Pediatrics

What are some important statistics around the specialty? 

https://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Advance_Data_Tables_2025.pdf

• 250 programs
• 3,135 positions (3rd behind internal medicine and family medicine), 147 of which went unfilled 3,998 applicants, less than half were US MD seniors. 

https://www.nrmp.org/match-data/2024/08/charting-outcomes-characteristics-of-u-s-md-seniors-who-matched-to-their-preferred-specialty-2024-main-residency-match/

Comparing those who matched and didn’t:

• The mean contiguous ranks was 15 vs 2
• The mean Step 2 score was 247 vs 233
• The mean number of research experiences was 2.6 vs 0.5
• The mean number of abstracts, presentations, and publications was 6.4 vs 21.5 (yes, that’s correct)
• The mean number of volunteer experiences was 4.9 vs 6
• 13% of those who matched were AOA members, while none of those who did not match were AOA members

https://www.nrmp.org/match-data/2024/08/charting-outcomes-program-director-survey-results-main-residency-match/ 

The most important factors in deciding to interview an applicant were MSPE/Dean's letter, class rank, and letters of recommendation Some of the least important factors were performance at an away rotation, graduate of a highly regarded med school, awards or special honors during clerkships Be aware that this data should be interpreted with caution since about 3/4 of programs did not do the survey

Note for the following two resources: Adult subspecialties are typically surveyed separately because there are more physicians in these specialties. Pediatric surveys usually do not do this, so these data apply to all pediatricians, and must be interpreted with great caution. 

https://www.medscape.com/slideshow/2025-compensation-overview-6018103#3 

Average salary is $258k. This is higher than the anecdotal average STARTING salary. This is also the lowest paying specialty second only to Public Health & Preventative Medicine Compensation decreased 1% from 2024-2025 

https://www.medscape.com/slideshow/2025-mentalhealth-pediatrician-6018055 

78% felt happy and well balanced, slightly above average compared to other specialties 

What general advice do you have for someone choosing this specialty?

Pediatrics is a wonderful specialty. Because of the ever-changing nature of child development from 0-18, the knowledge base is broad and challenging, but incredibly rewarding to care for the most vulnerable population. These are tiny to large humans who have no legal voice in our society, and they rely on you to advocate for them and their medical care. Pediatrics is comparable to internal medicine in that one can practice outpatient primary care or inpatient hospital medicine after residency, and in that it is the steppingstone to medical subspecialties (cardiology, GI, nephrology, etc.) Pediatrics is generally paid much less than their adult counterparts in all medical subspecialties, as well as in general pediatrics.

What are the top three areas that students can focus on to help prepare themselves for a successful residency application and a successful transition to residency? (i.e. grades/academics, professionalism, any of the categories listed above, etc.)?

• Performance during rotations, especially pediatrics and sub-I
• Passing both step exams on first attempt
• Professionalism

What resources would you share with a student who is just starting to research their interest in this specialty and/or wants to learn more specifics of this specialty (anything from what a typical day may look like to specifics on rotations, specialty specific residency info, fellowships)?

• List of programs - https://freida.ama-assn.org/
• AAP's definition of a pediatrician - https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/135/4/780/33636/Definition-of-a-Pediatrician?autologincheck=redirected
• Day in the life of a general pediatrician - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c8WZZYk85o
• Day in the life of a pediatrics resident - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo1Udt49WeI
• Glaucomflecken's very accurate take - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ99l7rXXOc

What subspecialties exist with this specialty?

All medical subspecialties exist within pediatrics and follow a similar path as adult specialties from internal medicine. A couple notable exceptions include NICU and PICU, which are separate critical care specialties, and pediatric emergency medicine and medical toxicology fellowships can be attained through pediatrics as well as other specialties (eg emergency medicine). Also note that unlike adult critical care medicine which is usually paired with pulmonology, these are always two distinct subspecialties in pediatrics. See below for the full list: 

• Adolescent Medicine
• Child Abuse Pediatrics
• Clinical Informatics
• Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
• Medical Toxicology
• Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (NICU)
• Pediatric Cardiology
• Pediatric Critical Care Medicine (PICU)
• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
• Pediatric Hospital Medicine
• Pediatric Infectious Disease
• Pediatric Nephrology
• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Pediatric Rheumatology
• Pediatric Sports Medicine
• Pediatric Transplant Hepatology

What does a typical workday or work week look like (hours/schedule/shifts, work setting, team based environment, acuity, etc.)?

A typical workday varies widely depending on the specialty one chooses. A typical clinic day is from 8a-5p Monday through Friday, although some take a half or full day off each week. Some do after hours call, and some do inpatient care on certain weekends as well. A typical hospitalist (inpatient) shift is 8-12 hours a day, and some will work 3-5 shifts in a row, then take 2-3 days off, while others do a 7 on, 7 off schedule.

What are the important traits, qualities, and/or considerations recommended for physicians in this specialty?

Pediatricians must be resilient. They can be placed under extreme stress from families and themselves when caring for patients, all of whom have their whole lives ahead of them; it may feel especially like it is "high stakes" for each patient because of this. Pediatricians must be flexible and adaptable, leaving the room of a newborn to the next room of a teenager graduating high school. Pediatricians must be sharp to recognize the occasional significant pathology in a sea of an otherwise typically healthy patient population. And finally, it goes without saying, pediatricians must love kids! With all its challenges including lower pay and potentially difficult parents and families, pediatricians must love what they do and the patients they take care of.

How does the specialty work differ in various settings (e.g. a private vs community vs an academic environment)?

General pediatrics can differ significantly from all the pediatric subspecialties one can subspecialize into, like internal medicine and its respective subspecialties. Private/community general pediatric practice is much more common than academic general pediatric practice. In both environments, it is more common to practice in the clinic in isolation, but some will provide inpatient care as well, either on the acute care floor as a hospitalist, and/or in the newborn nursery. Combined outpatient/inpatient coverage is more common in private/community settings. The vast majority of pediatric subspecialists work in an academic setting, namely because there are not enough patients needing subspecialty care to justify a large community/private practice. This means that subspecialists will often see patients from several hundred miles away. 

What does training for this specialty look like (how many years, is a separate prelim year needed, etc.)?

All pediatric residencies are three years and include the intern year as part of the training. All fellowships are three years with a few exceptions. Also be aware that pediatric hospitalist is its own fellowship now. While many pediatric hospitalists are not fellowship-trained, recently it became a requirement to complete a fellowship to sit for the pediatric hospitalist boards.

What types of experiences might strengthen my future residency application, especially in areas of service, leadership, and research? 

Dedication and sustained commitment to something is valuable, even if it's not related to pediatrics, even if it's not related to medicine. Somewhat contradictorily, a well-rounded applicant is much more appealing to a residency program director than one who is focused on only one aspect of medicine (eg research). There is no singular area that is more valuable than another when applying to pediatrics. 

Is there a specialty interest group?  If not, what other networking options would you recommend?  Are there any specific national organizations or committees I should join?

There is a pediatrics specialty interest group and information can be found on the specialty interest group's page. There is also a pediatric mentorship elective (PME) that started recently as of 2025 where MS1s are paired with a pediatrician to shadow. This PME is done during the Personalized Active Learning block at the end of the MS1 year. Finally, there is a Longitudinal Advising and Mentorship Program (LAMP) in which mentorship, including from a pediatrics resident, can continue in pediatrics throughout all four years. Please contact Dr. Paul Tran, pediatric gastroenterologist, at ptran@phoenixchildrens.com and Dr. Josh Ritzema, pediatric resident, at jritzema@phoenixchildrens.com, to get involved in this program.

What advice would you offer MS1s and MS2s who are interested in this specialty?

In addition to taking advantage of the interest group, PME, and LAMP, expose yourself to as many specialties as you can, and as many environments as you can (outpatient, inpatient, OR, ED), and not just within pediatrics. Also, do all you can to pass Step 1 on your first attempt.

How and where can I find other mentors for this specialty?

The PME and LAMP is an excellent way to be exposed to different specialties and connect with mentors there. Your clinical specialty advisor (CSA) is also a great resource to connect you with potential mentors.

Is there anything else in addition to the suggestions above that could aid my future application, now that Step 1 is P/F?

Taking and passing both Steps 1 and 2 on your first try is very important. Honors in your pediatrics rotation is not necessary, but not obtaining Pass or lower in that rotation will likely raise question marks in your application, so ensure that you perform as well as you can on that rotation. 

Which group and association memberships might strengthen my future residency application (e.g., AOA, GHHS, MSG, Specialty specific groups, etc.)? 

There is no specific organizational or association membership that will necessarily strengthen your application, at least not by itself. Doing work within an organization, showing dedication, and producing some kind of result (a pathway developed, a medical mission trip, a publication, etc) is much more important than the organization itself.

How important are Step 2 scores to this specialty?

Somewhat Important

Are publications important to this specialty? Is there a general number of publications or presentations I should be aiming for?  How important is it for these to be within the specialty I am pursuing?

Publications, especially a certain number of publications, are not required and not as important for pediatrics. Publications are nonetheless to your benefit, regardless of if those publications are in pediatrics. That said, the more competitive programs may value this more heavily.

Are there any special considerations when applying for residency?

Pediatric training programs can vary considerably in their exposure to pathology. Smaller community programs will expose you to fewer complex patients but may allow you to do more procedures and feel more involved in decision-making. Larger academic programs will leave you much more prepared to manage complex patients with increasingly rare pathologies, but can leave you feeling less involved in decision-making.

What is a general recommendation for how many programs to apply to (recognizing that this may vary based on student situation)?

According to the NRMP Charting Outcomes in the Pediatric Match (https://www.nrmp.org/match-data/2024/08/charting-outcomes-characteristics-of-u-s-md-seniors-who-matched-to-their-preferred-specialty-2024-main-residency-match/), applicants had a greater than 90% chance of matching when applying to 5 programs, and approximately 98% chance of matching when applying to 8 programs. There appears to be no increased probability of matching after ranking 12 programs. Applying to more than 12 would be potentially beneficial if 1) you are applying to mostly competitive programs, or 2) you are legitimately interested in that many programs and your interview is to decide if you’re going to rank those programs.

What letters of recommendation are recommended for this specialty (e.g. from research, physicians within this specialty, academic, etc.)

At least one letter of recommendation from a pediatrician or pediatric subspecialist is recommended, preferably from your 3rd year rotation. An additional letter should come from your sub-internship. The remainder can be a mix of different specialties and sub-specialties, even if they aren't in pediatrics. A letter from the chair of pediatrics is generally not required, unless applying to med-peds in which case a letter is often necessary.

If other disciplines are appropriate for letter of recommendation writers, are there specific specialties you would strongly recommend?

The specialty of other disciplines is not nearly as important as the quality of the letter of recommendation. The letter needs to be specific in describing your positive attributes, and it needs to be apparent that your letter writer knows you well.

How competitive are the residency programs in this specialty?

Pediatric residency programs are generally not competitive. The handful of competitive programs within pediatrics are typically assessed “through the grapevine”, but generally follow the US News & World Report’s rankings of top children’s hospitals (https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/pediatric-rankings). While there will be year-to-year variation, programs that are consistently competitive include the following:

• Boston Children’s
• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
• Cincinnati Children’s
• Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH)
• Nationwide Children’s (Ohio State)
• Children’s National
• Children’s Hospital Colorado
• Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA)
• Rady Children’s
• Seattle Children’s
• Lurie Children’s (Northwestern)
• Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (UPMC)

When do programs typically offer interviews?

Rarely interviews are offered in the first half of September. Most interview invites come toward the end of September and during October. Interviews are done October through January.

What is UA COM-P's history with matching in this specialty?

Our medical school has matched well in this specialty.

Are away rotations required for this specialty and if so, when should I plan to do them?

Away rotations are not required, and most applicants do not do an away rotation. However, if a student has a particular interest in a program, especially a "reach" program, they should be completed before residency applications are submitted, and preferably after the sub-internship at Phoenix Children’s is completed.