Pediatric Residency Program
Categorical Rotations

Categorical Rotations

Beginning in the 2025–2026 academic year, our pediatric residency program will launch a fully updated curriculum aligned with the new ACGME requirements. This revision provides a more balanced and personalized training experience, with increased exposure to ambulatory and subspecialty care, expanded mental health training, and 40 weeks of flexible, individualized curriculum time. These innovations are designed to prepare our residents for the evolving landscape of pediatric care while supporting their unique career goals.

Our schedule is organized into 13 four-week blocks per academic year. Each rotation is mapped to one of the four ACGME curriculum categories, ensuring a diverse and comprehensive educational experience. Highlights include our Behavioral and Mental Health rotation (two weeks each in PGY-1 and PGY-3), an enhanced Advocacy 2.0 rotation (two weeks in PGY-3), and a newly created Urgent Care rotation (two weeks in PGY-3). Evey resident has one full block of vacation each academic year.

To allow residents to fully engage in their inpatient experiences, we have implemented “Intentional Clinic Blocking,” a model that removes continuity clinic duties during inpatient rotations, eliminating the need for cross-coverage, similar to the coverage model in traditional X+Y scheduling. In keeping with ACGME guidelines, residents will complete no more than two consecutive inpatient blocks (8 weeks), promoting a healthier balance between inpatient and outpatient training.

2025 Pediatric Residency rotations.
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PL-1 Rotations

On the Inpatient Hospital Medicine teams PL-1 residents serve as the first point of contact for patients, families, consultants, nursing, and ancillary staff. They complete initial histories and physicals, develop differential diagnoses and treatment plans, write orders, and initiate care for their patients. Senior residents supervise PL-1 residents on all Hospital Medicine teams. These teams admit patients with a broad range of general pediatric conditions and are staffed by Hospital Medicine attendings. They also care for patients admitted by community pediatricians. All residents will also rotate on the Complex Care team, which manages children with medical complexity, including those with technology dependence and significant neurologic impairment.

PL-1 residents rotate at one of two level 3 NICUs – University Hospital or Good Samaritan Hospital. They function as a team member alongside senior residents and carry a panel of preterm neonates and term newborns with medical complications. A NICU fellow and attending serve as leadership for all NICU teams.

Intern-only team located at University Hospital. Here PL-1 residents learn the care of well infants in the newborn nursery and are supervised by a Neonatal Attending.
All PL-1 residents spend 1 month, in either two 2-week blocks or one 4-week block, rotating in the Cincinnati Children’s Emergency Department. One of the busiest Emergency Departments in the country, PL-1 residents learn emergency care, triage of care levels and general management of initial presentation of disease manifestations. They will work alongside senior residents, advanced practice providers and clinical staff. Residents are supervised by Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellows and attendings.
A clinical experience for all PL1 residents spent in a community pediatrics office in the greater Cincinnati area. All PL1 residents spend 1 month, in either two 2-week blocks or one 4-week block on Private Practice. During this rotation residents will gain clinical knowledge in the care of general pediatric patients in the ambulatory setting.
A clinical experience for all PL1 residents spent in one of three clinics within the Cincinnati Children’s primary care clinics that primarily serve the Medicaid population. During these two weeks, residents will gain knowledge in the care of the under-served general pediatric population as well as exposure to ancillary clinical experiences.
This 2-week rotation occurs during intern year and looks to establish foundational skills needed to screen, diagnose, initiate management, follow-up and refer ADHD, anxiety, depression and suicidality. The residents learning experiences include a varied mix of clinical observations, facilitated case discussions, role play, recommended reading and access to a robust digital didactic video library.

An immersion experience for PL-1 residents to learn about community resources for under-served populations, global health initiatives, safety and injury prevention. A lecture series, as well as community involvement experiences, give residents insight into their role in community and worldwide advocacy.

First-year pediatric residents participate in a structured two-week outpatient subspecialty rotation designed to expose them to a broad range of pediatric conditions beyond general practice. Residents will rotate through either cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, or pulmonology, among others, immersing them in the subspecialty with meaningful ambulatory experiences. Working alongside attending subspecialists and fellows, residents refine their diagnostic and management skills in a clinic-based setting, develop continuity of care perspectives, and gain insight into interdisciplinary collaboration and referral practices critical to comprehensive pediatric care.
A clinical experience in pediatric cardiology that includes both inpatient and outpatient settings. Residents spend part of the block on the inpatient cardiology service, caring for children with congenital and acquired heart disease, participating in rounds, and learning perioperative and acute management. The outpatient portion includes cardiology clinic experiences focused on the evaluation and longitudinal care of children with murmurs, chest pain, syncope, and other cardiac concerns. This rotation emphasizes the development of clinical reasoning, physical exam skills, and ECG interpretation in both acute and ambulatory settings. PL-1 residents work alongside advanced practice providers during this experience and are supervised by Pediatric Cardiology fellows and attendings. There is no overnight resident coverage on this service.
The Nephrology experience includes exposure to hospitalized patients with acute and chronic kidney conditions, including those undergoing dialysis or post-transplant care. Pulmonology experience emphasizes the management of asthma, cystic fibrosis, and other chronic respiratory diseases, with opportunities to participate in multidisciplinary clinics. Residents on pulmonology experience a split rotation similar with two weeks in the outpatient clinic and two on the inpatient service. Residents gain experience interpreting relevant diagnostics and coordinating care across settings, while developing a deeper understanding of long-term management of subspecialty patients. Resident work alongside advanced practice providers and are supervised by senior residents, fellows and attendings in their respective fields.

PL-2 Rotations

As a senior on Hospital Medicine, residents will lead the team of medical students and interns; guiding them through rounds, admissions, escalations of care and education. Graduated autonomy allows senior residents to learn “backstage oversight” and effective leadership while proving support to the multidisciplinary team.
Residents spend 1 month on the Hematology/Oncology (Heme/Onc) service. The service is split into Heme and Onc and residents spend time on both sides during the course of the month. Bone marrow transplant patients are not covered on this service, although residents will care for this population in the PICU and may do a BMT elective. Residents gain experience in the ambulatory setting by attending clinics throughout the month with various faculty. Senior residents work independently alongside advanced practice providers and hospitalists and are supervised by Pediatric Heme/Onc fellows and attendings. Residents on Heme/Onc work on shift schedules and take day and overnight shifts.
PL-2 residents spend 1 month on the Gastroenterology (GI) service caring for patients with gastrointestinal concerns – short bowel syndrome, liver and small bowel transplants, feeding difficulties, IBD, constipation, and diarrhea. They gain experience in the ambulatory setting by attending clinics throughout the month with various faculty. Senior residents work independently alongside advanced practice providers and are supervised by Pediatric GI fellows and attendings. Residents on GI work on shift schedules and take day and overnight shifts.
In the PICU, residents learn the art of caring for critically ill pediatric patients. Residents are exposed to a wide range of patients with both medical and surgical issues, including acute trauma, solid organ/bone marrow transplant patients, and patients requiring ECMO. The PICU rotation has its own set of didactics given monthly on topics such as mechanical ventilation, shock and inotropes, electrolyte abnormalities, renal failure, and bioethical dilemmas. Starting in 2026, the PICU scheduling model will transition to shift work and eliminate 24-hour call.
Senior Residents continue their experience in the Cincinnati Children’s emergency department with 3 months of clinical time. They expand their care of emergency conditions with more dedicated coverage of the trauma and higher acuity patients. They will work alongside PL-1 residents, advanced practice providers and clinical staff and are supervised by Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellows and attendings.
During the PL-2 and PL-3 year each resident will spend one month in Adolescent Medicine and Developmental Pediatrics. In the Adolescent rotation, residents will attend Teen Health Center clinics and gain experience in the general and ambulatory care of Adolescents, as well as in the management of eating disorders, and the care of transgender patients through both inpatient and outpatient clinical experiences. In the Developmental Pediatrics rotation, residents attend various clinics within the department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics to learn the diagnosis and care of ADHD, behavioral disorders, developmental delay and autism spectrum disorders.
Senior residents rotate at two NICU sites: University Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital. The Cincinnati Children’s NICU (a tertiary care referral NICU with neonates who have more complex medical and surgical illnesses) is available for elective rotations. Residents work alongside advanced practice providers with a NICU fellow and attending serving as leadership on all NICU teams.
Residents will complete the alternative clinical experience that they did not have during the PGY-1 year at the senior supervisory level.
Residents can choose from a variety of elective experiences in either half or full block rotations. These electives allow residents to explore the different career pathways and gain exposure to areas of pediatrics suited to their career goals. During these rotations residents will take Jeopardy call and rounder shifts.
Residents get 5 blocks of elective time and 5 blocks of subspecialty experiences during their senior years, taken in either two 2-week blocks or one 4-week block at a time. These experiences allow residents to explore the different career pathways and gain exposure to areas of pediatrics suited to their career goals. Among a host of clinical experiences, residents can create their own elective experiences, explore research interests, or consider international health opportunities during this time. During these blocks residents will take Jeopardy call and rounder shifts.

PL-3 Rotations

In the PICU, residents learn the art of caring for critically ill pediatric patients. Residents are exposed to a wide range of patients with both medical and surgical issues, including acute trauma, solid organ/bone marrow transplant patients, and patients requiring ECMO. The PICU rotation has its own set of didactics given monthly on topics such as mechanical ventilation, shock and inotropes, electrolyte abnormalities, renal failure, and bioethical dilemmas. Starting in 2026, the PICU scheduling model will transition to shift work and eliminate 24-hour call.
Senior Residents continue their experience in the Cincinnati Children’s emergency department with 3 months of clinical time. They expand their care of emergency conditions with more dedicated coverage of the trauma and higher acuity patients. They will work alongside PL-1 residents, advanced practice providers and clinical staff and are supervised by Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellows and attendings.
During the PL-2 and PL-3 year each resident will spend one month in Adolescent Medicine and Developmental Pediatrics. In the Adolescent rotation, residents will attend Teen Health Center clinics and gain experience in the general and ambulatory care of Adolescents, as well as in the management of eating disorders, and the care of transgender patients through both inpatient and outpatient clinical experiences. In the Developmental Pediatrics rotation, residents attend various clinics within the department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics to learn the diagnosis and care of ADHD, behavioral disorders, developmental delay and autism spectrum disorders.
Residents will work alongside experienced Emergency Medicine attendings in our community Urgent Care centers. They will be primarily responsible for evaluating and managing minor illnesses and injuries, performing common procedures, and making disposition decisions. Residents will also determine when patients require transfer to the Emergency Department for higher acuity concerns beyond the scope of Urgent Care.
Building off the experiences in BMH 1 and other core rotations, BMH 2 provides the residents more opportunities to develop competence and practice their behavioral and mental skills in focused clinical environments. Like BMH 1 residents will also participate in facilitated discussions and have access to the digital didactic video library.
An opportunity to expand on foundational concepts of advocacy explored during intern year. Through experiential learning, engage with the Cincinnati community on various local advocacy needs and explore opportunities for ongoing community engagement.
These electives allow residents to explore the different career pathways and gain exposure to areas of pediatrics suited to their career goals. During these rotations residents will take Jeopardy call and rounder shifts.
Residents get 5 blocks of elective time and 5 blocks of subspecialty experiences during their senior years, taken in either two 2-week blocks or one 4-week block at a time. These experiences allow residents to explore the different career pathways and gain exposure to areas of pediatrics suited to their career goals. Among a host of clinical experiences, residents can create their own elective experiences, explore research interests, or consider international health opportunities during this time. During these blocks residents will take Jeopardy call and rounder shifts.
As a senior on Hospital Medicine, residents will lead the team of medical students and interns; guiding them through rounds, admissions, escalations of care and education. Graduated autonomy allows senior residents to learn “backstage oversight” and effective leadership while proving support to the multidisciplinary team.
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