Families Involved in Resident/Student Teaching (FIRST), a curriculum designed to provide Pediatric Residents with an in-depth understanding of family-centered care, is now part of the Pediatric Residency Program at the University of Vermont. Residents matched with families over the course of their three years, will be skilled in those areas presently identified by practicing pediatricians as gaps in their training including care coordination, interdisciplinary training, family involvement, and advocating for family-centered policies and practices within health, education and community settings.

Over the course of three years, residents have the opportunity to enter the community with families and follow their children into the schools, physician's offices and community programs. The FIRST curriculum taught by Parent to Parent staff and community physicians, has the luxury of longitudinal three year family/resident relationships that allow residents to explore with families the concepts of resiliency, family strengths, siblings support, transition to adulthood and to learn from families the type of physician they find most beneficial. Residents learn first hand what services, therapies, educational programs, and subspecialist care are available to families, and what is truly helpful.

Along with the FIRST team, the residents reflect upon their family visits and relate the lessons they learn to experiences they have in the hospital. Residents have an opportunity to explore their own values in relation to the care they provide as pediatric residents in the hospital setting. v

Spring 2000 –
From Our Director (Cover Page)
Advocacy1: H629 Act etc
Advocacy2 Early Childhood Day
Vermont Family Voices
PIC news!
Readers' Forum
Books & Beyond- Biasco Fund
Our Calendar

See also FIRST and Medical Education Project Information