How would you describe the culture of your residency?
The University of Minnesota Medicine Pediatric Residency Program is committed to the individualized training of residents, to the communities we serve, and to the care of patients with chronic childhood-onset diseases. We bring together an academic program at one of the top public research institutions in the country with an emphasis on community involvement and service to the underserved. As such, our approach to medical education is to innovate and train for the future while remembering the lessons of the past. In the end, the strength of our program emerges from a diversity of our residents, their experiences, and our patients. Being a MedPeds physician means working at the intersection of many systems and fields, and that is where our program thrives. We welcome you to join us!
From our residents: One of the recurrent themes I see is we have created a supportive culture that truly emphasizes the importance of social justice and the important role physicians play in building a more just society. There is also a culture of community in which asking for help is met with support and the knowledge that you have a medpeds family who has your back.
How has your program supported resident wellness?
Our program is very receptive to feedback and takes resident concerns seriously. We acknowledge that importance of both obtaining clinical skills and knowledge as well as having time outside of work to pursue other passions and spend time with friends and families. One of the ways we do this is with a flexible PTO schedule allowing days to be allocated as needed and taken in as short as half day increments.
Our program acknowledges that sometimes scheduling important appointments can be challenging as a resident and therefore provides support to ensure that we can go to doctor appointments, therapy appointments, dentist appointments etc even when on inpatient rotations.
- Flexible PTO days (24/year, 97 total throughout residency). These can be taken in half day increments or multiple days in a row
- Professional development days (4/year during PGY1-3, 6 during PGY4, and more with program director approval)
- Educational allowances ($300/year, or $1200 through residency, AND a one-time $1500 conference attendance fund)
- Health insurance, group life insurance, disability insurance, and malpractice insurance
- In-State U of Minnesota tuition for spouse and immediate family
- Free parking at all clinics and hospital sites
- Discounted public transportation passes
- Embroidered lab coats, scrubs
- Meal allowances on all inpatient services
- Child care centers at the University and VA
- Free access to campus libraries, including MedLine searches and myriad other online databases/journals
- Free Google Suite access
- Spouse/Significant others group
- Access to the UMN Recreation Center, and site-based fitness facilities
How has your program supported diversity, inclusion, and equity (DEI) either at your institution or in the surrounding community?
The University of Minnesota Med-Peds Program understands the critical importance of diversity within the physician workforce, and further, the importance of developing a culture of inclusion.
To that end, the program actively through leadership, as well as through feedback mechanisms, works to flatten the hierarchy and put patients and residents at the center of all programmatic decisions.
A few initiatives that have been developed toward this end over the years include:
- Continual refinement of resident recruitment and ranking processes to work toward becoming an anti-racist program
- Development of an advocacy track with accompanying Professional Development and Advocacy Days as part of Paid Time Off, so that residents are permitted extra time away from work to engage in advocacy, not just educational conferences, in addition to vacations
- Development and piloting of assessments and policy to address mistreatment, particularly discrimination and harassment, from patients and interprofessional staff
What are unique features of your program that you would like to highlight?
We're affiliated with a world-class research university while simultaneously operating with a the core tenet that we are training physicians who will be strong physician advocates, community engagers, and patient educators. Training at the University of Minnesota provides our residents with opportunities for engagement across the globe, throughout the nation, right here in Minnesota, AND in our local communities. A few programs to highlight:
- Global Health and American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) courses, pathways, and certifications
- International, migrant health, native health, and Indian Health Service rotations (rotations are preceded by a pre-departure orientation and curriculum)
- Rotations at the Capitol doing advocacy work with the American Academy of Pediatrics
- Health equity rotations
- Strong mentorship in research, advocacy, and policy work (and representation within the Minnesota Medical Association, American College of Physicians - Minnesota Chapter, and Twin Cities Medical Society)
Is there any advice that you would like to share with the LMSA community?
"It is okay to ask hard questions, your future coresidents should be happy to answer them. The things you are passionate about and spend your time on are important even if they are not what is classically listed on a resume."
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