First year residents rotate through the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, providing both inpatient and outpatient consultation to pediatric cancer patients. During the second year, residents rotate through Hermann Hospital, a private hospital setting where residents consult to various general pediatric and specialty services, including the emergency room. Community consultation has been developed with several preschools through the Psychoanalytic Institute. Second year residents gain experience in observation and evaluation of normal children, as well as working with the schools and teachers to provide education about normal child development. Forensic consultation experience occurs at the Juvenile Detention Center in affiliation with the Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County.
Elective time is provided during the second year, and can be flexible.
Academic Activities Formal didactics complement clinical experiences in both years. These include seminar series, case conferences, Grand Rounds, and supervision. Problem-Based Learning serves as the educational format in a substantial portion of the first year curriculum. This is an exciting, relatively new teaching method that encourages the integration of basic and clinical sciences, including basic neuroscience, psychodynamics, learning theory, cultural and ethical issues, among others. A research rotation occurs during the first year, and allows residents to participate in ongoing research as well as to pursue an academic area of their own interest.