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Distinction Tracks

Applicants interested in our distinction tracks are eligible to apply to one of them in the spring of their first year of residency.

Bioethics

The University of Louisville Pediatric Bioethics Distinction Track is an application only, opt-in, approximately 2-year curriculum, in addition to the resident's individualized curriculum track for residency. This longitudinal experience will weave a pediatric bioethics scholarly project, elective rotations, mentoring, and focused educational experiences together to develop pediatricians with a robust foundation in ethics.

Goals

  • To create a robust experience in pediatric bioethics. 

  • To educate future pediatricians in pediatric bioethical topics through mentorship, ethics committee involvement, participation in ethics consultation, and small-group discussion sessions.

  • To create and disseminate meaningful scholarly activity in pediatric bioethics.

  • To provide opportunities to apply and share knowledge and skills in pediatric bioethics via reflection and presentation of bioethical cases as part of a case- and discussion-based education curriculum.

Residents who successfully complete the required elements will graduate with a certificate and a letter of distinction.

Track Components

Mentorship

Pediatric Bioethics mentor(s) will be assigned/chosen based upon specific area(s) of interest.

 

Scholarly Activity

Residents of this track will complete scholarly activity in pediatric bioethics. Required components of this project will be:

  • Participation in regularly scheduled mentor meetings and updates

  • Completion of a scholarly activity in pediatric bioethics in a topic of the resident's choosing

  • Completion of a submission-ready manuscript of the project

  • Submission (and expected) presentation of scholarly activity at a local, regional or national platform in the Spring of PGY-3 year

 

Topic Focused Workshops

Introductory Workshops (required)

  • Introduction to Pediatric Bioethics

  • Review of Key Cases in Pediatric Bioethics

  • Intro to scholarly activity in Pediatric Bioethic

Quarterly Workshops (must attend at least 4)

  • Journal Club

  • Current Controversies in Pediatric Bioethics

  • Subspecialty cases in Pediatric Bioethics

 

Completion of the Pediatric Bioethics Elective Rotation​

Scheduling must be discussed with Individualized Curriculum Mentor.​

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Leadership

Track Residents are expected to:

  1. Serve on the Norton Children's Hospital Ethics Committee

  2. Participate in Pediatric Bioethics Center Faculty meetings

  3. Take a leadership role in a medical student or resident educational program/initiatives. Examples could include: Morning Report or Noon Conference-style ethics case review/discussion; Intro to Clinical Cases (1st and 2nd year medical student course); or another individualized role of their choice (with approval)

  4. Create and complete a program or department-wide presentation on a pediatric bioethics topic of interest

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Pediatric Bioethics Portfolio

In the Spring of PGY-3 year, each track resident will give a 20-minute presentation to the Pediatric Bioethics Faculty which includes summary of their scholarly project(s); educational presentations; leadership activities, productivity, and/or initiatives in pediatric bioethics programs; experience and outcomes of the pediatric bioethics elective; and SMART goals.

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Optional Experiences

Free membership in the AAP Section on Bioethics and the American Society for Bioethics & Humanities (ASBH)​

Breastfeeding Medicine

The Breastfeeding Medicine Distinction Track is designed to expose residents to breastfeeding medicine and help them acquire a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) Distinction during PGY-2 and begin the pathway towards acquiring an International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants certification within 1-2 years of graduating residency.

Goals

  • Gain exposure to breastfeeding medicine.

  • Achieve required components necessary for a CLC.

  • Accrue needed shadowing hours and Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) needed to sit for the international Board of Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) exam within 1-2 years of graduation via Pathway 1 eligibility.

Residents who successfully complete the required elements will graduate with a certificate and letter of distinction. Residents who complete the CLC certification process will also receive recognition.

Track Components

Electives

2-week Breastfeeding Medicine elective​

2-week Advanced Breastfeeding elective

 

Scholarly Activity

Residents will work with the track director to identify a scholarly project related to breastfeeding medicine, quality improvement, education, research or an other approved topic.​

 

Certification

Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC)​ - 95 Hours of CERPs.​​

International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants Pathway 1 (IBCLC) - 1000 Hours of lactation shadowing or experience.

 

Topic Focused Workshops​

Quarterly breastfeeding medicine journal clubs and track meetings​

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Timeline and Financial Stake

PGY-2

  • Complete the 2-week Breastfeeding Medicine elective

  • Complete the online 52 credit hour training course - $625 tuition cost (eligible for an institutional group rate of $575, if >4 residents purchase)

  • Complete the online CLC Exam and phone interview with the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice (ALPP) - $125 (cost covered by program; includes application fee and exam fee. If a resident needs to retake this exam, the fee is $100, to be paid for by the resident)

  • RECOMMENDED Text: Breastfeeding and Human Lactation - $88 (our program has two texts available to borrow in office)

  • Work with the Track Director to identify a scholarly project, then continue to work on it with an assigned mentor

  • Attend quarterly breastfeeding medicine journal clubs & track meetings

  • Accrue lactation practical hours in NICU and clinic (or other rotations)

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PGY-3

  • Complete Lactation Consultant Bridge Course and additional required 5 hours of Communication Electives - $774 (cost covered by the program)

  • Shadow IBCLCs for a MINIMUM of 12 hours

  • Recommended text: Breastfeeding Atlas - $80 (cost covered by resident)

  • Attend Quarterly Breastfeeding Medicine Journal Clubs

  • Complete and present scholarly activity project

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Post-Graduation

  • Purchase 6-month IBCLC practice question bank - estimated $99

  • Accrue 1000 hours of lactation practical hours and 95 CERPs from learning modules

  • Apply for and take the IBCLC Exam - $795 (trainee is responsible for cost coverage, includes fees for application and exam testing)

  • Motivated track residents may be eligible to apply for the IBCLC exam in April of PGY-3, though this is not required; graduates who do not apply during that time, are recommended to wait a full calendar year prior to avoid any conflicts with their pediatric board exams taken in the Fall

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ALL FEES ABOVE ARE ACCURATE AS OF 9/01/26 and are subject to change with their respective organizations.  

Child Advocacy

The Child Advocacy Distinction Track is a longitudinal experience that builds upon the advocacy rotation by weaving an advocacy scholarly project, elective rotations, and focused workshop experiences together to explore the role of pediatricians as advocates and child health leaders.

Goals

  • Create a robust experience in advocating for children on multiple population levels (individual, hospital/clinic, local, state, and national).

  • Educate future leaders in child advocacy through innovative curricula, committee involvement and strong mentorship.

  • Foster and disseminate meaningful scholarly activity in child advocacy.

  • Improve the health and well-being of children in our community through physician development and leadership.

  • Provide an avenue to grow as a resident through advocacy, while still allowing broad focus on all aspects of resident education.

Residents who successfully complete the required elements will graduate with a certificate and letter of distinction.

Track Components

Mentorship

  1. Drafting an AAP-CATCH grant.

  2. Completion of an advocacy or community health scholarly activity in a topic of the resident's choosing during training.

  3. Presentation of scholarly activity at a local, regional, or national platform in the spring of PGY-3.

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Electives

Residents on the track will complete the required second year advocacy rotation, and they can choose Poverty and Social Justice, Global Health, Pediatric Protection, or Advanced Advocacy as elective rotations depending upon their career goals.

 

Leadership

Residents are expected to have a leadership role in the resident-led advocacy program PUSH (Pediatricians Urging Safety and Health). This can include President or other officer, Children's Day leader, project leader, or event organizer. Residents will have the opportunity to create an advocacy learning module (podcast, blackboard module, etc.) on a topic of their choice. They must establish or continue a relationship with a community partner. This can be individualized to the resident's career goals and should demonstrate how a pediatrician (either general or subspecialty) can be a lifelong advocate. This relationship can be part of the scholarly project, but does not have to be.

 

Topic Focused Workshops include:​

  1. Fundamentals of Working with a Community (including needs assessment and asset mapping). ​

  2. Literature review

  3. Grant writing

  4. Leadership

  5. Health Policy

  6. Media and writing

  7. Advocacy Journal Club

  8. Advocacy beyond residency - SMART goals

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Advocacy Portfolio
In the spring of the resident's PGY-3, each participant will give a 20-minute presentation that includes a summary of their scholarly project, advocacy writing/advocacy policy background and strategy, community partner report, and SMART goal.

Global Health

For residents with a more defined interest in global health, our residency program offers a Global Health Distinction Track.

Goals

  • Gain a deep understanding of worldwide health and economic inequities, with an emphasis on the historic roots of these disparities.

  • Develop a broad knowledge of the global burden of pediatric diseases, with special attention paid to common causes of pediatric mortality, vaccine preventable diseases, mosquito-borne infections and neglected tropical diseases.

  • Gain an appreciation of issues related to public health, professionalism, and cultural sensitivity.

  • Maintain and foster a passion for partnering with populations who face limited access to health care and health care resources.

All Global Health opportunities are available to all residents, regardless of track participation. However, if there is limited space for some experiences (such as our international rotations), priority will be given to our Global Health Track participants.

Residents who successfully complete the required elements will graduate with a certificate and letter of distinction.

Track Components

Elective rotations

  1. Fundamentals of Global Health (2 week US-based rotation)

  2. International Elective in Tamale, Ghana (or other AMPATH sites**)

 

**As of July 2023, The University of Louisville is now a member of the AMPATH Academic Consortium, with a leadership role in Pediatric Global Health with our partner hospital and medical school in Tamale, Ghana. You can find out more about AMPATH by following the link below:

https://www.ampathglobal.org

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Core Curriculum Noon Conference Topics
(Rotating 18-month curriculum)

  • Social and Economic Determinants of Health

  • Global Burden of Disease (Global Health 101)

  • Vaccine Preventable Diseases

  • Malaria

  • Refugee Health Issues

 

Travel Preparation, Travel Support, and Post-travel Debriefing

Residents will have robust support in preparing for their international experience, including intensive preparation during their 2 week "Fundamentals of Global Health" rotation. Dedicated pre-trip briefings will be provided for each team, as well as required post-travel debriefing and reflection. Currently all trips are supported by University of Louisville faculty traveling alongside resident and fellow teams to Tamale, Ghana for the duration of their elective. Funding Scholarships for travel are currently available for all global health track residents & fellows.


Global Health Seminars​

  • Monthly noon conference series for track residents

  • Journal clubs

  • Ethics case sessions

  • Case presentations

  • Critical reflections regarding various aspects of global child health (medical, cultural, ethical, etc.)

  • Hands on workshops

  • High intensity simulations

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Scholarly Activity
Residents will be required to complete a scholarly project related to global child health, health inequities, or healthcare issues of marginalized populations. Scholarly activity may be related to our international programs or may pertain to local issues of health equity, which affect populations here in Kentucky.

Medical Education

The Medical Education Distinction Track is an application only, opt-in, approximately 2-year curriculum in addition to your chosen individualized curriculum track for residency. This longitudinal experience will weave a medical education scholarly project, elective rotations, mentorship, and focused educational experiences together to explore the role of pediatricians as educators. 

Goals

  • To create a robust experience in medical education across multiple disciplines and platforms.

  • To educate future academic physicians in adult learning theory through innovative curricula, committee involvement, and strong mentorship.

  •  To compose and disseminate meaningful scholarly activity in the area of medical education.

  • To advance the University of Louisville residency program's culture of learning and growth by developing leaders in education.

  • To provide opportunities to apply developing knowledge and skills in medical student and resident educational programs.

Residents who successfully complete the required elements will graduate with a certificate and letter of distinction.

Track Components

Mentorship

Medical Education mentor(s) will be assigned/chosen based on an area of interest.​

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Scholarly Activity

Residents will complete a scholarly activity project on a medical education topic. For project completion, the resident will be required to participate in Medical Education Scholarly Oversight Committee meetings and complete a poster/manuscript with the intention of submitting this work to a local, regional, or national platform, with expected presentation.

 

Didactics

  • Monthly, Medical Education Focused Workshops (including quarterly "All-Track" Workshops)

  • Asynchronous Didactics (Podcasts, interesting med ed articles, etc.)

  • Medical Education Textbook Walkthrough and Self-reflection

    • 2021-2022 - "Kern's Curriculum Development"

    • 2022-2023 - "Researching Medical Education"

    • 2023-2024 - "Curriculum Development for Medical Education"

    • 2024-2025 - "Researching Medical Education"

    • 2025-2026 - "Make it Stick"

    • 2026-2027 - "Curriculum Development for Medical Educators: A Six Step Approach"

 

Elective Rotations

Residents will have the opportunity to participate in an annual medical education elective or the research in medical education elective.


Med Ed Leadership, Presentation, and Committee Involvement​

Track residents are expected to complete a medical education-focused presentation at the department level during their final year of training. Additionally, they should have a significant contribution and/or leadership role in a resident medical education committee or an other educational opportunity. These experiences could include the medical student education committee, teaching PBL to medical students, simulation education, oversight of 4th year medical student peer-assisted learning program, among others.​

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Medical Education Portfolio
In the Spring of their final year of training, each participant will give a presentation that includes a summary of the following:

  1. Scholarly project(s)

  2. Educational presentations

  3. Report on leadership activities, productivity, and/or initiatives in educational programs

  4. Experience and outcomes of the Med Ed Elective

  5. Updated Curriculum Vitae and Educational Philosophy Statement

  6. SMART goals

Primary Care Pathway

The clinical primary care pathway is an application only, opt-in, approximately 2-year curriculum, in addition to your chosen individualized curriculum track for residency. This longitudinal experience will weave primary care elective rotations, mentoring and focus educational experiences together to explore the role of pediatricians as comprehensive primary care providers for healthy to medically complex children.

Goals

  • Clinical Skills: To provide robust outpatient clinical training that builds clinical competence in comprehensive primary care, including preventive care, acute and chronic disease management, developmental, mental, and behavioral health interventions, and caring for medically and socially complex children.

  • Clinical Knowledge: To cultivate a strong foundation of knowledge in evidence-based pediatric primary care through monthly pathway meetings and experiential community-engaged activities while fostering the ability to integrate this knowledge into longitudinal family and community-centered care.

  • Scholarship: To engage residents in scholarly activities, including quality improvement, advocacy, and research initiatives, that promote innovation in primary care and address the health needs of children and families in the community.

  • Mentorship & Leadership: To provide mentorship and develop residents as educators and leaders who can effectively collaborate with families, interdisciplinary teams, and community partners, and who are prepared to advocate for individual and systems-level improvements that enhance child health and well-being.

Residents who successfully complete the required elements will graduate with a certificate and letter of distinction.

Clinical Pathway Components

Clinical

Pathway residents will have Increased opportunity to tailor general pediatrics education during the last two years of residency;

  • Elective participation: Depending on their career goals, residents in the primary care pathway will complete at least one of the following elective rotations:

    • ​Parenting​​

    • Pediatric Protection Specialist

    • Private Practice

    • Lactation

    • Poverty and Social Justice

  • Optional increase in clinical time during PGY-3 of residency with an additional Ambulatory rotation

  • Optional transition from continuity clinic to a private practice location during PGY-3 of residency

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Education

  1. Topic focused discussion and workshops during pathway monthly meetings.

  2. Additional "All Track" conferences throughout the year.

  3. Two evening commitments including Scavenger Hunt and Baby Basics Class Workshop during the year.

  4. Pathway residents are strongly encouraged to complete an additional certification course in one of the following areas:

  • Child Passenger Safety Technician

  • Certified Lactation Consultant (CLC)

  • REACH mental health curriculum

 

Scholarly Activity

​All pathway residents will complete a required scholarly activity in a topic of their choosing during residency. The scholarly activity will be presented at a local, regional or national platform and residents may have the opportunity to apply for the AAP national conference. A project that focuses on primary care or community health is highly encouraged, but not required. This can include, but is not limited to:

  • ​Quality Improvement

  • Advocacy

  • Development of Community Partnership

Additional mentorship is available if there is interest in primary care scholarship.

 

Mentorship

​Each resident in the pathway will be paired with a general pediatrics mentor that they will work with throughout their residency.


Leadership​

Pathway residents are expected to have an active role in the resident-led clinic experience improvement group (REC).​

Research

The Research Distinction Track offers a meaningful experience in learning the complex process of research/scholarship design, planning, and execution, with the ultimate goal of mirroring the experience a trainee may have when performing research in fellowship or other academic training.

Goals

  • Create a robust experience in understanding the process of developing a research or scholarly project from conception, design, data collection, and analysis, with the aspiration for all residents to submit their projects to a regional/national meeting or for publication prior to graduation.

  • Educate future academic pediatricians through innovative curricula and strong mentorship.

  • Foster and disseminate meaningful scholarly activity in the residents' area of interest.

  • Improve the health and well-being of children by advancing scientific understanding of health-related research and evidence-based medicine among physicians.

  • Provide an avenue for residents to grow as clinician-scientists, while still allowing broad focus on all aspects of resident education.

Residents who successfully complete the required elements will graduate with a certificate and letter of distinction.

Track Components

Mentorship

Receive direct support from both the resident's primary scholarly project mentor as well as the Scholarly Activity Director and members of the Scholarly Oversight Committee.

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Scholarly Activity

Residents will complete a scholarly activity project to gain insight into the process of research design and ongoing management of a project as the primary investigator through a series of semi-annual Scholarship Oversight Committee presentations, culminating in a department-wide presentation in the spring of their second year of training. Required components of this project include: IRB application, meaningful participation in project design, data collection, analysis and write-up, and submission of scholarly work to a regional/national meeting or publication in a peer-reviewed journal by graduation.

 

Monthly Conferences and Workshops

  • Rotating 2-year curriculum, topics include: IRB application basics, literature search and review, citation management software use, advanced biostatistics, poster and manuscript preparation, and more.

  • Quarterly "All Track" conferences and workshops with the other distinction tracks. Attendance in at least 50% of these conferences and workshops is required.

 

Semi-annual Scholarly Oversight Committee (SOC) Presentations

  • PGY-1 (Med/Peds PGY-1 or 2): Explore potential project ideas, early design planning and collecting feedback.​

  • PGY-2 (Med/Peds PGY-2 or 3):​

    • Fall - refining research idea and design​.

    • Spring - department-wide presentation of research concept (and any data collection).

  • PGY-3 (Med/Peds PGY-3 or 4): Data collection updates and final abstract/poster/manuscript preparation and presentation.


Research Elective​

Residents may select up to 4 weeks per year in research elective time during their training. This may split up into 2-week blocks in order to facilitate project completion in alignment with the resident's schedule, career goals, and project needs.​

Simulation Educator
(Starting January 2027)

The Simulation Educator Distinction Track is a longitudinal curriculum designed to develop pediatric residents into skilled simulation facilitators and educators. Through progressive training and mentored teaching experiences over the course of residency, residents will gain expertise in simulation-based education while strengthening their own clinical knowledge, communication skills, and leadership abilities. 

Goals

  • To develop expertise in simulation-based education by providing residents with progressive training in simulation theory, educational design, facilitation, and debriefing techniques.

  • To cultivate effective teaching and leadership skills through mentored experiences that promote learner engagement, physiological safety, communication, and team-based learning.

  • To prepare residents to independently design and facilitate simulation experiences that align with clinical competencies, educational objectives, and institutional priorities.

  • To advance skills in learner assessment and performance improvement by teaching residents to provide meaningful feedback, evaluate educational outcomes, and use simulation to improve clinical practice.

  • To promote educational scholarship and innovation by engaging residents in simulation-related research, curriculum development, quality improvement initiatives, and dissemination of scholarly work.

Residents who successfully complete the required elements will graduate with a certificate and letter of distinction.

Track Components

Foundational Didactics

Track residents will receive longitudinal instruction in simulation theory, psychological safety, learner engagement, and effective feedback techniques.

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Skills-based Workshops

Topics include but are not limited to interactive training in debriefing, simulation operations and technology, learner assessment, and effective feedback techniques.

 

Experiential Learning

Experience progressive observation, co-facilitation, and independent facilitation of pediatric simulation activities with increasing levels of responsibility throughout residents.​

 

Mentorship and Leadership Development

​Learners will receive ongoing guidance from simulation faculty, fellows, and senior resident educators, with opportunities to mentor junior learners and participate in simulation program planning.


Educational Scholarship​

Participation or development in a simulation-related scholarly project is required; with opportunities for curriculum development, quality improvement, research, presentations, and publication.​

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Simulation Community Engagement

Participation in SPARC (the pediatric simulation team) meetings and collaboration with interdisciplinary educators to support ongoing simulation program development and innovation will be expected of track residents.

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Expectations

  1. Attendance in all required didactics and workshops to build simulation facilitation skills over the course of residency (one-year rolling curriculum that provides multiple opportunities to attend each required section)

  2. Observation and/or facilitation of simulations (with the intention of full autonomy by graduation) at a minimum frequency of every other month throughout participation in the curriculum

  3. Participation in quarterly SPARC meetings as able

  4. Participation in a simulation-based scholarly project to fulfill graduation requirements. Support for residents wishing to design and enact their own scholarly project by submitting an abstract to a national/regional meeting or a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal will be available and is highly encouraged.

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