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, and program functioning, certification in PALS and NRP, a departmental picnic, and a "shadow" demonstration day. Each resident is provided a faculty mentor and a companion resident on matching with, or acceptance to, the program.

The mentoring program is an active effort to promote academic and personal development of each resident. Faculty advisors will serve as mentors in developing an individualized learning plan (ILP), as well as a career plan. Each resident is also assigned a companion resident to facilitate adjustment to the program and the community. Orientation discussions on acute care topics are given for the PL-1s during the first two months of the program, and for ambulatory topics on Thursday mornings over the first three months.

Each year, residents participate in retreats facilitated by a recent graduate of the program from 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 that may arise during the program 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. 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. Additional feedback is provided at least twice yearly through the resident's mentor who is responsible for the ILP and is in contact with the resident.  Advisory meetings also include reviews of rotation evaluations, of continuity care progress reports, career plans and the results of the Inservice Training Examination. Written and oral progress reports also provided by the program director. The selections and promotions committee oversees the feedback and evaluation process and ensures any remediation needs are assigned 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 Inservice Training Examination with appropriate follow-up included in the study plan. Each resident is given a membership in the American Academy of Pediatrics, which includes a subscription to Pediatrics and Pediatrics-in-Review. A $800 stipend for books and academic material is provided during the residency. A course on "Residents as Teachers" is conducted in the fall and spring of the first two years and fall of the PL-3 year. This is a multiple afternoon course to promote residents as effective teachers and supervisors. Residents each demonstrate and develop teaching a skill, group teaching, acquisition of information, teaching in a busy clinical setting, and rounding skills. They also present conferences, including management and journal club reviews. Feedback on these performances is provided to ensure growth of skills and competence in this important area. Residents take the PALS recertification course as PL-3 residents, and may take a PALS instructor course. Residents are certified in the Neonatal Resuscitation program as PL-1 residents, and are re-certified as PL-3 residents. PL-2 residents may participate in a "nitty gritty" course on neonatal skills, and have an added 10 mornings dedicated to delivery room skills. Support is available for residents to attend conferences.

Residents from all rotations have a combined meeting each week. The meetings include business meetings, a journal review session, and core content discussions. Special presentations in ethics, managed care and child advocacy are added to this schedule of meetings.

Four professionalism dinner sessions are held each year. Topics include humanism in pediatrics, giving bad news, 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 holiday party and the annual UCONN-Yale 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. While there are three residents from each level elected to sit on this committee with faculty representatives, the program director, and the chairman, all residents and faculty are invited to each meeting. Through this group, as well as close personal interaction at all levels, the program continues to grow as a responsive and supportive environment for residents.