Letters from Leadership
We are so glad you are interested in our General Pediatrics Residency program. We encourage you to take a moment to read messages from our pediatrics chair, program director and 2024-2025 chief residents, all of whom share a little more about residency life, training and the possibilities open to you as you start your career as a physician.
A Welcome From Dr. Catherine Krawczeski, Chair Department of Pediatrics Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Congratulations for selecting pediatrics as your career’s passion. There is no more exciting field in biomedicine today – and our children need us more than ever before.
Our beautiful, academic children’s hospital campus offers you a full range of training opportunities. At one end of the child health care spectrum, Nationwide Children’s is a national leader in innovative approaches to population, school and neighborhood health. At the other, we are bringing next generation genomics to the everyday practice of pediatric medicine and discovering life-saving therapies for single gene disorders such as spinal muscular atrophy and muscular dystrophy at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute.
The foundation of our residency training program is comprised of outstanding general pediatric experiences in our primary care clinics and general hospital services. For subspecialty training, which 60% of our residents pursue, nationally renowned clinical and research programs are led by enthusiastic faculty teachers, clinical innovators and mentors committed to academic excellence.
While our program is large, you will be nurtured by a culture of collegiality, listening, feedback, flexibility and fun – even as you are challenged to achieve your full potential. As one of the best residency training environments in the United States, your unique talents, energy and creativity will thrive at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Your metamorphosis as a result of training with us will be among the most gratifying experiences in your career. We are confident completing a residency at Nationwide Children’s will position you to be a child health care leader of tomorrow.
Finally, we celebrate diversity at Nationwide Children’s. As a core value, we commit to our residents feeling safe and supported in an environment that does not tolerate discrimination, harassment or mistreatment as we work and learn together.
We wish you the very best as you embark on an exciting career path in pediatrics.
Sincerely,
Catherine Krawczeski, MD
Ann I. Wolfe Endowed Chair in Pediatric Leadership
Chief of the Department of Pediatrics at Nationwide Children's Hospital
Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Welcome to Nationwide Children's Hospital Pediatric Residency Program!
At Nationwide Children’s Hospital Pediatric Residency Program, our mission is to foster the personal and professional growth of the next generation of diverse pediatricians, leading the field through clinical excellence and individualized academic development, in a dynamic, collegial educational setting. We provide myriad clinical experiences, innovative educational opportunities, and the ability to learn alongside world-class trainees and faculty. We are here to help you develop your passion and prepare you to pursue any type of pediatric career you desire. From community advocacy through our Residents in Schools Initiative (RISI) to curriculum development through the Advanced Competency in Medical Education to revolutionary research at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute, the possibilities are endless.
We also pride ourselves in the support, camaraderie, and mentorship that complement our clinical training. Applicants often ask what part of the program I’m most proud of. The answer is easy – the people! We are more than colleagues, we are family. The sense of community is obvious, whether it’s celebrating a birthday, new baby, or just a spontaneous weeknight get-together. The people are the heart and soul of our program and it is truly a privilege to be part of such an amazing team.
Health equity, diversity, and inclusion are central to the mission of Nationwide Children’s Hospital and our residency program. This includes recruiting underrepresented physicians into our training program and cultivating an environment of support and inclusion. We are committed to promoting diversity in the pediatric workforce, locally and globally
We appreciate your interest in our program!
Sincerely,
Rebecca Wallihan, MD
Associate Professor, Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Program Director, Pediatric Residency Program
Welcome from our Chief Residents!
On behalf of our entire pediatrics residency family, we are excited you’re here and are interested in learning more about our program. We are all so proud of the education we have received here at Nationwide.
We are a large residency program, but truly consider ourselves family – from celebrating babies and weddings to supporting each other through grief and lifting each other up through challenging educational experiences – we have found incredible value in our shared, yet diverse experiences.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital serves children within the Columbus area, as well as those from other locations both in and outside of the United States. Our patient population is truly a reflection of the city of Columbus - diverse, dynamic, and full of potential. We have the pleasure of caring for and learning from patients and families from various immigrant communities, religious backgrounds, and socioeconomic statuses. We provide many services to streamline care for families and help them navigate life’s various challenges. As one of the nation’s largest pediatric hospitals, we have a breadth of training opportunities on general pediatric wards, subspecialty services, ambulatory clinics, and within our resident continuity clinics. We also have broad exposure to scholarly projects in advocacy, quality & improvement, clinical informatics, bioethics, medical education, global health, and research. Our program will prepare and support you for whichever career path you choose.
As the capital city of Ohio, Columbus offers a lot of adventure, fun, and affordability. We have enjoyed exploring various neighborhoods, such as German Village, Short North, and Easton areas. Our weekends are sometimes filled with quick biking or hiking trips, triathlons, art, music, food or wine festivals, theater or orchestra performances, and cultural festivals. Other times, we simply explore local restaurants and breweries, enjoy one of the Metro Parks, or catch a game with one of the local teams: the Columbus Crew (soccer), the Columbus Blue Jackets (hockey), the Columbus Clippers (minor league baseball), and of course - our Ohio State Buckeyes! Though we work hard, we strive to cultivate an environment that promotes balance and personal, emotional, and professional well-being.
We are confident our program will prepare you to become a stellar pediatrician. We cannot wait to meet you and hope you’ll be able to feel our camaraderie and commitment to the health of our patients and community.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions. We are always happy to help!
Basil, Emily, Ahmani, Na’il, Sebastian (aka the B.E.A.N.S.)
Your 2024-2025 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Pediatric Chief Residents