We have designed the first year of training to emphasize the care of the sick child of all ages, allowing our residents to develop expertise in distinguishing the ill from the well child. Close guidance and supervision is provided by senior residents and attending faculty members from all subspecialties in pediatrics. In addition to inpatient, critical care, and nursery experiences, residents spend time in our busy outpatient general pediatrics clinic, evaluating the full range of primary care and urgent care issues. Residents are introduced to our comprehensive developmental center in our developmental behavioral pediatrics rotation. In order to individualize their residency experience, every first year resident is able to choose one subspecialty selective and also an elective to pursue a possible career path, learn more about a field, or develop skills in an area of interest.

During the first year, our residents begin to develop a personal panel of patients seen in their weekly continuity clinic. These patients are cared for by a consistent team of residents and general pediatricians assigned to each day of the week, but identify with one resident to provide continuity for the resident and the family over the course of three years. Residents build their panel of patients through inpatient, nursery, and general pediatrics experience, and see a diverse range of ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, and conditions. Included in the general pediatrics experience are children with complex or chronic conditions that get specialized care through our Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

The second year of our program provides residents with further experience in a number of pediatric subspecialty areas, including two "Selective" rotations in the following subspecialties: allergy-immunology/pulmonology, cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology/oncology, infectious disease, genetics, neurology, nephrology, and rheumatology.  During these busy outpatient months, residents see patients in clinic, provide consultative services for the hospital, and participate in procedures. Residents may also choose one additional elective.  Residents also have the opportunity to participate in specialized educational conferences, research, and multidisciplinary discussions.

Second year residents also gain further experience caring for our sickest patients in the pediatric and neonatal critical care units, and working with junior residents and medical students in a supervisory role on the inpatient floors and in the general pediatrics clinic. In addition, one block of "Red Day Team" is included in the second year schedule where one third year and one second year manage the inpatient hematology/oncology service

To experience pediatrics outside a large, university-based academic center, our residents spend one block learning at a local private general pediatrics practice, and another at an urban children’s emergency room in Des Moines, Iowa. Travel and lodging are provided by the program.

Many residents use the second year to hone their interests and determine their future career path. Our Career Elective rotation provides a mentored opportunity to design a rotation with clinical, educational, administrative, and research experiences in each resident’s field of interest. An additional elective block can be used to further this interest or pursue other learning goals during the second year of training.

This final year of pediatric training allows our residents to further refine their clinical skills and judgment in a variety of settings. Residents serve as the senior resident and team leader on the inpatient units, in the ICUs, and in the general pediatrics clinic. They are the first-line consultant and supervisor for first year residents and medical students, and gain valuable experience in team leadership, education, and patient care. Residents continue to work in the pediatric subspecialty clinic and the emergency room as experienced members of our department.

Throughout the three-year program, residents are able to design their own combination of clinical, research, and procedural experiences to prepare them for independent practice or fellowship. As a third year resident, three full blocks are available to pursue these interests, with the guidance of the program leadership, program mentor, and divisional resources.