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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Pediatrics

MD Education

Children aren’t just small adults. Their anatomy and diseases are unique, as are the medicines and medical equipment used to care for them. Pediatric education is an important part of any MD student’s overall medical training.

At Indiana University School of Medicine, medical students consistently rate pediatrics as one of the best clinical rotations. They appreciate the diversity of clinical experiences and the mentorship of pediatric faculty. The department’s robust research activities offer additional opportunities for students to explore basic, clinical, translational and health-service delivery research.

Clinical Clerkship Rotations

Third-year medical students complete eight weeks of rotation. Four weeks are spent on inpatient and four weeks on outpatient. Students may be assigned inpatient rotations at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, IU Health Methodist Hospital, IU Health North Hospital or Eskenazi Hospital near the school’s Indianapolis campus. Outpatient assignments may occur at a community health clinic or private pediatric practices.

Pediatrics Sub-Internship and Electives

Fourth-year medical students considering a career in pediatrics, family practice, combined pediatrics-internal medicine, dermatology, child psychiatry, pediatric neurology, academic pediatrics or certain surgical specialties can take one or more pediatrics electives that provide clinical experience on an inpatient service.

During the one-month elective, students attend resident morning report, noon conferences and Grand Rounds. This type of involvement allows senior students to expand their basic pediatric knowledge, gain experience in the diagnosis and management of children with serious illnesses, become more comfortable with technical procedures, and develop organizational skills necessary for residency.

Depending on a student’s career interest, spending at least one month in a busy newborn intensive care unit at Riley, Methodist or Eskenazi hospitals may be helpful. More information about MD electives at IU School of Medicine is available.

Fourth-year medical students who choose to do their sub-internship in Pediatrics complete a four-week rotation on an inpatient team at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health. The goal of sub-internship is to improve students’ capacity to think and function like a clinician in a supervised clinical setting. On this rotation, students function as interns.

Additional Clerkship Details

The Pediatric Clerkship is weighted as follows: 50 percent clinical evaluations, 25 percent final written NBME examination and 25 percent completion of required clinical assignments. Clinical evaluations are recorded by attending physicians and residents, with midpoint feedback provided to students. However, students are encouraged to talk with the physicians they work with throughout the clerkship to obtain immediate feedback and mentoring.

Grades are assigned as honors, high pass, pass and fail. Students must pass the written NBME examination in order to earn a passing grade for the course. Students should contact the Clerkship Office for a meeting if they have questions regarding grades. Complete information regarding evaluations and grading is provided with other course information and curriculum at the beginning of the clerkship.

Student expectations include reliability, honesty, integrity and self-discipline. Students should conduct themselves in a responsible and professional manner at all times with regard to dress and grooming, maturity, treating patients and staff with respect, and respecting patient rights and privacy. Behavior deemed unprofessional will result in removal from the clerkship and a failing grade.

IU School of Medicine limits the number of visiting MD students allowed per year due to the size of its medical school classes. There are a limited number of slots for visiting students each year with priority given to students with strong ties to IU or Indianapolis or who have high interest in the Department of Pediatrics program for specific reasons. The residency program does not require or expect applicants to complete a visiting rotation; residency admission is based on the ERAS, interview and Match process only.