Life at CHoR
Life at CHoR
For those who believe that every child has a right to wellness, Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU combines award-winning research, education and clinical care with an uncanny understanding of what makes kids tick. Our team is a family. From our nurses and child life specialists to our students and residents - we all work together to give every child in our growing community a chance to heal, recover and celebrate their super powers.
Whether a family is local and lives around the corner, or drives 900 miles for life-changing surgery during a pandemic, we work together to make sure CHoR feels like home for our families and our team.
Being at CHoR means endless opportunities for growth, the ability to forge life-long friendships and to help children live their best lives.
Each PGY-1 is assigned a resident mentor who helps facilitate a smooth transition into an internship. The PGY-1s are also assigned a faculty mentor after arrival and meet with them twice a year.
Camaraderie and teamwork are important qualities of our resident program and foster an environment that promotes confidence and personal growth. The friendships forged at work continue to develop outside the hospital. Social activities organized by the residents include family picnics, ice-skating parties, nature outings, intramural sports teams and visiting Paramount's King's Dominion and Busch Gardens — two nearby theme parks.
- Early each year, the PGY-1 team-building retreat promotes trust among new interns with a half-day ropes course.
- The PGY-1s are provided with a full-day transitional seminar, which gives the resident new insight on how to teach, how to provide and receive effective feedback, how to run a team, how to apply for a fellowship and how to look for a job. The PGY-1 seminar also helps prepare residents for the leadership and teaching responsibilities of their PGY-2 year, as well as work-life balance and coping with the loss of a patient.
- The PGY-2s are provided with a full-day transitional seminar on contract negotiations, writing curriculum vitaes, conducting job searches and managing finances. The highlight of the retreat is a physician panel made up of multiple pediatric specialists who provide the residents with insight into alternate career options.
- The year-end PGY-3 retreat is a fun day for graduating residents to relax and enjoy each other's company prior to graduation.
Striving for excellence: CHoR awards and recognition
At CHoR we strive for excellence in everything we do. We're honored to earn awards and certifications, not for the shiny badges but for the kids and families we serve who inspire us to keep climbing higher.
- 2020-2021 US News and World Report best children's hospitals
- Level 1 pediatric trauma center as designated by the American College of Surgeons and VA Department of Health
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-accredited CF Care Center
- American Diabetes Association designated diabetes education program
- Magnet Recognition Program awarded by the American Nurses' Credentialing Center (as part of VCU Health)
- Baby-Friendly designation by the World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund (as part of VCU Health)
As part of VCU Health, we are committed to ensuring access to care for all children, training future pediatric caregivers and making new discoveries that improve understanding and treatment of childhood diseases.
Diversity, equity and inclusion
As team members at an urban, academic medical center, we have chosen to serve those who are most vulnerable, most affected by a long history of social injustice. We are a diverse team, and acknowledge many of us have experienced these injustices on an intimate and personal level as well.
It is critical as our region's leader in pediatric health care, that we stand as an action-oriented ally to help address the regional and national impacts of discrimination on our children. These injustices manifest themselves in every corner of basic human needs, affecting everything from equal access to healthy food, safe housing, and preventive health care - to equity in health outcomes and unmet mental health needs.
Our leadership team recognizes words aren't enough. We must channel our emotions and our efforts to bring about long overdue, meaningful change for our patients, families and team members. Our diversity, equity and inclusion steering group includes team members, parents and community partners to help guide us towards meaningful action. Team members are encouraged to participate in DEI planning work and events.
Creating the next generation of docs for kids
Learn more about alumni Dr. Danny Avula's role in the health department and in our community.
Why choose CHoR?
Joining CHoR and VCU Health for your residency or fellowship is like joining a family. During your time here, we'll work together to ensure you receive hands-on, comprehensive experience in pediatrics - while finding work-life balance and making life-long friends and mentors.
Learn more about resident life, salary, benefits and the city we call home.
Our pediatric fellowships
As part of a major metropolitan medical center, the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU's Pediatric Fellowship programs provide high-quality advanced training in specialty areas of pediatric research and practice.