October 1999

Residents Create a National Model for Community Care Strong's Pediatric Residencies Are Eagerly Sought

Rochester's reputation as one of the best places in the country to pursue pediatric training has never been stronger.

"We have a wonderful group of young, energized residents who come to us from highly-regarded medical schools," says Peter Harris, M.D., director of the pediatric residency program at the University of Rochester's School of Medicine and Dentistry. "We attract top graduates because we combine an emphasis on primary care with preparation for further fellowship training."

The Children's Hospital at Strong currently has 53 residents in pediatrics. An additional 32 are pursuing joint residencies in medicine and pediatrics.

Adding to the residency program's luster is a community outreach program that has become a national model.

"Pediatric Links with the Community" (PLC), developed by three former pediatric residents, is designed to educate young doctors about the profound and enduring effect that poverty has on children and to enhance medical care and health education for impoverished children and their families.

Through PLC, residents provide community care through two-week rotations arranged through collaborations with Family Court and service organizations with strong community ties, such as Ala-Teen, The Boys and Girls Club of Rochester, Migrant Families Clinic, and the Threshold Center.

"Within the city limits, 60 percent of Rochester children live in poverty," says Jeffrey Kaczorowski, M.D., one of PLC's founders. "By actively involving residents in the community, they become advocates for those who are underserved. When our residents begin their practices, they will be sensitive to the special needs of these children and their families and advocate for them in the future."

For many PLC participants, this is more than a "once-only" experience. "Thirty-four percent of residents who do the elective in their first year volunteer in the community in their subsequent years of residency," says Kaczorowski.

PLC is attracting national attention, says Harris. The program has been presented at four national pediatrics meetings, including the American Academy of Pediatrics meeting held in Chicago last April.