Department of Pediatrics

Clinical Sciences

Overview

The Department of Pediatrics is a core academic and clinical unit of the College of Medicine, dedicated to excellence in medical education, patient-centered care, and research in child health. The department delivers comprehensive training across the full spectrum of pediatric medicine, including neonatal, infant, child, and adolescent health.

The academic program is structured in accordance with modern competency-based medical education (CBME) principles, integrating foundational sciences with clinical application. Emphasis is placed on clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice, and professional development.

Students are trained through a combination of structured clinical rotations, bedside teaching, simulation-based learning, and supervised patient care within accredited teaching hospitals. The department also plays an active role in improving healthcare outcomes through interdisciplinary collaboration, continuing professional development, and research addressing priority pediatric health challenges at both local and regional levels.

With a strong commitment to academic excellence, ethical practice, and community engagement, the department aims to graduate highly competent physicians capable of meeting the evolving healthcare needs of children and adolescents.

The department is led by Dr. Mohaimen Abdul-Malik Abdul-Jabbar Alkaabi, Vice Dean for Administrative Affairs, whose leadership supports the advancement of clinical training and medical education.

Mission

To advance child health through excellence in medical education, patient-centered clinical care, and impactful research, while fostering professionalism, ethical values, and lifelong learning among future physicians.

Key Areas of Teaching & Expertise

• General Pediatrics and Ambulatory Care
• Neonatology and Perinatal Medicine
• Pediatric Emergency and Critical Care
• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Growth, Development, and Behavioral Pediatrics
• Pediatric Nutrition and Breastfeeding Medicine
• Pediatric Subspecialties (Respiratory, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology)
• Preventive Pediatrics and Immunization Programs
• Clinical Reasoning and Medical Education

Facilities & Clinical Training Environment

The Department of Pediatrics provides access to a comprehensive and modern clinical training environment, including:

• Pediatric inpatient wards and specialized outpatient clinics
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
• Pediatric Emergency and Acute Care Units
• Clinical Skills and Simulation Laboratory
• Smart lecture halls with advanced audiovisual systems
• Affiliated teaching hospitals supporting structured clinical rotations and clerkships

Academic Programs

Undergraduate Medical Program (MBChB)

The department contributes to the core undergraduate medical curriculum through a vertically integrated and competency-based approach.

Courses & Curriculum Structure

Undergraduate Teaching

• Introduction to Pediatrics (Foundations of Child Health)
• Growth and Development
• Neonatology and Perinatal Medicine
• General Pediatrics (System-Based Approach)
• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Pediatric Nutrition and Breastfeeding
• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Preventive Pediatrics and Immunization
• Clinical Skills and Bedside Teaching

Clinical Clerkship & Practical Training

• Structured Pediatric Rotations (Inpatient & Outpatient)
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Training
• Pediatric Emergency Unit Exposure
• Case-Based Discussions and Clinical Reasoning Sessions
• Workplace-Based Assessments (Mini-CEX, DOPS)
• OSCE-Based Clinical Skills Training

Role in Clinical Training

The Department of Pediatrics plays a central role in delivering structured clinical training during the clinical clerkship phase. Students gain supervised, hands-on experience across inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and neonatal care settings within affiliated teaching hospitals.

The department emphasizes:

• Development of clinical reasoning and decision-making
• Acquisition of practical clinical skills
• Professional behavior and patient-centered care

Training is delivered through bedside teaching, case-based discussions, and active participation in clinical teams, supported by continuous assessment and structured feedback.

Closing Statement

The Department of Pediatrics remains committed to shaping the next generation of physicians through excellence in education, innovation in clinical training, and dedication to improving child health outcomes in the community.