Medical Student & Pediatric Residency Rotations

As part of our efforts to improve the field of child abuse pediatrics, we offer many training opportunities for medical students, physicians, social workers and other professionals whose work involves children and families.

Fourth-year Medical Students

Medical students at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine can elect to do a one-month rotation in Child Abuse and Neglect during their fourth year. The goal of this elective is for the student to increase knowledge and skills to identify and treat abused and neglected children within the context of the behavioral, developmental, and psychological maturation of the child.

Fourth-year medical students from outside institutions can also apply to our elective as visiting students. For more information on this opportunity please the Feinberg School's Visiting Student Programs or send an e-mail directly to visitingstudents@northwestern.edu.

Pediatric Residents

Pediatric residents spend two weeks during their third year doing a rotation in Child Abuse. This training includes, but is not limited to:

  • Participating in the assessment and clinical care of children referred for an evaluation by the Protective Service Team
  • Learning about the roles and responsibilities of the other professionals and agencies involved in the protection of children, e.g., the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), States Attorney's Office, Office of the Public Guardian​ and Juvenile Court
  • Learning about providing testimony by observing child abuse pediatricians testifying in juvenile and criminal court and other legal proceedings
  • Observing Child Death Review Team meetings at the Medical Examiner's Office
  • Participating in national teleconference presentations of medical cases
  • Participating in journal club meetings held with other child abuse pediatricians in Chicago
  • Learning how to effectively obtain a psycho-social history and evaluate injuries and clinical presentations concerning for abuse (in both inpatient and outpatient settings)