Our Curriculum
The Dr. Kelly DeScioli Global Child Health Pediatrics Residency Program at Baylor College of Medicine is a four-year program designed to shape future leaders in global child health. By combining rigorous pediatric training in Houston with a unique year-long clinical immersion at a global health site, our curriculum offers unparalleled educational opportunities, patient care experiences, and global networking. This curriculum is designed to equip residents with the comprehensive training and global health expertise needed to address the complex challenges of pediatric care worldwide.
Program Structure:
- 3 Years in Houston: Comprehensive pediatric training at Texas Children's Hospital and community health centers.
- 1 Year Abroad: A full year at a Texas Children’s Global Health Network site in Africa or Latin America, gaining firsthand experience in global pediatric healthcare.
Clinical Training in Houston
Residents spend the majority of their training at Texas Children’s Hospital, a state-of-the-art quaternary referral hospital and one of the largest children’s hospitals in the world. Residents also rotate through Harris Health sites that serve as safety-net hospitals and clinics for residents of Harris County, Texas. Our residents complete their 3-year general pediatrics training alongside BCM categorical pediatrics residents. Refer to the categorical training curriculum here.
Continuity Clinic
Residents provide patient care at continuity clinic sites that serve high numbers of patients living in locally under-resourced areas.
Advocacy and Teaching
Residents engage in advocacy projects and collaborate with faculty on initiatives ranging from global health to local child health policy. They also gain valuable teaching experience by mentoring medical students and participating in educational activities both in Houston and abroad.
Global Health Training 12-Month Clinical Immersion
Residents spend one year at a Texas Children’s Global Health Network site, working alongside local healthcare professionals to provide care in resource-limited settings. This experience is invaluable in developing the skills, knowledge, and cultural sensitivity necessary for leadership in global health. During their time abroad, residents have the opportunity to pursue a scholarly or advocacy activity with local mentorship.
Annual Global Health Network Meeting
During the year abroad, residents have the opportunity to attend the annual Texas Children’s Global Health Network Meeting in South Africa, where they can engage with global health leaders across the network and participate in discussions on the latest developments in the field.
Selected Scholarly Activity
Our trainees are involved in a myriad of research, community engagement, advocacy activities, leadership positions, and other scholarly work both during their time abroad and while in Houston. There is no shortage of global health-related opportunities and both our faculty and co-residents are a great resource on ways to get more involved.
Residents have the opportunity to pursue a scholarly or advocacy activity with local mentorship during their time abroad. This may take the form of a descriptive case series, a quality improvement or safety initiative, curriculum development, or another project deemed important to the resident, the faculty mentor, and the local community where the resident works.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of global health-related publications and projects our residents have done or have been involved in during residency.
