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Faculty of Health Sciences

Department of Pediatrics

Developmental Pediatrics

Residency Program

Message from Program Director, Julia Frei

The Developmental Pediatrics Subspecialty Residency Program at McMaster University provides training in child development spanning from birth to adolescence, and offers cross-discipline exposure in developmental pediatrics, neurology, and psychiatry.

Developmental Pediatrics Overview

Overview

Our two-year program is accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and involves assessment of children with motor and physical disabilities, emotional and behavioural problems, autism spectrum disorders, communication disorders, neuromuscular disorders, learning problems, acquired brain injuries, and sensory impairments. Residents participate in a number of multidisciplinary clinics as a medical consultant and in discussions and feedback with families.

This fellowship program is accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

We are seeking candidates who exhibit integrity, honesty, compassion, and respect for diversity and who have strong communication skills with children, their families, and other members of the interdisciplinary team. Our trainees must understand the breadth of practice of developmental pediatrics and the impact of the social determinates of health for vulnerable families. Candidates will need to understand the concepts of family centred care, the International Classification of Functioning and the “F” words in developmental care provision. We are seeking candidates who have experience in inter-professional collaboration, patient and family advocacy and scholarly endeavours.

Applications are processed through CaRMS. Please visit the CaRMS website for application deadline information.

McMaster Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) provides an environment where learners can develop the skills to become expert physicians and leaders in health care.

Dev Peds Education

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Education

The length of training is two years.

In the first year of training, our residents spend six blocks (each block of four weeks) in general developmental pediatric clinics at the Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre and McMaster Children’s Hospital, with two blocks in the community, one block in child psychiatry, one block in research, one block in neurology, and two blocks of chosen elective time.

During the second year, residents spend five blocks in general developmental pediatric clinics at the Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre and McMaster Children’s Hospital, with two blocks of community, two blocks of research, one block of genetics, and three blocks of elective time.

Throughout the two years, residents participate in weekly academic half-day teaching sessions and continuity clinics, with many opportunities to interact with our allied health professional clinics.

Dev Peds Clinical

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Clinical

Our program is located at the Ron Joyce Children Health Centre, a site of McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario which is one of the largest pediatric health-care facilities in Canada. The Ron Joyce Centre Health Centre provides the regional program for children with a full range of developmental disabilities with the population base of half a million residents. Our developmental pediatricians also provide consultation regarding complex developmental problems to pediatricians and other specialists in the larger health region with a population base of 2.4 million people. Annually, the centre receives about 1,000 new referrals of patients with developmental pediatric problems.

Training also takes place at the ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development in Mississauga, and the CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research in Hamilton. Optional regional outreach clinics are located in Timmins, St. Catharines, Kitchener, Brantford and Guelph. These clinics enable residents to participate in community-based assessments.

  • Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre
  • ErinOakKids Centre for Treatment and Development
  • CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research

Dev Peds Research

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Research

Focused research experience occurs during the time residents spend at CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research. CanChild is located at McMaster University and is an internationally recognized research centre dedicated to maximizing the quality of life for children and youth with disabilities and their families. The multidisciplinary research team explores inter-relationships between individuals, their families, communities and health systems including children and youth with physical, developmental and/or communicative needs who require rehabilitation services

Dev Peds Contact Us

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Contact Us

We invite you to learn more about the Developmental Pediatrics Residency Program and the opportunities that are available at McMaster University. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.

Faculty Directory

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frei-julia

Julia Frei

Developmental Pediatrics Residency Program Director

Faculty

freij@mcmaster.ca McMaster Experts Profile

Staff Directory

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Rochelle Deacur

Program Administrative Assistant

deacurr@mcmaster.ca