Pediatrics
Assistant Professor, Allergy and Immunology
Director of Pediatric Medical Student Education
Department of Pediatrics
Secondary Contact
Ben Lee, M.D.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
ben.lee@utsouthwestern.edu
214-456-0488
Email Margie Molina to schedule a meeting. Margie.molina@utsouthwestern.edu or Pediatric Clerkships peds.clerkship@utsouthwestern.edu
About the Specialty
A pediatrician is a medical doctor who specializes in providing medical care to children from birth until adulthood. They not only diagnose and treat children’s ailments but also try to help them maintain good health throughout their lives. As a pediatrician, almost every door is open to you. Whether you're interested in a career in office-based practice, hospital-based practice, subspecialty practice, intensive care, public policy, basic science research, clinical research, procedures, no procedures, or something else, almost any niche can be found as long as there is a passion for working with children!
Answers to Common Questions
- Attributes of a Competitive Student
What factors typically make a student competitive for this specialty?
A passion for children’s health and a desire to make something better. This can mean so many things, which is part of the appeal of the field. One person might have a passion for studying the genetic origins of congenital heart disease, and another for seatbelt use and accident prevention and another for health literacy, and all three might be received as great candidates by a residency program for very different reasons. Quality over quantity. Depth of involvement in a few things really shows your passions and can come across as much more impressive than superficial involvement in a litany of activities.
- Research
How important is research experience in your specialty? If important, does it need to be in the specialty itself?
Really only important in Pediatrics if this is something you are interested in having as part of your future career.
- Shadowing
How can students identify opportunities for shadowing?
The Pediatrics Interest Group arranges shadowing opportunities for interested students.
- Electives
What electives would you recommend to a student who is interested in pursuing your specialty?
We have several electives available in Pediatrics with unique aspects that may pertain to students' individual interests.
Based on your experience, what tips do you have for students to shine on your electives?
The best way to shine in Pediatrics is to be your authentic self and be fully present in your current rotation or elective. The more you put into it, the more you will get out of it.
- Away Rotations
Does your specialty recommend doing away rotations?
Typically Pediatrics does not recommend away rotations, unless you are targeting a city/region that is highly competitive with limited residency programs (ex. Seattle).
If away rotations are necessary, when should they apply and when should they be completed?
N/A
- Interview Timing
Which month do you recommend taking off to interview?
November and December
- Letters of Recommendation
How many letters of recommendation are needed to apply to your specialty?
3 faculty letters and 1 departmental letter
Does your specialty recommend that all letters of recommendation be written by members of your specialty?
Typical advice is for 1 letter to come from pediatrics, 1 letter from your fourth year, and the 3rd letter can come from anywhere - usually another clinical rotation where you successfully demonstrated skills that can translate to pediatrics, including patient care, clinical reasoning, and bedside manner.
If letters can come from other disciplines, do you have a recommendation as to which disciplines are more highly valued?
N/A. They can come from any specialty.
Does the academic rank of the letter writer matter?
Less so than it does for other specialties. More emphasis is placed on quality of the letter and comprehensiveness of one's application.
Does your specialty require a letter from the chairman?
No
Resources
- AAP report on becoming a pediatrician
- “In defense of the personal statement.” This is written by an internal medicine physician, but it makes too many good points to not include on this list.
- Finding the right residency
