Pediatric Residency Program, Florida
- Overview
- Curriculum & Training
- Benefits & Location
- Leadership & Faculty
- Apply
Program Overview
Message From Dr. Corinne Bria, Program Director
Welcome to the Pediatric Residency Program at ºÚÁÏרÇø Children’s Hospital, Florida in Orlando. We are eager to share the exciting innovations and expert pediatric care occurring here in Central Florida. We are leading from the front at ºÚÁÏרÇø Children's.
Bolstered by the legacy of Alfred I. duPontÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýºÚÁÏרÇø, ºÚÁÏרÇø Children's is a place where clinical care, education, research, and clinical advocacy come together to improve lives.
We're searching for highly motivated applicants looking to lead, change, and shape the future of academic pediatrics alongside our world-class clinical faculty and researchers.
Our pediatric residency curriculum incorporates cutting-edge simulation training in a longitudinal fashion to enhance clinical skills and teamwork. Research, Quality and Patient Safety and Continuous Improvement projects are built into your residency experience. This is designed to enhance your learning and give you a solid foundation of inquiry that’s critical for the ever-changing landscape of national health care. ºÚÁÏרÇø is dedicated to improving the health of children by also incorporating health-related social needs into our care model.
We hope you’ll consider a position in our residency program. We look forward to working alongside you to improve the health of children in our country and across the globe.
Our Graduate Medical Education infrastructure at ºÚÁÏרÇø Children’s Hospital, Florida has been growing since day one. Today, more than 100 pediatric subspecialists in 14 clinical divisions are committed to the Clinical Care-Teaching-Research triad necessary for excellence in your residency experience.
Inclusion & Belonging
Lonna Gordon, MD
Chief, Adolescent Medicine
GME Director of Healthy Outcomes, Opportunities, and Belonging
The ºÚÁÏרÇø Children’s Hospital, Florida Residency Program is training you to help create the healthiest generation of children. The current generation of children represents a broad range of identities, cultures, and lived experiences, and our residency program reflects that richness.
We take a comprehensive view of what makes people unique.
We believe that each person’s unique identity and story weaves a connection to our patients that is highly impactful in optimizing their health. At ºÚÁÏרÇø, our Inclusion, Development, Experience & Alignment (IDEA) team is leading organizational transformation and alignment to support our vision to go well beyond medicine, including how health-related social needs affect patients and the communities we live in.
As a resident at ºÚÁÏרÇø you will see how this works at the bedside, in formal didactics, and through research. You'll also participate in a core lecture series to help you integrate inclusion and belonging principles into your practice.
Residency is long with many hours spent at the hospital. We want you to BELONG while you are here. Belonging means that you can show up to work as your authentic self, not having to cover aspects of your identity to feel welcome. We have a GME Healthy Outcomes, Opportunities, and Belonging Committee that is comprised of peer selected trainees from each part of GME. This committee helps the Social Committee celebrate holidays that are important to our residents and fellows, partners with our Community Service Committee to build the pipeline of health professionals with varied backgrounds and serves as a forum to address concerns that may affect any resident or fellow’s ability to belong.
Research
By creating ever-closer connections between clinical and research enterprises, ºÚÁÏרÇø is building a culture of continuous inquiry and discovery. Collaborative efforts — internally and with external partners — are leading to new ways to improve treatment, enhance the delivery of care, and support the best outcomes for children and families.
The program includes educational conferences and mentorship in research design, implementation, and writing abstracts and manuscripts. Residents will have dedicated time during their training to perform mentored research/quality improvement activities with the goal of presenting their work at regional and national meetings as well as publications.
Advocacy
One of the goals of our pediatric residency program is to develop the advocate pediatrician.
While advocacy opportunities are interspersed throughout residency, the dedicated advocacy rotation appeals to neurodiverse learners by layering different educational modalities to build a robust curriculum.
Time is spent outside the hospital learning directly from community healthcare partners about the challenges and strengths of the population we serve. They also engage in self-directed learning on topics like car seat safety, water safety, and dog bite safety.
Finally, time is spent developing advocacy projects using the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Community Pediatrics Training Initiative Advocacy Rubric, and contribute to their fellow residents' advocacy projects.
Our Advocacy Interest Group writes op-eds on current advocacy topics and creates content for the Central Florida Pediatric Advocacy Coalition. Our coalition was recently awarded the Leonard V. Rome CATCH grant to develop this partnership further.
Educational Opportunities & Professional Growth
Schedule
Our curriculum utilizes an X + Y schedule which alternates between inpatient and outpatient rotations in fixed blocks, which offers our residence a strong foundation in general Pediatrics while providing focused training and reducing burnout. They will be prepared to advocate for children at a local and national level, conduct research and quality improvement projects, perform outstanding clinical medicine and/or enter into competitive subspecialty fellowships.
- Inpatient Pediatrics
- Newborn Nursery
- Developmental
- Adolescent
- Emergency Medicine
- NICU
- PICU
- Ambulatory
- CCCU (Cardiac)
- Research
Available Pediatric Electives
- Allergy and Immunology
- Anesthesiology
- Board Review
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- NICU
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Imaging
- Diagnostic Radiology
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Hematology/Oncology
- Infectious Diseases
- Interventional Radiology
- Legislative Advocacy
- Medical Genetics
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Otolaryngology
- Procedures (Advanced)
- Psychiatry & Psychology
- Pulmonology
- Research (Advanced)
- Rheumatology
- Simulation
- Sleep Medicine
- Sports Medicine
- Surgery
- Telemedicine
- Urgent Care
- Urology
Vacation 4 weeks each year, divided into two 2-week periods.
Simulation
Patient simulation technology is changing and improving the way physicians learn. ºÚÁÏרÇø Children’s Hospital, Florida offers an on-site simulation center co-located with the GME offices and residency space that residents will access to gain experience and learn how to deliver safe and effective care. Modules include mock codes, procedural skills, family-centered care, and delivery of bad news, as well as TeamSTEPPS training.
Training & Opportunities
Work With the Nation’s Top Physician Scientists (or Their Data)
ºÚÁÏרÇø Children’s Hospital, Florida participates in the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) and hosts the ºÚÁÏרÇø Center for Asthma Research and Treatment (CART). We’re also one of the few health systems in the Southeast selected to participate in PEDSnet, which is a community that includes eight of the nation’s leading children’s hospital health systems. These institutions serve more than 2 million children per year, offering a rich data set for collaborative research that advances pediatric health opportunities.
Fellowship Programs
ºÚÁÏרÇø Children’s Hospital, Florida has the following ACGME-accredited fellowships Pediatric Hospital Medicine,ÌýPediatric Endocrinology,ÌýPediatric Emergency Medicine, Pediatric Pulmonology, Pediatric Radiology, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, and Pediatric Gastroenterology.
Educational Experiences
The face-to-face interactions you have with patients during your residency are another key component of your education. These experiences will not only help you build medical knowledge and skills, but develop a component that’s critical in becoming an outstanding pediatrician, such as:
- Adopting a calm and confident bedside manner.
- Translating complex concepts into information patients and families can understand.
- Communicating with parents and adults, in addition to children.
Opportunities to Learn, Collaborate, and Self-Direct
- Daily huddles
- Morning report
- Noon conference
- Grand rounds
- Online primary care curriculum
- Bioethics conference
- Journal club
- Simulation activities and workshops
- QI-based resident-led morbidity and mortality
- Certification in Nexplanon® and Paragard®
Continuity Clinic
ºÚÁÏרÇø primary care clinic offers consistent, team-based care for children and families who may face bariers to accessing health services. This is where residents will develop long-term connections with their own panel of patients. Each resident will have their own business cards and routine clinic day to see their panel of patients. An online curriculum for common primary care concerns will be available to supplement the residents’ knowledge and practice of ambulatory pediatrics and effective delivery of anticipatory guidance.
Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs)
Mentorship throughout the continuum of education is essential. All residents will not only receive extensive support and guidance from the graduate medical education staff, but also will select one, if not more, mentors to work with throughout their residency. Residents will complete an ILP that will contain short- and long-term SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely) goals. Plans will include career and wellness goals to help build sustainability and purpose.
Board Overview
Our residency curriculum aligns with the American Board of Pediatrics content specifications. Residents have an opportunity to take a concentrated board review elective during their third year to further enhance their preparation.
Library Resources
Educational technology is a cornerstone at our state-of-the-art hospital. We also offer robust library services, which include an on-site medical librarian at and access to the University of Central Florida College of Medicine library system. Resources include:
- Ovid MEDLINE
- ±Ê³Ü²ú²Ñ±ð»åÌý
- ±«±è°Õ´Ç¶Ù²¹³Ù±ðÌý
- Harriet Lane HandbookÂ
- Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics
- Red Book OnlineÂ
- Access to evidence-based care pathways and other resources
Salary & Benefits
Salary
- PGY 1: $71,385.91
- PGY 2: $74,134.17
- PGY 3: $76,877.13
Benefits
Health
- Aetna health insurance
- Life insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision plan
- Infertility coverage
- 6 weeks of paid family/medical/caregiver leave
- Mental health services through TEND Health
- Free, private, and confidential access to mental health care
- Counseling and coaching
- No personal or identifying information is shared with your employer
- Free, private, and confidential access to mental health care
Additionally provided
- Meal stipend
- Free on-site fitness center membership
- Free on-site parking
- Mobile phone and laptop
- Educational stipend and book money
- White coats, and scrubs
- Laundering for white coats
- Moonlighting opportunities
View a Sample Resident/Fellow Contract
Cost of Living
Florida does not have a state income tax.
Travel
Our location in Orlando’s Lake Nona Medical City is convenient for travel; it’s just seven miles from the Orlando International Airport.
Physician Wellness
We recognize the growing challenges that physicians face in their training. We promote wellness through supports and activities specifically designed to address healthy lifestyle, resiliency, workload/work compression, and mentorship.
Components include:
- The ºÚÁÏרÇø Educational Suite provides residents with a space all their own for chatting and relaxing, and includes a wellness room and lactation room.
- Yearly resident retreats.
- Narrative medicine groups that offer residents a facilitated reflective reading and writing experience that explore the humanity of medicine and promote resiliency.
- Presentations and small group sessions attended by residents and faculty on physician burn-out and resilience.
- Free coffee, tea and snacks.
- Financial stipend for meals.
- Free access to the on-site gym and fitness classes.
- On-site car wash available.
Training at ºÚÁÏרÇø in Central Florida
ºÚÁÏרÇø Children’s Hospital, Florida, is a freestanding pediatric hospital in the center of Orlando’s Lake Nona Medical City. It’s a place designed for kids and families, with modern spaces and advanced technology. The expectations are high, but so is the support. Faculty know their learners, and mentorship is natural. Training is rigorous here, but it’s also personal.Â
Hospital & Training Environment
Most of your training takes place at our hospital, with 130 inpatient beds and a busy Emergency Department. Patients come from across Central Florida, so you’ll see both everyday pediatrics and complex cases in a diverse population. With more than 180 pediatric faculty across nearly every specialty, you’ll gain both breadth and depth in your clinical experience. Take a video tour of the hospital now.Â
Innovation is everywhere here. From transport teams and helipads to firsts in gene therapy, this is a hospital that pushes boundaries while staying family-centered. Recognition follows, with multiple Leapfrog awards for safety and HIMSS Stage 7 status for technology. And because we’re part of Lake Nona Medical City, you’ll train alongside researchers, educators, and scientists from the University of Central Florida and beyond.Â
Living in Orlando & Central Florida
Orlando is more than theme parks. It’s a city with growing neighborhoods, a thriving food scene, and year-round sunshine. Lake Nona itself is a planned community built around health and innovation.
You’ll be training in a place that feels modern and connected, and easy to live in. When you need a weekend escape, beaches, springs, and natural preserves are just a short drive away.Â
Research & Academic Opportunities
Research is part of daily life at ºÚÁÏרÇø. Some trainees work in the lab, others join clinical trials, and many focus on quality improvement. Plus, our partnership with the UCF College of Medicine enriches opportunities, whether that’s PedsAcademy, teaching, or working on interdisciplinary studies.Â
Resident & Fellow Life
Your training is more than rotations and research. It’s about feeling supported, finding community, and having space to recharge.
Community & Culture | You’ll find a collaborative spirit here, with peers, faculty, and staff. Kids (and their families) are at the center, and that keeps our focus both grounded and purposeful.Â
Wellness & Support |Â Resources are easy to access. Institutional wellness programs, peer support networks, reflection spaces, and flexible on-site amenities.Â
Everyday Perks |Â The perks are real. Free parking, meals during trainings, call rooms, and dedicated space to catch your breath. These help sustain the day-to-day.
Innovative Setting | Training here means you’re part of a health and life sciences hub that’s shaping the future of medicine. Add in social traditions and program-sponsored outings, and you’ll find a good balance of work and connection.
Train With Recognized Leaders
If you’re looking for a rewarding program built on academic excellence and family-centered care, ºÚÁÏרÇø offers outstanding medical, surgical, pharmacy, nursing, therapy, and psychology programs. Train with faculty who are respected leaders in their fields, a patient care model that stands apart, and access to groundbreaking research.
Our Leadership
Corinne Bria, MD, MEd
Program Director
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
ºÚÁÏרÇø Children's Hospital, Florida
Christie Gloria Cherian, MD, FAAP
Residency Associate Program Director
Pediatric Pulmonology, ºÚÁÏרÇø Children's Health, Florida
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, UCF College of Medicine
Michelle Tellado, MD, FAAP
Residency Associate Program Director
ºÚÁÏרÇø Children's Health Resident Continuity Clinic Director
Victoria Wurster Ovalle, MD, Med
Residency Associate Program Director
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, UCF College of Medicine
Meet Our Faculty
Our ºÚÁÏרÇø faculty in Central Florida includes team members who have served as program directors, associate program directors, or designated institutional officials (DIOs) at other institutions. They are experienced and committed to ensuring a culture of learning and support for residents.
In addition, nearly all of our ºÚÁÏרÇø Children’s Hospital, Florida physicians hold faculty academic appointments at one or more medical schools. And most either teach or oversee clinical training at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, located just next door to us in Medical City.
Please note that attendings, residents and fellows are employed and insured by the hospital; they are not employees of a university.
-
Lisa Santos Spector, MD
Developmental Medicine Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician Behavioral Health Hub Co-DirectorPrimary Office
Orlando, FL
How to Apply
Application Requirements
- Electronic Residency Application Services (ERAS application)
- Medical Student Performance Evaluation (dean's letter)
- Personal statement
- USMLE or COMLEX scores
- Three letters of recommendation
- Transcript
Use the 10-digit ACGME program ID#: 3201100433. After receiving and reviewing applications, the program directors will send an invitation for an interview if you are selected to advance in the resident selection process.
Visas:Â Only J1 visas will be considered.
Questions About Applying?
Kelley Kirk
Pediatric Residency Program Administrator
(407) 567-3363
kelley.kirk@nemours.org
Michelle Pizarro
Pediatric Residency Program Coordinator
(407) 567-3670
michelle.pizarro@nemours.org