In recognition of longstanding and deeply embedded health inequities in the US, including in many of our local communities here in the metro Denver area, we have created the Colorado Urban Health Equity, Advocacy, and Leadership (CU HEAL) pathway, an embedded, longitudinal pathway within the University of Colorado Pediatric Residency Program. The goal of this pathway is to provide formal and comprehensive advocacy and leadership training for residents dedicated to addressing the myriad of challenges faced by underserved communities. The pathway brings together dedicated faculty members with deep experience and expertise tackling health inequities, an accomplished group of current residents eager to serve as advocacy peer mentors, and a number of community partners and established programs.
Participating residents will practice ambulatory primary care in an urban health-care setting serving a diverse and socio-economically challenged patient population, complete a longitudinal, mentored project working with a community partner organization or program, be connected to local and national programs and partners helping bring positive change to our community and develop a formal skill set in leadership, advocacy and the understanding of health inequities in our society.
Residents who match at our program will have the opportunity to apply for the CU HEAL pathway after match.
Residents who match at our program will have the opportunity to apply for the global health pathway after match and will have a global health focus during their training. As part of this training, these residents spend two months at an international or other un-resourced area. Global Health Pathway residents participate in a global health disasters course once during residency and monthly educational conferences/journal club. Other global health opportunities are available to all residents. A "local global health" and a refugee health elective are available to all residents.
The Medical Education Pathway is available to categorical and combined program residents who have a deeper interest in medical education, teaching, and academic medicine. The Medical Education Pathway has three main components – experiences in medical education, scholarship, and mentorship:
Residents who have completed all components of the pathway by the time of graduation will be awarded a Certificate in Medical Education.
The Primary Care Pathway is designed to help residents interested in primary care customize their residency curriculum to grow in all areas of general pediatric practice so that they are better equipped for primary care delivery after graduation. The pathway also provides an interest group community of other residents throughout the years interested in all aspects of primary care.
Each Primary Care Resident (PCR) will have a Primary Care Coach (PCC), who will assist the PCR to develop and meet their educational goals to prepare for general pediatric practice, identify and select the best custom and standard electives to meet their objectives, ensure they meet their objectives and navigate the process of finding and obtaining the most suitable practice opportunity. The PCC is modeled after the CFEB Coach and could also be the resident’s mentor.
Twenty-three Custom “Primary Care” Electives have been developed based on recommendations from recent graduates and the faculty in the various specialties, with the objective of preparing residents for primary care practice.
PCRs’ schedules have been adapted to distribute continuity clinics more evenly across all months to enable residents and their patients to experience good continuity of care.
A Core Curriculum, a list of conditions and issues that a PCR should master during residency, has been developed and will continually evolve, and includes a variety of tools and articles to assist the PCR. This is coupled with an increase in the number and variety of teaching conference topics.
See information on the PPSTP here.
This program is designed to accommodate candidates committed to an academic career as a physician-scientist. This pathway includes two years of pediatric training followed by four years of subspecialty training. There is no requirement for prior research training. See the Research page for more information and other opportunities in research.