Letters from Leadership

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!

Thank you for your interest in our program. Choosing a residency is one of the most important decisions of your career, and we are honored that you are considering training with us.

At Nationwide Children’s Hospital, our mission is to develop the next generation of compassionate, skilled, and innovative pediatricians. We are committed to providing outstanding clinical training, individualized mentorship, and a supportive learning environment where every resident is challenged to grow while feeling valued as both a physician and a person.

Our residents care for children with an extraordinary breadth of medical conditions while working alongside nationally recognized faculty and exceptional colleagues. Whether your future lies in primary care or subspecialty training, we provide the experiences, mentorship, and flexibility to help you achieve your goals. Opportunities such as the Residents in Schools Initiative (RISI), the Pediatric Education in Community Sites (PECS) Program, the seven Advanced Competency options and ample research opportunities allow residents to explore their interests and shape their own unique career paths in both clinical and non-clinical realms.

While our educational opportunities are exceptional, what truly defines our program is our residency community. Our residents and chief residents create an environment where teamwork, kindness, and respect are the norm. Residency is demanding, but you should never have to navigate it alone. From celebrating milestones to providing support during life's inevitable challenges, we are committed to fostering a culture where everyone belongs.

We also recognize that every resident’s journey is unique. Our program is intentionally designed to provide individualized mentorship, career guidance, and opportunities for leadership and professional growth. Through innovative curricula, dedicated coaching and advising, and meaningful scholarly experiences, residents are empowered to pursue their passions while developing the skills needed to become leaders in pediatrics. Our goal is not only to train outstanding pediatricians, but also to help each resident build a fulfilling and sustainable career.

Thank you for considering Nationwide Children’s Hospital. We invite you to learn more about our program, meet our residents and faculty, and discover what makes our community such a special place to train. We hope you'll see what we already know—that Nationwide Children’s is more than a residency program; it is a community where you will be challenged, supported, and inspired to become the pediatrician you aspire to be.

We look forward to meeting you.

Sincerely,

Claire Stewart, MD
Program Director, Pediatric Residency Program

Thank you for your interest in the Nationwide Children's Pediatrics Residency Program. We are honored that you are considering our program as you prepare for one of the most exciting decisions of your medical career.

Choosing a residency is about finding the place that best aligns with your goals, your values, and the kind of physician you hope to become. Applicants deserve exceptional clinical training, meaningful mentorship, opportunities for scholarly growth, and a community where they feel supported both professionally and personally. At Nationwide Children's, we believe those qualities are the foundation of our outstanding residency experience.

We're proud to offer exceptional clinical training, dedicated faculty, diverse patient population, and abundant opportunities for scholarship and professional development. Our residents graduate with the confidence to care for children in any setting and the flexibility to pursue virtually any career within pediatrics.

As chief residents, we've learned that what distinguishes an exceptional residency isn't only the curriculum or the complexity of the patients; it's the culture that surrounds those experiences. It's the people who challenge you, celebrate your successes, and support you through the inevitable challenges of residency. The curriculum shapes your education, but the community shapes the physician you become.

Although we are one of the largest pediatric residency programs in the country, it rarely feels that way. Our residents know one another well, genuinely enjoy working together, and are always willing to lend a hand. You'll find co-residents who are eager to teach, faculty who are invested in your success, and mentors who continue to support you long after a rotation ends.

The friendships that begin during orientation quickly become partnerships on the wards, collaborators in scholarship, and lifelong connections beyond graduation. Whether gathering for dinner after work, celebrating fellowship matches, or checking in after a difficult day, our camaraderie isn't something we simply talk about, it's part of everyday life.

Academically, you'll train across the full spectrum of pediatric medicine, from caring for critically ill children at one of the nation's leading freestanding children's hospitals to building lasting relationships with families in continuity clinics. Along the way, you'll learn from nationally recognized experts and have opportunities to pursue advocacy, quality improvement, medical education, global health, clinical informatics, bioethics, and research.

Outside the hospital, Columbus offers the perfect balance of opportunity and livability. Its vibrant neighborhoods, restaurants, parks, festivals, and sporting events make it easy to recharge and connect with friends. We believe becoming an outstanding pediatrician also means having the opportunity to build a fulfilling life outside of medicine.

As you learn more about our program, we encourage you to meet our residents, ask thoughtful questions, and picture yourself here. We hope you'll discover what makes Nationwide Children's so special: a program that pursues excellence with humility, values collaboration over competition, and fosters a community where every resident is supported to succeed.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know Nationwide Children's. We look forward to meeting you, learning your story, and sharing the program we are proud to call home.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Julia Halley, Emerald Hanson, Dianne Mancheno Alvarez, Sam Stanley and Carmen Stone Highsmith
Your 2026-2027 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Pediatric Chief Residents