Pediatric Residency Program - Blank Children's Hospital
Message from the Program Director
Welcome to the Blank Children’s Hospital Pediatric Residency Program webpage! I am excited to be able to share what makes this program unique and a wonderful place to train. Our program was founded in 1945 and has been training pediatric residents continuously since. It is my privilege to have been part of this program since I began my own residency training here in 2015 and became part of program administration in 2022.
The program at Blank offers the caliber and opportunities of an academic program in a community-based setting. With 19 pediatric subspecialties housed on campus without the presence of fellows and a robust resident-run continuity clinic, a hands-on and comprehensive education is experienced by all our residents. Key acute care experiences include a Level IIIB NICU, PICU, inpatient oncology unit, and the only Pediatric Emergency Room in the state.
Our residents come to us from all over the world, bringing together an eclectic range of experiences, knowledge, and perspectives that are all invaluable to our patients. After graduating, just over 50% of our residents go into fellowship, 40% into general pediatrics, and 10% into hospital medicine.
Our program focuses on developing meaningful and supportive relationships among faculty and residents. We strive to know our staff both personally and professionally, and work hard to celebrate our team for their accomplishments in and out of medicine. We believe that establishing an inclusive environment in which our residents feel known, seen, and heard is of paramount importance in their path to becoming exceptional pediatricians.
I am proud to call Blank home, and I hope you consider making this your home for your three years of Pediatric Residency. Please reach out to us if you would like more information or to schedule a visit!
Dr. Kolb, DO
Program Director
About Our Program
The Pediatric Residency Program in Des Moines, Iowa is fully accredited by the ACGME and offers seven categorical positions each year. The program is a primary training ground for general pediatricians, as well as those wishing to obtain a strong general pediatric foundation prior to pursuing a fellowship.
Our Pediatric Residency Program offers a strong research component at UnityPoint Health - Iowa Methodist Medical Center and is also affiliated with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The program provides residents with the opportunity to develop clinical skills in an environment where both common and unique medical disorders are seen. As part of the residency program, leaders in pediatric education from throughout the United States visit Blank Children's to conduct conferences and teaching rounds for the staff.
A Hospital Just for Kids, Perfect for Learning
Blank Children's Hospital is large enough to offer a diverse patient population and a variety of sub-specialties, but small enough that all pediatric residents get to know faculty within a short time of joining the program. There are no fellowship trainees at Blank Children's, so residents receive a lot of autonomy and are responsible for managing their own patients. Additionally, residents get exposure to many procedural opportunities.
Hear From Our Pediatric Residents
Key Faculty
Current Residents
Curriculum
Elective time is made available for the residents to explore additional training opportunities in pediatrics. Residents can concentrate on specific areas of interest. All elective opportunities are either located on-campus or nearby in the Des Moines Metro.
| Administration | Infectious Diseases |
| Adolescent Medicine** | Hospitalist Elective |
| Allergy/Immunology | Nephrology |
| Anesthesia | Neurology* |
| Bioethics | Pediatric Surgery |
| Cardiology | Pediatric Opthalmology |
| Child Abuse* | Pediatric Orthopedics |
| Child Psychiatry | Pediatric Otolaryngology |
| Dermatology | Pediatric Rehabilitation medicine |
| Developmental Medicine** | Public Health |
| Endocrinology* | Radiology |
| Gastroenterology* | Research |
| Hematology/Oncology* | Sports Medicine |
| Hospice/Palliative Care |
*ACGME "Elective," required rotation at Blank Children's Hospital
**ACGME required rotation, can be completed an additional time if desired
Noon Conferences
Resident noon conferences are scheduled to cover specific topics each year. These noon conferences include didactic presentations in a variety of sub-specialty areas, faculty board study presentations, visual diagnosis presentations, and residents as teachers' series. Residents present the following conferences throughout their training:
- Noon Report (Case Conference) - PL-1, 2 & 3
- Journal Club - PL-2 & 3
- Ethics - PL-2
- Morbidity and Mortality - PL-3
- Senior Grand Rounds - PL-3
- Annual Quality Improvement Project Presentation - PL-1, 2 & 3
- Resident-run Board Study (volunteer basis)
Academic Half-Day
Occur once a month from 12-3 p.m. One topic is covered from the viewpoint of three different sub-specialties.
Grand Rounds
Grand Rounds occur on Thursday's at 12:15 p.m. and are attended by faculty, students, residents, nurses and community-based pediatricians.
Stipends and Benefits
2026 – 2027 Salary
PGY1 - $70,367
PGY2 - $71,667
PGY3 - $73,623
Paid bi-weekly (26 pay periods/year)
Application Process
Applications are only accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS®), a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Our selection process is based upon multiple factors, including general academic performance, clinical performance, letters of recommendation, personal statements, and personal qualities and achievements.
Eligibility
- Passing scores on USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 or COMLEX Step 1 and Step 2
- A minimum of three letters of recommendation
- Dean's Letter
- Medical School Transcript
- Personal Statement justifying why you would be a good candidate for the Blank Children's Pediatric Residency Program
- Medical School graduation date within the last five years
- We do not require a "Chairman's Letter"
- UnityPoint Health sponsors the J1 visa
- Previous clinical experience in the United States is strongly preferred
Apply for the Pediatric Residency Program
Applications for our program are only accepted through the Electronic Application Service (ERAS®), a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Our Graduates
Graduates from the Pediatric Residency Program at Blank Children's Hospital have consistently maintained a high pass rate on the American Board of Pediatrics Certifying Exam. Approximately one third of our graduates continue their training in a fellowship program. Our residents who have sought out fellowships have obtained positions in excellent, competitive programs.
Recent Graduating Classes
Contact Us
You have the opportunity to grow in a program with a strong academic center, a pleasant and flexible working environment, and a diverse patient population. If you have any questions about our program, pleact contact the program coordinator at Cristina.Moser@unitypoint.org.
Graduate Medical Education
UnityPoint Health – Des Moines
1415 Woodland Ave, Suite 140
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
(515) 241-4497