Graduate medical education has been an integral part of St. Christopher's Hospital for Children for more than 60 years. The goal of our training programs—and our highest priority—is to offer a comprehensive, in-depth and personally rewarding educational experience in one of our many pediatric disciplines, preparing trainees to confidently choose careers in academic medicine, private practice or careers in public health.

A cornerstone of our training is the open and frequent interaction between our trainees and our outstanding faculty, with expertise in all areas of pediatric health and disease as well as a strong commitment to education.  

We strive to maintain an appropriate balance between scientific inquiry and humanistic clinical care in training residents and fellows. In doing so, we give them the tools they need to become competent and compassionate physicians for children and adolescents.  

A traditional and valued aspect of our programs is their cohesiveness, apparent in the warm relationships between our faculty and trainees, and in the excellent morale and group spirit of the house staff. We promote personal and professional growth by encouraging residents and fellows to participate in designing and implementing their curriculum.  

In choosing candidates for our residency and fellowship programs, we look not only for good grades, evaluations, references and a strong clinical performance, but also for excellent interpersonal and communication skills, an intellectual curiosity, willingness to assume increasing responsibility for one's own education, and finally, a genuine and active sense of social awareness and social responsibility. St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children is a teaching affiliate of Drexel University College of Medicine and Temple University School of Medicine. 

Through this relationship, we have both third-year and fourth-year medical students on required and elective rotations. Numerous students from other medical schools take elective rotations at our hospital.

Thank you for considering St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in your selection of a residency or fellowship program. We believe we have a great deal to offer, and we invite you to come visit and judge for yourself. For more information, or to reach the GME Office, please call: 215-427-4719.

Residency & Fellowship Programs

St. Christopher's Hospital for Children offers competitive and comprehensive residency programs including a Pediatric Residency Program and a Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program. We also offer Pediatric Fellowship Programs in a number of subspecialty areas.

Our Trainees

St. Christopher's Hospital for Children has a dynamic and talented group of residents and fellows that play an integral role within the hospital. St. Christopher's Hospital for Children has a dynamic and talented group of residents and fellows that play an integral role within the hospital. We currently have more than 7​5 pediatric residents, three chief residents, and 1​4 pediatric dental residents preparing for careers in pediatric medicine and pediatric dentistry. We also have 3​7 fellows including pediatric specialty fellows, pediatric surgery fellows and research fellows.

Hospital Information

The hospital is affiliated with Drexel University College of Medicine and Temple University School of Medicine.

Here's a brief glance at some of our vital statistics:

  • Beds: 188 licensed beds
  • Medical-surgical Unit Rooms: 44 private rooms, 32 semi-private rooms
  • More than 220 full-time faculty members
  • Level IIIC Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: 39 beds
  • Transplant/Oncology Unit: 7 beds
  • Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: 34 beds
  • Operating Rooms: 10 operating rooms, including 1 GI Suite, 10 recovery bays
  • Short Procedure Unit: 26 beds
  • Emergency Department: 34 exam rooms, 1 trauma room

St. Christopher's is a referral center for the following:

  • Allergy and asthma
  • Ambulatory surgery
  • Burns
  • Cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery
  • Craniofacial surgery
  • Cystic fibrosis, apnea, and other pulmonary disorders
  • Dentistry
  • Epilepsy, PKU, metabolic disorders, and sleep disorders
  • HIV-infected children and their families
  • Liver and kidney transplantation
  • Neonatal Intensive Care (Level IIIC with subspecialty surgical services and ECMO)
  • Neurofibromatosis
  • Pediatric Trauma (Level I Trauma Center)
  • Radiology and laboratory medicine
  • Renal dialysis
  • Sickle cell anemia

Our City

St. Christopher's Hospital for Children is centrally located in Philadelphia, the second-largest city on the east coast. It provides a wealth of activities to suit every taste. As the birthplace of our nation, it offers Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell among its historical attractions. As a cultural center, the city is home to the world-famous Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pennsylvania Ballet and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, as well as opera, theater, and science museums.

The city has major league sports teams for every season, world-class music venues, restaurants, bars and clubs, and excellent shopping.

The Philadelphia metropolitan area is also a major health and educational center offering many educational and employment opportunities for residents' family members. There are numerous colleges and universities offering outstanding bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs in medically related fields and in diverse programs outside of medicine.

Beautiful Fairmount Park provides miles of biking and jogging trails and relaxing shaded areas for picnicking along the Schuylkill River. Our hospital partner, The Philadelphia Zoo, is located within the park.