Pediatric Residency

Overview

Our pediatric residency program features a balanced and individualized training curriculum executed in a supportive and resident-driven learning environment. Our program is ideally sized to offer a family-like atmosphere. As the only children’s hospital, pediatric intensive care unit and Level IV neonatal intensive care unit in our region, we offer a level of patient diversity, acuity and complexity that is comparable to, and may exceed that of, the largest children’s hospitals and pediatric residency programs in the nation.

Our educational philosophy recognizes that each resident:

Enters training with a unique array of knowledge, skills, attitudes and interests
Develops along an individual trajectory towards competency
Has specific personal and professional goals to achieve during residency

Our curricular philosophy is to provide an appropriate balance between:

General pediatric training and subspecialty training
The inpatient setting and the outpatient setting
Supervision and autonomy
Personal responsibility/ownership and shared responsibility/teamwork
Experiential learning and formalized classroom learning
A mandatory curriculum and an individualized curriculum
Time spent working and time spent thinking and reflecting
The necessary rigors of residency and the promotion of resident wellness

Our operational philosophy is that residents:

Play a critical role in a constant cycle of program re-evaluation and improvement
Are a leading voice in the evolution of the program over time
Have a sense of ownership of the program

The aims of our program are to foster an effective, supportive and personalized learning environment in which each resident:

Develops the skills necessary to be a successful self-directed learner
Sets and achieves appropriate individualized learning objectives based on current skills as well as career goals
Builds an individualized schedule that helps to meet his/her objectives
Utilizes the support of coaches, mentors and/or program leaders to meet those objectives
Is given the flexibility and support, and is taught the skills necessary, to achieve his/her wellness needs
Feels a sense of ownership over the direction of the program

As a result, each resident should graduate as a well-trained pediatrician who is prepared for the next step in his/her career. Trainees are matched with one of our seven expert coaches to help monitor clinical/academic progression, goal setting, and wellness throughout the entire residency.

All applicants must apply through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) by December 15 and must register for a PL-1 position through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Applications are considered without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. We sponsor J-1 visas only.

We require:

Personal statement
MSPE (Dean's letter)
Medical school transcript
USMLE or COMLEX scores
Three to four letters of recommendation from faculty members with whom you have worked

We do not require a letter from your department chairman.

Interviews

Interviews are by invitation only, and will be conducted from early November through January. If you are invited for an interview, you will be notified by email, and we will ask that you respond promptly so that we can do our best to accommodate your scheduling needs. We prefer to interview smaller groups each day in order to create a more personalized day.

We will be conducting all interviews virtually during the 2020-2021 application cycle due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please return to this page for more interview information this fall.

Sarah M. Iriana, MD

Welcome you to the Pediatric Residency Program at the Penn State Children's Hospital!

Thank you for your interest in our program. Our vision is to train pediatricians for a fulfilling and sustained career improving the health and well-being of children and adolescents in Pennsylvania and beyond. Our children’s hospital has a long tradition as a collaborative and friendly group of faculty, nursing professionals and staff who bring exceptional care, medical education, research and advocacy to the central Pennsylvania region. We even have the honor of being the home to the only two academic medical center pediatricians to be named Pennsylvania AAP Pediatrician of the Year. We have opportunities for diverse local community involvement in rural, urban and suburban settings, and because we are situated only a short drive from the Pennsylvania State Capitol, there are also opportunities to participate in Pennsylvania’s state-level commitment to children.

The medical field is changing; learning how to navigate health systems, excel in quality and safety innovation, participate in inter-professional collaborations, and be responsive to community needs are critical skills in today’s world. As Interim Chair of Pediatrics, I am committed to ensuring that our residents are exposed to all of these important aspects of healthcare delivery and health advocacy. When you complete this program, you will be ready to meet the world confident and prepared, whether you are interested in joining a community practice, pursuing a career in research, advocacy or education, or continuing your training in one of our fellowships or in a fellowship at any institution across the country.

Sarah Iriana, MD, Interim Chair, Department of Pediatrics
Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Aaron R. Shedlock, MD, FAAP

Thank you for your interest in our pediatric residency program at Penn State Children’s Hospital. Our program prides itself on helping trainees develop the lifelong skills of goal-setting and self-directed learning within a curriculum that allows significant flexibility for individualization. Our residents are the driving force not only of their own professional development but also in the continued evaluation and improvement of the residency experience with opportunities to participate in numerous committees focused on wellness, curriculum development, program evaluation, patient safety, informatics, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Trainees are also given the opportunity to further develop their educator skills through lectures, electives, and retreats offered by the Woodward Center for Excellence in Health Sciences Education. No matter your interest, we will work hard to find educational opportunities to support your goals.

This is an exciting time to join the Penn State Health pediatric family. Our Children’s Hospital is currently undergoing a vertical expansion which will open in November, 2020 featuring a new NICU, post-partum, and expanded acute care unit. We have been slowly increasing our residency class size over the last few years to accommodate this expansion. The Penn State Children’s Hospital was recently ranked in the top 50 for five specialties in the 2020-2021 US News Best Hospitals Rankings. Penn State Health was also the 16th highest ranked hospital and health system in Forbes Magazine’s 2020 “America’s Best Employers for Diversity.” The town of Hershey, located 13 miles from the state capital of Harrisburg, is an easy and affordable place to live, where residents are able to rent apartments or purchase homes in safe neighborhoods with highly rated public schools all within a few miles of the hospital. Whether you want to ride one of the 15 roller coasters at Hersheypark, catch a country music concert at Hersheypark Stadium, laugh with your favorite comedian at the Giant Center, watch a musical at the Hershey Theater, cheer on the Hershey Bears hockey team, kayak the Swatara Creek, or hike the Appalachian Trail, there is something in this region for everyone. The Harrisburg/Hershey area is ranked #44 in the 2019 U.S. News “Best Places to Live” rankings. It is also within a short day’s trip to many major cities and attractions such as Baltimore (90 miles), Philadelphia (95 miles), Poconos Mountains (110 miles), Washington DC (135 miles), Shenandoah National Park (150 miles), New York City (160 miles), and Pittsburgh (215 miles). Click here to learn more about Hershey, PA.

This is an exciting time to live and train in central Pennsylvania at Penn State Children’s Hospital, and we seriously hope you consider joining us!

Aaron R. Shedlock, MD, FAAP
Pediatric Residency Program Director

Dana Caldwell
Residency Program Coordinator
dcaldwell@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
717-531-5685

Stephanie LaMar
Residency Program Coordinator
slamar@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
717-531-8899

Penn State Children's Hospital
600 University Drive, H085
Hershey, PA 17033

If you are interested in scheduling an away rotation at Penn State Health, please click here.

If you have questions regarding medical student clerkships, please click here.