Unique Experiences

Vision

The goal of the global health track is to provide residents with an extensive introduction to the health care issues of children worldwide and to encourage applying the learned skills to address these issues throughout their careers.

View the list of residents in our Global Health Track.

Visit our Global Health page for full details on our global health experiences for trainees at Children’s Mercy.

The Advocacy Track is designed to support residents with a passion for advocacy and an interest in taking a leadership role in advocacy throughout their careers. Participating residents will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to improve child health equity by engaging communities and communicating with policy makers. There are two Advocacy Track opportunities: the MOCARE Advocacy Leadership Track and the Legislative Advocacy Track. Read more about the Advocacy Track.

The Clínica Hispana de Cuidados de Salud (CHiCoS) sets Children's Mercy apart by offering a unique, formal program for learning medical Spanish as part of a resident’s weekly continuity clinic. Selected residents with at least intermediate Spanish proficiency are able to work alongside bilingual general academic pediatricians while using a dedicated Spanish culture and language coach to provide care to Spanish-speaking families.

In addition to developing bilingual language skills using a formal curriculum, CHiCoS residents learn how to provide culturally-appropriate support for the growing Spanish-speaking community of Kansas City. The goal is to increase Spanish culture and language proficiency with the vast majority of residents graduating the CHiCoS continuity clinic as qualified bilingual pediatricians.

Pediatricians are encouraged and expected to be champions of Advocacy, Research / Quality Improvement, Wellness and Diversity. Each of the three chief residents now chairs a committee of residents to increase exposure directed at one of these three non-clinical tenants of pediatrics.

This organizational strategy began in July 2018, and has led to an increase in resident engagement, both with respect to participation in institutional opportunities at CMH as well as organizing outside community events that promote child health and/or physician wellness. The chief resident office has also started a new Diversity Committee as of July 2019.

Advocacy

This committee of residents is interested in participating and planning events within the community. The goal is to make a positive impact in children’s health within the Kansas City area. Past events have included providing smoking cessation education and resources to mothers at Amethyst Place, teaching children at Operation Breakthrough about asthma and its effects on the lungs, and maintaining a community garden that supplies local food kitchens. Residents also completed a very successful donations drive that collected items needed for the CMH Foster Care Clinic.

Wellness

The Wellness committee brainstorms and implements activities that will amplify the sense of community within the residency program. This committee has been exceptionally successful with high turnout rates for activities such as axe throwing, group karaoke, bowling, and trips to the pumpkin patch. Residents’ children and significant others are encouraged to attend these events as well.

Research

This committee of residents plans a quarterly journal club, matches residents interested in research with faculty who are experienced mentors, and serves as a billboard of advertisements for various conferences in which residents might be interested in presenting their scholarly activity. The residency program has seen an increase in scholarly activity logged, and recently residents have presented their work at conferences in Seattle, Atlanta, Vancouver, Orlando, and Italy.

Diversity

The Diversity and Inclusion Committee was created with the goal of raising awareness of and celebrating diversity within the Children’s Mercy residency program, as well as providing education on issues regarding diversity and inclusion. Read more about diversity efforts within the residency program.

Residents participate in simulation sessions using high fidelity mannequins during their outpatient elective months. Residents work in teams of 4-6 residents to address common pediatric critical illnesses, including altered mental status, respiratory failure, and cardiac emergencies. Residents have the opportunity to work on resuscitation skills and procedures, such as vascular access and airway support, as well as improve their leadership and communication ability in crisis situations.

Simulation sessions are facilitated by both physician staff and a multi-disciplinary team including nurse and RT educators. In addition to the in-depth simulation experience, residents are also provided with supplemental electronic learning resources as a review of these important topics.

In addition to experiences in the Simulation Center, the resident program has a small sim lab in the Housestaff lounge area that residents can access at any time in order to practice procedures as needed.