| Pediatrics Department |
Residency Program
Orientation, Retreats, Simulation Center, and ISI Trips
Orientation
At Loyola we use intern orientation to provide more than just review of schedules and policies. Orientation lasts approximately one week and starts immediately prior to beginning training. Over the course of the week both Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Neonatal Resuscitation Programs are given, providing new interns key skills needed in the hospital. Several hours are spent in the Loyola Clinical Skills Center learning procedural skills such as lumbar punctures, IV placement, and blood draws.
The week includes a scavenger hunt around the hospital as well as a party to meet all of the other residents. The week concludes with hospital wide orientation for housestaff.
Retreats
One special aspect of our program is the provision of year specific retreats. Each class has a specially designed retreat during the year, where the whole class is removed from the medical center environment and topics are presented around a resident-directed theme.
PL1 Year
Life skills that can be applied to daily activities. Recent retreats have included an airway workshop.
PL2 Year
Teaching
and administrative skills. Recent topics have included bedside teaching,
working with students, organizing rounds, assessing personal teaching
skills, defining a good teacher, and giving feedback. This past year we
focused on learning styles and strategizing for the upcoming year. Small
group sessions, and presentations to the group as a whole encouraged total
participation.
PL3 Year
Transitioning from residency to "real life".
Besides the focused topics, the residents are encouraged to discuss aspects of the program that they think worked well and those needing some improvement. In addition, time is allocated during the day for socializing and bonding.
Simulation Lab
Our
Pediatric Department has access to the Simulation Lab in the Stritch
School of Medicine where we are able to run 'mock codes' and resuscitation
scenarios by using the "Sim" Baby and Adolescent to re-enact potential
real-life clinical situations.
Residents are able to practice life-saving techniques like bag-mask-ventilation, intubation, cardioversion and defibrillation in a simulated environment while developing team work and critical thinking. Dr. Dina Calamur is the Pediatric Critical Care faculty member who organizes and teaches during these sessions.
Residents find these experiences not only to be very educational, but confidence building as well.
ISI (International Service Immersion) Trips
Loyola University Department of Ministry sponsors annual mission trips to: Haiti, Dominican Republic, Zambia, Honduras and Guatemala.
Pediatric Residents, Faculty and medical students are able to participate in these 1-3 week educational experiences.
The focus of the trips is on personal development and serving others. We join local health care providers in administering care in rural settings. While we learn much about international health care, our greater goal is to learn from and serve the communities we visit. We hope to return with experiences that will advance our lifelong practice of medicine.
The trips are funded by donations.
