Message from the Director

"Welcome to the CHOC Pediatric Residency Program web site. I hope the information at this site will provide you with a good introduction to our program."

During the three-year program at CHOC, you will be exposed to all aspects of pediatrics. The breadth and volume of illness seen here at CHOC is enormous. Over 7500 patients are admitted to our 192-bed hospital each year, with approximately 62,000 patients coming through the outpatient clinics. The main site for training is at CHOC, with newborn nursery and emergency room rotations at neighboring St. Joseph Hospital. Several community clinics, including Clinica CHOC Para Ninos and the Boys and Girls Club, further round out the experience.

For those of you interested in pursuing research or a subspecialty fellowship, CHOC is actively involved in research in both the basic science and clinical areas. Those residents interested in research may elect to participate in studies here at CHOC during their second or third years. Approximately 20 - 25 percent of our graduates go on to fellowship training.

A committed, enthusiastic group of teachers is essential to an outstanding program, and you will be very impressed with the quality of teaching by the CHOC faculty. Curriculum includes a comprehensive series of noon conferences, clinic lectures, grand rounds and journal clubs.

Finally, the residents at CHOC play an active role in continually reviewing and improving their own education. Whether it be through participation in key hospital committees, input in housestaff meetings, discussions at the retreats, or informal conversations with the chief residents or me, resident feedback is essential to fine-tuning the program.

Successfully completing a pediatric residency takes a lot of effort and determination, but should be a rewarding experience at the same time. Just as each applicant is different, each residency program is unique with its own personality. I invite you to learn as much as you can about our program, and look forward to hearing from you.

James D. Korb, M.D.
Director, Pediatric Residency Program
Children's Hospital of Orange County