The Division of Pediatric Endocrinology has a significant role in the education of the residents at Children's Medical Center of Dallas and UT Southwestern. As one of the largest endocrine and diabetes clinics in the country, we are able to offer the residents a very broad experience. The following education goals can be accomplished while rotating through the endocrine division.
Resident Education
-
The resident will become familiar with normal growth patterns in children, normal variants of growth, and be able to assess normal and abnormal patterns of pubertal development.
-
The resident will be able to interpret endocrine function tests and able to perform/recommend appropriate diagnostic/screening tests for common endocrine complaints or referrals including thyroid disorders, short stature, disorders of puberty, and newborn screening of endocrine disorders.
-
The resident will become familiar with the management of both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes through experience in the inpatient and outpatient clinics. This experience can also include management of diabetes in a camp setting.
Resident Rotation
The Pediatric Endocrine elective is typically offered during both the second and third years of residency and occasionally during the first year residency for those who have the opportunity to take an elective. The resident rotating will be asked to participate in mainly outpatient situations. If participation in inpatient rotation activities, such as rounding on the endocrine floor patients or performing consultations is desired, this can be arranged with the specific faculty member attending at the time of the rotation. The outpatient experience is quite varied and will include seeing a variety of new and established patients in the outpatient clinic. The resident will work with different attending physicians on a daily basis. He/She will be exposed to the entire endocrine spectrum in this setting. Clinical findings on exams and plans of management will be discussed with the attending physician. This experience will be augmented by appropriate teaching materials provided to the resident. Endocrine clinic is held every day and participating resident may elect to concentrate their experience in the outpatient diabetic and endocrine education programs including insulin pump management and newly established diabetes.
During the months of June and July, there are opportunities for the rotating resident to spend time at a Diabetes Camp for Children. Camp Sweeney is the largest residential diabetes camp in the country for children. Residents can rotate for up to two weeks and participate in the diabetes management and pediatric care for over 200 children with diabetes.