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The Combined Pediatrics and Medical Genetics Residency Program is a remarkable opportunity for medical school graduates to complete a combined, five-year residency program in pediatrics and medical genetics.

Overview

The Combined Pediatrics and Medical Genetics Residency Program, offered in conjunction with Children's National Hospital (CNH) in Washington, DC, is a 5-year program that trains physicians in pediatric medicine as well as in the diagnosis, management, and counseling of patients with genetic disorders. Combined residents gain broad experience in pediatrics, clinical and molecular genetics, metabolic diseases, and cytogenetics. Trainees spend approximately 50% of their time in a pediatrics residency program at CNH and the remaining 50% in a clinical genetics residency, which entails seeing patients at the NIH Clinical Center and in hospitals and outpatient clinics throughout the greater metropolitan DC region. Clinical training highlights the role of genetics in general medicine, pediatrics, oncology, ophthalmology, cardiology, and perinatal medicine. In the 5th year, residents work on a research project of their choosing or focus on a clinical subspecialty.

Individuals who successfully satisfy the requirements of this program will be eligible for board examinations in Pediatrics (ABP) and Clinical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG). The combined training program is recognized by both individual subspecialty boards (ABP and ABMGG) and is also accredited by the ACGME as a combined program.

See the Children’s National Hospital program description.

Curriculum

Trainees spend their first 30 months in a pediatrics residency program at the world-renowned Children's National Medical Center, located in the heart of Washington, D.C. Participants then receive 18 months of formal training in clinical genetics, which entails seeing patients in various NIH centers and in hospitals and outpatient clinics throughout metropolitan Washington, D.C. Clinical training highlights the role of genetics in general medicine, pediatrics, oncology, ophthalmology, dermatology and perinatal medicine.

During their final year, residents perform laboratory research on a project of their choosing in any one of the nearly 4,000 participating facilities in the Washington, D.C. area. Throughout the program, trainees attend a number of lecture courses, including: Introduction to Medical Genetics; Developmental Biology and Human Malformations; Inborn Errors of Metabolism; and Current Concepts in Clinical Molecular Genetics and Molecular Diagnostics. Attendance is also required at the weekly Clinical Genetics Case Conference and at the bi-weekly Cytogenetics/Molecular Genetics Sign-Out Conference.

Many students choose to attend the Short Course in Medical and Experimental Mammalian Genetics at the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine during the month of July.

Upon completion of the program, trainees will qualify for board certification by both the Amercan Board of Pediatrics (ABP) and the American Board of Medical Genetics (ABMG).

How to Apply / Eligibility

Candidates must have a medical degree (MD, DO, or equivalent). Individuals with strong research backgrounds are encouraged to apply. This is a highly competitive program accepting only one candidate per year. Applicants must submit application materials in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) to both Children’s National Hospital and National Institutes of Health Clinical Center programs under the combined “Pediatrics/Medical Genetics” Specialty. Both of these programs will be linked to the same NRMP code (1070765C0).

In order to be considered for the combined program, candidates must receive an invitation to interview from both tracks of the program (pediatrics and genetics). This program participates in the Main Residency MATCH and can be ranked using the singular NRMP code above linked to the Children’s National name.

Program Leadership

Program Directors

Oleg Shchelochkov
Oleg A. Shchelochkov, M.D.
  • Program Director (Medical Genetics)
  • Combined Pediatrics and Medical Genetics Residency (NHGRI/NIH)
Aisha Barber
Aisha Barber, M.D.
  • Director, Pediatric Residency Program
  • Children's National Hospital

Program Coordinators

Holly Babcock
Holly Babcock, M.S, C.G.C.
  • Program Coordinator
  • Combined Pediatrics and Medical Genetics Residency (NHGRI/NIH)
Kyian Reynolds-Davis
Kyia J. Reynolds-Davis, B.S.
  • Program Coordinator
  • Combined Pediatrics and Medical Genetics Residency (NHGRI/NIH)

Last updated: December 5, 2023