• Pediatrics Home
• Residency
• Program Overview
• Application Process
• Chief Residents
• Current Residents
• Benefits and Perks
• About Springfield
• Directory

Conferences and Rounds

Core Curriculum Conferences - Thursdays 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.

These are seminars dedicated to the "Core Curriculum" based upon educational requirements for Pediatric Resident Education by the American Board of Pediatrics, the Ambulatory Pediatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other educational societies. Seminars are facilitated by pediatric faculty members, faculty from other relevant departments or occasionally, visiting speakers. The purpose is to enhance overall knowledge and prepare residents for boards. Topics range from general pediatrics to subspecialty issues and are either in a PowerPoint format or are conducted as a discussion. Attendance is mandatory for all residents and this is considered "protected" educational time during which residents are excused from all clinical duties. The Core Curriculum is scheduled as a rotating three-year curriculum so that all residents are equally prepared for boards after completing their residency. Topics are scheduled far in advance to allow plenty of time for preparation and distribution of related readings. The effectiveness of this program is evaluated by regular examinations based upon core material.

Grand Rounds - Thursdays - 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

Grand Rounds provides an opportunity for medical students, residents, and attending physicians to all gain insight into a vast array of topics in Pediatrics. Topics are selected to be of interest and value to all attendees and include common clinical problems as well as topics based on exciting new research. Presenters vary from Pediatric Faculty members in Ambulatory/General Pediatrics, Pediatric Subspecialists, Pediatric Surgical Specialists and Visiting Professors from nationally renowned institutions. See also the description of "CPC" conferences below. Grand Rounds is attended by many members of the Springfield pediatric community including staff pediatricians, full-time faculty, students, house staff, nurses, and hospital administrators. CME credit is available for appropriate attendees.

Clinicopathology Conference Thursday (monthly) - 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

One Grand Rounds session per month is a "CPC" multidisciplinary conference. A clinical case is presented by a faculty member and resident team with contributions relevant to the case by appropriate subspecialists, pathologists, and radiologists.

Tumor Board - Last Wednesday (bimonthly) - 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Discussion held by the hematology/oncology team regarding an interesting patient. Focuses on radiological, pathological and surgical findings along with treatment and management. Multidisciplinary attendance with many faculty members and house staff.

Journal Club - Tuesday (monthly) - 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

Journal club is the evidence based medicine journal club for PL-1, PL-2, and PL-3 residents. Statistics and validity tools are utilized to help residents conduct effective searches and thus find answers to their clinical questions in recent articles. Focuses on learning how to interpret data presented in journals and how to incorporate the information into daily practice.

Morning Report - Wednesdays and Fridays - 8:00 - 8:30 a.m.

Morning Report has historically been one of the most important educational activities during residency training. MR provides an interactive forum for housestaff to develop skills in presentation, diagnostic evaluation and patient management. It is held every Wednesday and Friday from 0800-0830 in a conference room located adjacent to the Pediatric wards. Participants include the Chairman of Pediatrics, the inpatient ward pediatrician, appropriate subspecialists, residents on the ward and PICU services and third and fourth year medical students rotating on inpatient pediatric services. A case-based presentation utilizing PowerPoint is given and develops a meaningful differential diagnosis, appropriate utilization of diagnostic tests and an evidence-based medicine approach to the evaluation and management of the patient. The presenter (a PL2 or PL3 resident) identifies critical points for discussion and formulates questions encouraging analytical thinking by participants. Faculty help facilitate but do not dominate the discussion.

The goal of M&M conference is to equip residents with the necessary knowledge, attitudes and skills so they will be able to assume responsibility for peer review, quality improvement and risk management activities in their post-residency careers. M&M's occur on the fourth Friday of the month at 0800 in lieu of Morning Report. This is a closed forum that includes SIU Pediatric Residents, Faculty and occasionally invited guests from other departments who were involved in a case being discussed. Two cases that had undesirable outcomes or complications are presented at each conference. Pertinent literature is reviewed and the case is discussed briefly and non-confrontationally. Issues that may have contributed to the undesirable outcome(s) are identified and solutions are proposed to avoid similar problems in the future. Issues may include such things as errors in judgment, medical knowledge, technical problems and/or breakdowns in the healthcare system. M&M conference encourages accountability, fosters medical maturity, promotes academic growth and leadership and serves as a forum for interdisciplinary growth.

Rounds

Morning Rounds - Wednesday & Friday - 8:00 - 8:30 a.m.

These are working rounds including the SIU Ward Attending, ward resident team as well as third and fourth year medical students. Patients on the SIU Ward Service are presented by an admitting student or resident. A clear discussion of differential diagnoses, diagnostic and mangement plans with a focus on evidence to support the care we are providing ensues. Reading and research are strongly encouraged.

Under the direction of the intensivist, the PICU team rounds on patients in the PICU and discusses treatment and management. Attended by the PICU team and the ward team and all available house staff.

Residents, neonatal nurse practioners and an attending neonatalologist discuss disease processes and patient management.