Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV Program

Program Identity & Fit

This is a university-affiliated, three-year categorical pediatrics program in Las Vegas that blends academic medicine with community practice, training residents across a county safety-net hospital (Children's Hospital of Nevada at UMC, home to the region's only Level I trauma center) and a large private community hospital (Sunrise Children's Hospital), giving residents exposure to both indigent/safety-net populations and community-based subspecialty care. The curriculum emphasizes individualized tracks in PL2/PL3 years, a required scholarly project (with roughly 30 resident presentations/publications annually) supported by a resident research pilot program and RISE curriculum, and structured QI training, signaling that scholarly output is an expected competency rather than optional enrichment. About one in four graduates remain in Las Vegas or return after fellowship to serve the local community as general pediatricians, hospitalists, or subspecialists, while others match into competitive subspecialty fellowships (neonatology, critical care, cardiology, GI) at national academic centers, indicating the program supports both community pediatrics and academic/fellowship trajectories. Distinctive structural features include a "house system" for mentorship/wellness, biannual faculty advising, dedicated advocacy and community rotations, and a stated institutional emphasis on feedback, close-knit culture, and resident wellness.