Emphasis is placed on primary care during the first year of pediatric training. The intern is provided with numerous patient care situations under the supervision of upper level residents and attending faculty. The first year resident is the primary physician for patients and is responsible for completion of a history and physical examination, as well as the day-to-day care of patients, the writing of orders and progress notes. The PL-1 year is divided into 12 one-month blocks that include the following:

• 4 months Inpatient (including 1 month of Hem/Onc.)
• 1 month Pediatric Clinic
• 1 month Pediatric Clinic Plus (clinic & advocacy activities)
• 1 month Emergency Department
• 1 month Newborn Nursery
• 1 month NICU
• 1 month PICU
• 1 month Adolescent Clinic
• 1 month Elective
• ½ day/week Continuity Clinic (PPM)
• 3 weeks Vacation (during clinic or elective months)

The second year of pediatric training emphasizes subspecialty and supervisory experience. At this point, the resident begins to function as the physician in charge in the Pediatric Emergency Department, inpatient ward team and newborn nursery. The second year resident also has some primary care responsibility. The average PL-2 experience includes:

• 2 months Electives (1 elective is no-call)
• 2 months Inpatient (including Hem/Onc)
• 2 months Emergency Department
• 1 month PICU
• 1 month NICU
• 1 month Newborn Nursery
• 2 months GI/Pulm Selective
• 1 month Developmental Pediatrics
• ½ day/week Continuity Clinic (PPM)
• 3 weeks Vacation

During the third year of pediatric training, the supervisory role is emphasized. On each respective service, the third year resident works with an attending physician, offering primary care and supervision to residents and students. The 12 blocks are divided as such:

• 2 month Inpatient Wards
• 1 month PICU
• 1 month Newborn Nursery
• 1 month NICU
• 2 months Emergency Department
• 2 months Cardiology/Neurology Selective
• 2 month Elective (1 elective is no-call)
• 1 month Adolescent Clinic
• ½ day/week Continuity Clinic (PPM)
• 3 weeks Vacation

There are two (occasionally 3) chief resident positions (PL-4) in the Department of Pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Oklahoma. The chief residents work directly with the chairman of the department, the program director and the medical education committee to coordinate the pediatric housestaff's educational experience and patient care responsibilities.

The chief residents function as house staff advocates and as the chief administrators for all housestaff activities. The yearly schedule, vacations, and monthly call schedule for each house officer originates in the chief resident's office..