Abstract
Background: The field of Medicine-Pediatrics, also termed “Med-Peds,” is a combined specialty that uniquely trains physicians to provide comprehensive care across the lifespan. However, despite its growing importance, with approximately 8,000 Med-Peds trained physicians and 78 residency programs nationwide, regional disparities in training opportunities persist. The West Coast, for instance, only hosts 4 Med-Peds residency programs, thereby limiting exposure and career exploration for medical students without home residency programs. Having several Med-Peds trained faculty but lacking a home Medicine-Pediatrics residency program, our institution–the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine (UCISOM)–presented a distinctive opportunity; we aimed to address this gap by designing a Medicine-Pediatrics elective that other institutions without home programs can follow.
Objective: To provide medical students with a formalized opportunity to explore the field of Medicine-Pediatrics, demonstrate interest, and gain exposure to Med-Peds trained faculty.
Methods: The development of this elective involved a multi-faceted approach. We first began by establishing a Medicine-Pediatrics Interest group to identify student interests and needs. We then engaged interested faculty members as potential preceptors and collaborated with our Internal Medicine department to establish a year-round elective with flexible 2–4-week options. The curriculum was based in outpatient ambulatory clinics, with integrated opportunities for subspecialty exploration to foster hands-on experience for students in both adult and pediatric care settings and allow students to understand the unique aspects of a Med-Peds practice.
Results: Since its inception, three students have completed the Med-Peds elective. Initial feedback suggests increased understanding of the specialty and enhanced interest in pursuing Med-Peds as a career path. Students reported valuable exposure to the integration of adult and pediatric medicine, as well as improved confidence in caring for patients across all age groups.
Discussion: The creation of a dedicated Med-Peds elective addresses a significant gap in medical education, particularly in regions with limited Med-Peds training programs. This innovation provides a structured opportunity for students to explore the field, increasing interest in and strengthening applications to Med-Peds residency programs. Future directions include longitudinal tracking of elective participants to assess its impact on specialty choice and expanding the elective to accommodate more students. We hope that this model could be replicated at other institutions to broaden exposure to Med-Peds nationwide, ultimately contributing to a more diverse Med-Peds workforce.
