank-you note, please make sure it is addressed to the right programs. Be truthful! Don’t tell everyone they are your number 1 program-PDs can see right through a fake email.If you don’t hear back from people you have emailed post interview, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is a negative experience. Some programs have a policy to not reply to emails.

Make your rank list according to where you want to be. Do not tell anyone they are number one, unless they truly are. DO NOT LIE.

For further guidance, contact our specialty faculty liaison:

Bhavana Kandikattu MD, FAAP
uicompcareer@uic.edu

Zohra Moeenuddin, MD, FAAP
Zohra.f.moeenuddin@osfhealthcare.org

Michele Beekman, MD
mbeekman@uic.edu

Heather McLauchlan, MD
mclauch@uic.edu

Helpful Resources Heading link

  1. The NRMP publishes a survey of Applicants each year. This report presents the results of selected items from the 2022 NRMP Applicant Survey. The report documents factors that applicants weigh in selecting programs (1) at which to interview and (2) to rank in the Main Residency Match. It can be found HERE.
  2. The NRMP Publishes a survey of Residency Program Directors. This report examines the factors program directors use to select applicants to interview and rank. Data are reported for 22 specialties and the transitional year in the Main Residency Match. It can be found HERE.
  3. Looking for residency programs?  The AAMC interactive, Careers in Medicine Website is where you should be! LINK
  4. Having difficulty deciphering this information?  Contact your Student Affairs Career Advisor on your campus!!!

Below you will find resources to help you get started when applying for residency.