Training at a leading pediatric hospital offers access to diverse educational experiences

Through innovative curricula, world-class research and dynamic community partnerships, The Ohio State University College of Medicine provides learners with immersive education and training opportunities across many fields of practice and renowned institutions. The college’s Department of Pediatrics is housed at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and its Abigail Wexner Research Institute, located just minutes from Ohio State’s campus. Hailed as one of the most advanced pediatric hospitals in the world, Nationwide Children’s Hospital (external link) is currently ranked the no. 8 best children’s hospital in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

John Barnard, MD (external link), professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics in the Ohio State College of Medicine and director of Pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, oversees 500 physicians who hold faculty appointments in the college. He also directs the education of more than 300 medical students and pediatric residents and fellows training at the institution each year.

“At the bedside, in the clinic, in the community and in the research laboratory, we equip learners with state-of-the-art skills and sophisticated training at all levels of education,” says Dr. Barnard.

Each year, more than 200 third-year medical students are supervised on clinical rotations and more than 30 fourth-year students rotate through a number of pediatric specialties with access to a “boot camp” designed for students who’ll become pediatric residents. First and second-year students have the option to shadow physicians, and there are numerous laboratory and research opportunities available in the 500,000 square feet of dedicated child health research space on the hospital campus.

Students participate in formal lectures, attend grand rounds and learn at the bedside in both inpatient and outpatient settings where they see some of the most complex pediatric cases in Ohio. Families travel from around the globe to access lifesaving treatments and care from specialists in hematology, oncology, blood and bone marrow transplant, neurology and gastroenterology. In 2020, there were more than 1.5 million patient visits to this pediatric hospital that is also America’s largest neonatal network and provider of inpatient pediatric surgeries.

College of Medicine faculty are engaged and enthusiastic teachers and mentors for students who are learning at one of the top pediatric training institutions in the country.

“Mentorship is central to the development of doctors at all stages of their career,” says Dr. Barnard. “The reciprocal nature of the interaction is beneficial to both mentors and mentees.”

The quality of education and the college’s dedication to improvement and discovery have not gone unnoticed. Annually, graduating medical students from every institution participate in a survey from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Each year, the Department of Pediatrics is the first- or second-ranked clinical department in the College of Medicine, almost without exception.

“NCH and the College of Medicine have been conjoined partners for over 100 years,” says Jennifer McCallister, MD (external link), professor of Internal Medicine and associate dean for Medical Education at the College of Medicine. “Together we’ve solidified our unwavering commitment to educating the next generation of experts and innovators who will work together to improve the health of all children.”