Residency Pathways

Created by MOCARE, a statewide collaborative of Missouri’s four pediatric residency programs, the Advocacy Pathway prepares residents to become leaders in child health advocacy. This pathway supports those who wish to prioritize advocacy and community pediatrics in their careers. Participants gain insight into child health disparities, explore the drivers of these disparities at state and national levels, and learn how pediatricians can address them through media engagement and health policy influence.

Established in 2014, the Pediatric Global Health Residency Pathway at St. Louis Children’s Hospital offers residents specialized training in global child health. Beginning in the second year, participants complete a two-week course featuring lectures, simulation labs and local experiences and are encouraged to pursue an international elective with financial and logistical support. Past electives have included sites across Africa, the Caribbean and Asia, and opportunities have resumed post-pandemic. Global health education also extends to all residents through integrated lectures and journal clubs.

Advancing careers in academic medicine, the Pediatric Research Pathway offers specialized training for physician-scientists during residency. Approved by the American Board of Pediatrics, this pathway is designed for MD/PhD graduates or those with equivalent research experience and commitment. Participants continue their research alongside clinical training and are encouraged to apply before or early in their PL-1 year.

Focusing on the art of teaching, the WashU Medicine Teaching Physician Pathway provides residents with advanced training in medical education. During their second and third years, participants join colleagues from multiple departments for sessions on educational theory, curriculum design and teaching techniques, while gaining hands-on experience with medical students and peers in varied settings. Residents also complete a scholarly project in education and have opportunities to present at national conferences, preparing them to become skilled clinician-educators.