Pediatric Primary Care Residency

Since 2011, the Pediatric Primary Care Residency (PCR) at MUSC has prepared residents to care for children in an outpatient setting and in the community. Our trainees capitalize on the intensive training opportunities afforded by our comprehensive regional pediatric quaternary hospital, balancing that with extended community-based rotations providing direct primary care. This results in a well-rounded training with strong foundational primary care skills backed by exposure to an incredible breadth of pathology and disease severity.

Program Overview

We take three residents per year. We aim to recruit people with a passion for primary care who look to impact child wellness in their clinics and beyond into their communities. Intern year is integrated with the categorical residents. During second and third year, PCR residents spend 3-4 months seeing patients in varied primary care settings. PRC residents and categorical residents attend Academic Half Day for core didactic education. The PCR also provides supplemental didactics. More detailed information about our curriculum and partner sites is available.

FAQ

Do you have to do primary care if you complete the PCR?

No, matching to the PCR is not a contractual obligation to do primary care. Our mission is to train primary care providers, but sometimes people find new passions during residency, and we support residents to continue any training they choose.

Can you participate in the educational tracks if you are in the PCR?

Yes! PCR residents are welcome to join the global health, advocacy, or medical education tracks. Many of our residents are highly involved in them.

What kind of mentorship is available?

Residents in the program are paired with one of our wonderful primary care faculty at the start of their intern year. This mentor helps provide clinical coaching, career guidance and frequent check-ins throughout residency. Additionally, residents interact closely with our primary care faculty at quarterly journal clubs with opportunities to partner for QI, advocacy, and research.

Do PCR residents get enough inpatient time?

Yes! Our graduates tell us resoundingly that their training provided adequate inpatient and ICU time. Generally PCR residents do one less ICU block in their PGY-2 and PGY-3 year, one less ED block in PGY-3, and ½ block less nights in PGY-2 and PGY-3. These rotations are replaced with community primary care rotations.

How well do the categorical and primary care residents integrate?

Well. Having an integrated intern year allows the two program’s residents to be very cohesive. The PCR residents feel fully part of the MUSC program and enjoy the experience of having a small group with shared career interest.

Should I apply to PCR, categorical pediatrics or both?

Many of our applicants will have interests and career aspirations that fit with the goals of both residencies, and we encourage those applicants apply to both. You will rank them separately and should put them in your order of preference.

Where do Primary Care Program graduates practice?

Private practice (11 graduates), Academic centers (6 graduates), FQHC (2 graduates), Pediatric Urgent Care (1 graduate), Community Hospitalist (1 graduate), Doctors Without Borders (1 graduates), fellowship (2 graduates), Pediatric Chief Resident (1 graduate)