Abstract
Environmental health is recognized as an integral part of pediatric residency education. The importance of this education has been further highlighted in recent years due to climate change. A rapidly enlarging body of evidence directly ties climate change with exacerbation of several medical conditions sensitive to environmental triggers. It is also associated with increased frequency and intensity of various environmental exposures. Pediatric patients are particularly vulnerable. Formalized curricula remain sparse despite a direct call to action by several medical organizations including the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics. This has left pediatric residents without the knowledge and skills necessary to adequately address these issues. We plan to address this educational gap by implementing a formalized, integrated curriculum. The planned curriculum will utilize several educational strategies including lectures, both new and adapted, small group discussions, case-based learning, journal clubs, direct patient care, community outreach and advocacy projects. Pediatric categorical and combined internal medicine-pediatrics residents will complete a knowledge-based assessment and attitudes-based assessment every 6 months for the duration of their residency. They will be invited to complete the assessments one additional time 6 months after graduation from residency. We hypothesize that introduction of a formalized curriculum will lead to improvement in knowledge and increased confidence/comfortability, which will then lead to adaptation of practice and increased advocacy.
