UAMS Pediatrics

During the last year of training, each pediatric and medicine-pediatric resident will develop and implement an independent project of his/her choosing. The process involved from design to implementation and measurement provides an opportunity to synthesize knowledge, attitudes, and skills developed during the first two years of the pediatric residency training.  Projects can include presenting a Grand Rounds or Clinical Pathology Case Conference on a special area of interest and knowledge, Community Service project, Quality Improvement project, or research.  Residents identify a faculty mentor to help with the process of planning and implementation of the project.  Results of the project are submitted to the Housestaff Advisory committee and presented at a noon conference. 

Examples of previous projects include:

• Community Service Projects:  volunteering at Camp Aldersgate, a camp for children with serious and chronic illnesses; support of a variety of free community clinics including Los Samarotian, River City Ministries, and the Harmony Clinic. 
• Quality Improvement Projects initiated within our general pediatric and continuity clinics include: a recent CATCH grant called “Healthy Smiles” to assess the knowledge of pediatricians as well as patient families on the importance of adequate oral health screenings; Ongoing support of the General Pediatric and Continuity Clinic Reach Out and Read program.  The GPC Reach Out and Read Program was the first one begun in the state of Arkansas by a former resident of ours, Chad Rodgers, M.D.  Residents also have worked on Smoking Cessation programs and Injury prevention programs involving car seat safety and currently teen driving safety.
• Other Quality improvement projects initiated on behalf of the larger residency program include the development of a HealthPoint online communication system for residents, residency curriculums for rotations such as the Obesity and Fitness Clinic and the Medical Home Clinic, algorithms and clinical pathways for the inpatient and outpatient management of common diseases such as Asthma, ADHD.