Rotation Specific Overview

Pediatrics combines preventative medicine, acute illness management, developmental considerations, and family-centered care. Students will encounter a wide age range, from neonates to adolescents, and must adapt communication and clinical reasoning accordingly. The rotation often involves inpatient care, outpatient clinics, and emergency management. Focus on developmental milestones, pediatric dosing, vaccination schedules, growth parameters, and common pediatric conditions to effectively structure your study plan.

 

Core Principles and Focus Areas

• Growth and Development:

  • Understand developmental milestones (gross motor, fine motor, language, social skills).

  • Learn normal vs. abnormal patterns and timing for intervention.

• Pediatric Preventive Care:

  • Master immunization schedules (CDC/AAP guidelines).

  • Familiarize yourself with routine pediatric screenings (vision, hearing, anemia, lead screening) and anticipatory guidance.

• Common Pediatric Conditions:

  • Focus on diagnosis and management of common pediatric illnesses: asthma, otitis media, bronchiolitis, gastroenteritis, viral exanthems, and common dermatologic conditions.

  • Understand initial management, indications for hospitalization, and supportive care principles.

• Neonatal Care:

  • Know the management of common neonatal conditions: jaundice, neonatal sepsis, congenital anomalies, and respiratory distress.

  • Review key concepts around feeding, growth monitoring, and newborn screening tests.

• Pediatric Emergencies:

  • Identify emergent conditions: respiratory distress (croup, asthma exacerbation), meningitis, seizures, dehydration, child abuse recognition, and trauma basics.

  • Understand initial stabilization and indications for urgent/emergent referral.

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Core Resources (Resources, Links, and More Detailed Descriptions Listed Below) 

• UWorld/Amboss Qbanks – The cornerstones of practicing rotation-specific knowledge 

  • Approach questions systematically, identify key phrases and concepts, differentiate critical information from distractors, analyze all answer choices (why they’re right or wrong), and hypothesize how changes in the vignette could alter correct answers.

• Case Files: Pediatrics

  • ​Excellent for practice questions, scenario-based learning, and real-world case discussions.

• USPSTF Recommendations/AAFP Guidelines

  • ​Essential resource for health screening and preventive care guidelines.

• BRS Pediatrics/Blueprints/First Aid (Prep-book resources) 

  • Important resources for structured review to pair with practice questions and for diving deeper into material. ​

• NBME Practice Exams 

  • Pivotal for evaluating progress throughout the rotation. Target your first NBME for the mid-point of the rotation followed by a NBME every 1-1.5 weeks following​

 

Maximizing UWorld Effectiveness

• Active Learning: UWorld Notebook

  • Write down one or more key takeaways per question (new fact, forgotten detail, high-yield point).

    • Option: Convert notes into Anki flashcards for spaced repetition.

  • UWorld is for learning, NOT assessment – Read explanations in detail, even for correct answers.

• Question Block Strategies

  • Random Question, Timed Blocks = Best for self-assessment and tracking progress.

  • Subject-Specific, Tutor Mode Blocks = Useful for targeted content mastery. This should be the focus for the majority of your rotation

  • Quality > Quantity – A thoughtful review of a few questions beats rushing through many.

 

General Approach to Studying on the Wards

• Weekly Topics: Dedicate each week to core topics. Align these with your clinical rotations.

• Daily Integration/Practice: Allocate daily review sessions to UWorld practice questions and corresponding Anki reviews for spaced repetition. Recommended to break down the total number of Uworld questions for the rotation and schedule a set number a day that will put you on pace to finish by 1 week before the shelf exam. 

• Longitudinal Learning: Regularly revisit health maintenance guidelines (USPSTF) and common clinical presentations throughout the rotation as patients present to the clinic/on the wards. 

• Pre-Clinic/Ward Preparation: Briefly review anticipated patient presentations or conditions prior to clinical encounters to enhance engagement and confidence.

• Post-Clinic Reflection: After clinical experiences, revisit related guidelines or resources (e.g., CDC vaccine schedule, pediatric treatment guidelines) to deepen understanding of real-life application.