Graduate Medical Education (GME): Combined Pediatrics/Medical Genetics and Genomics Residency Program

Residency Director: Oleg Shchelochkov, MD, NIH National Human Genome Research Institute

Residency Co-Director: Aisha Barber, MD, MEd., Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC

Overview
The National Institutes of Health sponsors a combined residency program in Pediatrics/Medical Genetics and Genomics through the joint efforts of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC. This residency offers medical school graduates the opportunity to complete ACGME-approved combined residency in Pediatrics and Medical Genetics and Genomics within 4 years. An additional 5th funded year can either be spent conducting research relevant to the fields of Medical Genetics and Genomics or by completing training in an additional genetics sub-specialty (e.g., Medical Biochemical Genetics Fellowship). This combined program draws upon the strengths of numerous academic and private hospitals, as well as commercial laboratories to train physicians in pediatric medicine and the diagnosis, management and counseling of patients with genetic disorders.

The Pediatrics/Medical Genetics and Genomics Residency Program is unparalleled in several respects. It trains residents in one of the nation's most prestigious children's hospitals; it exposes trainees to wide range of rare genetic disorders; it is one of the few programs that emphasizes clinical research; and it grants access to the vast resources of the National Institutes of Health and at other highly ranked medical institutions in the area.

Program Structure
Trainees spend their first 18 months in the pediatrics residency program at the world-renowned Children's National Hospital, located in the heart of Washington, DC. Training then alternates in 6-month blocks between their genetics and pediatrics rotations. Training in clinical genetics entails seeing patients in the NIH Clinical Center, as well as hospitals and outpatient clinics throughout metropolitan Washington, DC, including Children's National Hospital, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Johns Hopkins University, Inova Health System, and the University of Maryland. Clinical training highlights the role of genetics in general medicine, pediatrics, oncology, ophthalmology, neurology, perinatal and genomic medicine. Exposure and training in genetic laboratories take place at the NIH Clinical Center, Children's National Hospital, and at commercial laboratories within the area including Quest Diagnostics and GeneDx.

Throughout the program, trainees attend a number of didactic courses, including Introduction to Medical Genetics, Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Current Concepts in Clinical Molecular Genetics and Molecular Diagnostics, Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine: From Diagnosis to Treatment. Attendance is also required at the weekly Clinical Genetics Case Conference and at the bi-weekly Cytogenetics/Molecular Genetics and Exome Sign-Out Conferences.

Additional Information
Additional information about the Residency in Pediatrics/Medical Genetics and Genomics, Program Staff and Faculty and current clinical protocols can be obtained through the NHGRI website and the Children's National website.

Application Information
Applications must be submitted through ERAS. The combined NIH - Children's National Hospital residency program in Pediatrics/Medical Genetics is highly competitive and accepts only one candidate per year. The program participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) under the Main Residency MATCH. Application materials must be submitted in ERAS to both the Pediatrics/Medical Genetics Programs at NIH Clinical Center and Children's National Hospital (both are linked to the NRMP code 1070765C0). Acceptance decisions are announced through the NRMP Main Residency MATCH. Appointments to the Program begin on July 1. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, green card holders or foreign nationals (with a valid visa), be graduates of an accredited medical school and hold either an MD, DO, or equivalent. Individuals with strong research backgrounds, such as MD/PhDs, are encouraged to apply. Until further notice, competitive candidates will be invited to interview through virtual formats.

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This page last updated on 11/04/2022

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