As with most pediatric programs, about 75 percent of our residents are women. Those who are married represent 30-50 percent, and some have families. We have several couples in the program and work hard to coordinate scheduling for them. Our diversity reflects most pediatric numbers with a growing number of African-American, Latino and under-represented minority residents in the program. We have many faculty and residents who are part of the LGBTQ community and actively support making our program welcoming to all.
We strike a good balance in support for time off and rest, while preparing interns for admissions, deliveries, and events that are unique to nights and call. Our overall call schedule is comparable to most large academic centers; call is an important time to learn, to develop independent decision-making, and to participate in deliveries and procedures. We have resident teams on call who work together and 24/7 in-house faculty support for teaching and assistance.
Because Riley is the only children’s comprehensive care hospital in Indiana, residents receive training in a wide range of pediatric problems. For most residents, this is the ideal way to learn and thrive. Our residents are independent self-starters, are adaptive to different settings, and agree that they develop and master skills faster in a system of active learning and diverse experiences.