The program dedicates a great deal of time, effort and resources to the educational and professional development of residents. Orientation of residents includes a University orientation, a session on sexual harassment and diversity, a van tour of Hartford with knowledgeable faculty, orientation to CCMC, certification in PALS and NRP, a departmental picnic, and a "shadow" demonstration day. Orientation didactics on acute care topics are given weekly for the PL-1s and PL-2s during the first two months of the program.

Each resident is provided a faculty mentor and a companion resident on matching with, or acceptance to, the program. The mentoring program works to promote academic and personal development of each resident. Faculty serve as mentors in developing an individualized learning plan (ILP), as well as a career plan. Meetings occur at least twice yearly and include reviews of rotation evaluations, continuity care progress reports, and the results of the In-Service Training Examination.  The companion resident is available to facilitate adjustment to the program and the community.

Each year, residents participate in retreats facilitated by a recent graduate of the program in the community. There is a full day set aside for interns in both the fall and spring, and full days for PL-2s and PL-3s in the fall. These retreats focus on issues of personal and group development, and include a group recreational activity. They are followed by a dinner with faculty invited by the residents. Time for PL-2 and PL-3 spring outings are arranged with the chief residents.

Personal counseling and psychiatric support are available confidentially through the program at no cost to the resident. On campus daycare is available, shared residencies can be arranged, and leave is provided as needed to meet resident's needs.

Resident evaluations are based on written competency-based curriculum for each experience and a clear delineation of expectations. Feedback by the faculty is provided during each rotation, and final verbal and written evaluations are part of each block rotation. Written and oral progress reports are also provided by the program director. The Selections and Promotions Committee oversees the feedback and evaluation process and ensures that any remediation needs are addressed in the rare event this is needed. The spirit of this evaluation program is to promote the optimum growth and success for all residents in the program.

Each year, as noted above, all residents take the American Board of Pediatrics In-Service Training Examination with appropriate follow-up including a study plan.

Each resident is given a membership in the American Academy of Pediatrics, which includes a subscription to Pediatrics and Pediatrics-in-Review. An $800 stipend for books and academic material is provided during the residency. Financial support is available for residents to attend national or local conferences.

A 4-session course on "Residents as Teachers" is conducted in the fall and spring of the first two years. This is a multiple afternoon course to promote residents as effective teachers and supervisors. Residents each develop and demonstrate teaching a skill, group teaching, acquisition of information, teaching in a busy clinical setting, and rounding skills.

Residents receive a required structured didactics curriculum, with 2 hour-long case-based sessions per week. Topics repeat every 3 years. Residents also present conferences, including case management conferences and inpatient teaching rounds. Feedback on these performances is provided to ensure growth of skills and competence in this important area.

Residents take the PALS and NRP recertification course as PL-3 residents, and may take a PALS instructor course. PL-2 residents may participate in a "nitty gritty" course on neonatal skills.  During the course of the second and third years, residents will have weeks dedicated to delivery room skills.

Four professionalism dinner sessions are held each year. Topics have included Humanism in Pediatrics, Conversations Around End of Life Care, Balancing Career and Personal Life, Interactions with Industry, Quality Improvement, and Community Activities and Advocacy.

During the year there are a number of social events including our Thanksgiving Breakfast, winter holiday party and the annual UCONN-Yale Residency Program softball game. At the conclusion of each year there is a graduation dinner at which faculty, all residents, and significant others honor the graduates.

The program is guided by recommendations from the Residency Advisory Committee. Residents, faculty, the program director, and the chairman, attend each meeting held 1-2 times per month. Residency program issues are discussed, proposals are presented and decisions are made through group involvement with complete transparency. Through this group, as well as close personal interaction at all levels, the program continues to grow and change to meet the needs of residents.