Why choose Albert Einstein Medical Center?

The Pediatrics Residency Program at Albert Einstein Medical Center is unique in Philadelphia. It is a moderately sized program with no illusions about its goals and with the ability to achieve them. Our purpose is to prepare physicians to be excellent general pediatricians or to go on to subspecialty training in pediatrics. The strengths of our program are the commitment of the faculty to resident education, and the commitment of the faculty and the institution to provide medical care to the children of our community.

What educational benefits does Albert Einstein Medical Center offer?

Each resident has an annual allowance that can be used to purchase books, journal subscriptions or other approved professional materials. Up-to-date computer facilities are available to all residents for educational and research purposes. Senior residents receive additional educational materials to help them prepare for certification examinations.

Will I have an opportunity to teach?

Most certainly. Each resident in our program, at every level, is expected to be a teacher as well as a learner. Residents teach each other and they teach medical students who rotate on the inpatient and outpatient units. Residents also prepare conferences, which they present to students, residents and faculty. The faculty is available to help residents learn how to prepare their presentations and to provide constructive feedback on those presentations. Up-to-date computer facilities are available to all residents to help in their preparation of teaching activities.

What role do teaching conferences play in the program?

Teaching conferences are an integral part of our Pediatrics Residency Program. There are two or three conferences each day, including an early morning conference for residents assigned to the outpatient department, a "morning report" where an inpatient case is reviewed, and a noon conference devoted to various topics. There is a weekly Grand Rounds conference, which volunteer faculty also attend. Most conferences are attended by students, residents and faculty.

Do people in the program get along with each other?

Yes. We try hard to select residents who are not only capable clinically, but who also are collegial and cooperative individuals. As a result, we have a group of residents who get along well with each other and with the staff. The faculty believe that each resident is committed to becoming the best pediatrician that she or he can be, and we are here to make that happen. Thus, residents are treated as adult learners, and the educational experience is supportive and facilitative. Residents respond positively to this treatment. But, you be the judge. After your interview, we invite you to call any of our residents to discuss the program. Also, you are always welcome to return to spend several hours or a whole day with our residents to judge the atmosphere for yourself.

What about medical, dental and other benefits?

Albert Einstein Medical Center provides several choices of medical and dental insurance plans for residents and their families. The premiums for some plans are paid in full by Einstein Medical Center; others require partial premium payment by the resident. Einstein Medical Center provides each resident with $20,000 life insurance coverage and long-term disability insurance. There is a pension benefit paid by the medical center and each resident may make optional payments to a tax-deferred annuity. Einstein Medical Center provides full professional liability insurance coverage.

What about vacation time?

Each resident has three weeks (15 weekdays) of vacation per year and five personal days. Selection of vacation time is fairly flexible, but there are some mandatory rotations during which residents may not take vacation.   The five personal days are available to be utilized at the resident's discretion in line with department policy.

What about night/weekend call?

Yes, there is night call. While this may sound gratuitous, night and weekend call are important parts of a resident's educational experience. While there is always back-up from the attending staff, at night the resident is indeed the person on the spot to evaluate and plan the treatment of a patient. A famous pediatrician once said, "The only problem with being on call every other night is that you miss half of the interesting cases." At the risk of decreasing our residents’ exposure to interesting night and weekend cases, we have a less burdensome call schedule: on average, first-year residents take call every fourth night, second-year residents every fourth to sixth night, and third-year residents every fifth to seventh night. When taking rotations at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, residents' call schedules follow those of residents at SCHC. Einstein Medical Center provides dinner and breakfast to residents covering at night. On weekends, residents also receive vouchers for meals. The hospital provides white coats and free laundry service. A resident lounge is accessible at all hours for recreation. The lounge area has a large television, a pool table and a contemporary fitness center.

Do I take call at other hospitals?

Residents on required inpatient rotations at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children will take call according to the schedule at SCHC.

Can osteopathic medical school graduates receive credit for an osteopathic internship in our program?

Osteopathic medical school graduates have two options regarding a pediatric residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center. First, AEMC sponsors eight fully-accredited osteopathic rotating internship slots which satisfy all requirements for obtaining a full osteopathic license in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition, the osteopathic rotating internship is designed such that it satisfies all requirements of a PGY1 resident in the categorical pediatric residency program. If you match through the traditional rotating internship, you will be allocated a spot in the categorical pediatric program for the PGY-2 and PGY-3 training years and will be expected to complete all three years of residency training at AEMC. Interested applicants for these positions must enroll and participate in the AOA match.

A second option for osteopathic applicants it to choose to apply to the allopathic pediatric residency program through ERAS and match through the NRMP. Matching through the NRMP to our ACGME accredited pediatric residency program does not fulfill osteopathic requirements for Pennsylvania state osteopathic licensure.

What types of visas do you sponsor?

We sponsor both J1 and H1B visas, depending on individual circumstances. To be considered for an H1B visa, the applicant must have completed and passed Step 3 of the USMLE exams by February 1 prior to Match.

What about jobs or fellowships after training at Einstein Medical Center?

In the past several years, approximately two-thirds of the graduates from our program have gone on to a variety of fellowships in nationally recognized programs. Most other graduates have taken positions in primary care practices.

Is Philadelphia a good place to do a residency program?

Philadelphia is an exciting place to do a pediatrics residency program. The city has five medical schools and two major children's hospitals that allow our residents to gain the full range of general pediatrics and subspecialty experiences. There are also opportunities to attend conferences and hear outstanding pediatricians. Beyond the academic experience, Philadelphia is major historical and cultural center, with activities for all tastes. Housing is very affordable compared to other large cities, and many nice neighborhoods are within a short drive from the hospital.