FAQs

What is the size of the program?

Each year we offer eight categorical pediatric resident positions through the MATCH (ERAS/NRMP). We have 36 physicians and four non-physicians faculty members in the Department of Pediatrics. We see more than 55,000 outpatients through our teaching clinic and sub-specialty clinics each year. The annual hospital admission total for the Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis is nearly 7,000 and total nursery volume on our service at Hillcrest Medical Center is 4,000 newborns. Our hospital referral region includes most of northeast Oklahoma, some of southeast Kansas, and western Arkansas with a total population of more than one million people.

Why should I train at a smaller program?

We believe that we offer an opportunity for an excellent resident education while forming close personal relationships with our residents. Our smaller size allows the faculty and administration the opportunity to get to know each resident and work with them to enhance their strengths and improve their weak areas. Residents feel that they are more than a number and that their individual education is just as important as the performance of the residency as a whole.

How much patient exposure will I receive?

Our residents spend almost every rotation providing direct patient care.  At this time we offer one fellowship in Child Abuse Pediatrics, so there are no fellows to “take over” care of patients in the hospital or with the subspecialists. During inpatient ward months, each intern usually cares for an average of 5-8 patients per day; during outpatient clinic months, each intern may see up to 15 patients in a day.

What is your accreditation status?

In April of 2013 we received our notice of continued accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for the next 10 years.  We were thrilled to receive the maximum length of accreditation allowed from the ACGME.   

What about your resident graduates’ first attempt ABP pass rate?

Our board passing rates are above average.  During our weekly Academic Afternoon didactic sessions we utilize materials such as MedStudy for Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatrics PREP series to assist with board preparation. We also participate in the annual In-Training Examination with the American Board of Pediatrics allowing our residents to receive feedback on their progress during each year of residency.  We have had a 88% pass rate the last three years with graduates taking the exam the first opportunity following completion of the program. 

How much flexibility is there in the scheduling of rotations?

In the spring of each year residents are given the opportunity to request which rotations will occur during each month for the coming year.  Priority is given to the 3rd year residents, then the 2nd year residents and then to the 1st year residents.  We make every effort to accommodate resident requests in order to provide a schedule that works for the individual resident as well as the group as a whole.   

What if I am interested in a fellowship after residency?

Over the past few years, approximately 50% of our graduates have entered fellowship programs. Locations include:

·         Arkansas Children’s

·         Baylor

·         Children’s Hospital of Michigan

·         Children’s Mercy – Kansas City

·         Indiana University

·         LeBonheur Children’s Hospital/University of Tennessee – Memphis

·         Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University

·         National Institutes of Health

·         Phoenix Children’s

·         Stanford

·         St. Louis University

·         University of Illinois - Chicago

·         University of Michigan

·         University of Nebraska

·         University of Oklahoma HSC – Oklahoma City

·         University of Oklahoma SCM - Tulsa

·         University of Texas – Southwestern

·         University of Washington

·         Vanderbilt

·         Washington University of St. Louis

·         Yale

Recent fellowship choices of our graduates include:

·         Allergy/Immunology

·         Child Abuse Pediatrics

·         Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

·         Neonatology

·         Pediatric Cardiology

·         Pediatric Critical Care

·         Pediatric Emergency Medicine

·         Pediatric Endocrinology

·         Pediatric Gastroenterology

·         Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

·         Pediatric Infectious Disease

·         Pediatric Nephrology

·         Pediatric Rheumatology

What about this designation of “School of Community Medicine”?

With the help from a generous donation and encouragement from the George Kaiser Family Foundation, we are moving from our traditional medical school operation to one that accomplishes all the usual goals of an accredited medical school PLUS an added emphasis on population-based interventions. We are adding 35 endowed chairs over the next five years, and boosting our clinical service and research to benefit traditionally underserved populations. The transformation affects students, residents, and faculty. The added resources from more than $50 million will allow us to make great progress in improving the health status of the larger community as well as endow our students/residents/faculty with better tools to work beyond individual instances of clinical care. For more information see http://www.tulsa.ouhsc.edu/socm/index.htm

Where will I park and how much does it cost?

Hospital and clinic parking is free and covered (within a parking structure).

How will my family fit in?

We are a very family-friendly program. Residents often form lifelong friendships during residency.  The residents enjoy learning together and building a community with one another.  Friendships in the community are formed by participating in sporting events, the local restaurant scene and participating in other community activities. We have excellent schools in the Tulsa area (both public and private).

How much paid leave will I receive?

Residents receive 15 weekdays of vacation and 15 sick leave weekdays per year.  

What is my call frequency? What about home call? What about night float assignments?

During the intern year residents will have 15 to 20 shifts of night float (6pm to 6am) during the in-patient wards rotations.  Senior residents have one block of night float coverage that can be split into smaller blocks in the second and third years of residency.  Senior residents assigned to the NICU and PICU rotations will have approximately eight nights of call per month. All residents are required to have 2 months of NICU and 2 months of PICU during a pediatric residency.  We have no other at home call responsibilities for residents. 

I'm interested in overseas medical missions. Do you encourage or support international medicine electives?

We have a history of allowing residents to complete an international elective if they desire to do so.  International electives must be approved by the Program Director, the Designated Institutional Official and the University’s Graduate Medical Education Committee. Our faculty have also enjoyed teaching and working in other parts of the world with recent destinations that include Tanzania, Jordan, and England. International travel is currently on hold due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.