Pediatric Residency Program

Our Program

Welcome! The NY Health + Hospitals/Woodhull Pediatric Residency Program is an ACGME-accredited categorical pediatrics program with 30 positions and academic affiliations with New York University School of Medicine and SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University.

Our mission is to graduate highly qualified pediatricians who promote the health and well-being of children in the community, provide safe and high-quality care in underserved communities with limited resources and treat each patient with compassion, dignity and cultural sensitivity regardless of the ability to pay.

We offer a three-year path to achieve broad clinical competency in general pediatrics. Our program provides comprehensive training in primary care with exposure to a variety of clinical cases from our diverse community as well as elective and tertiary care experience at our academic affiliates. Our graduating residents enter outstanding fellowships and primary care positions throughout the country. The size of our program affords us the distinct opportunity to provide individualized attention to each resident and to help each resident maximize their potential.

Since 2008, NY Health and Hospitals/Woodhull has been affiliated with New York University (NYU) under an agreement with the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation. Attending physicians are employed by NYU Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSOM) and several have academic appointments as NYU faculty.

Woodhull is also affiliated with SUNY Downstate since 2012 and this affiliation gives our residents more options for exposure to patients in a tertiary care setting

We believe in fostering an educational environment that encourages autonomy and independent decision-making with appropriate supervision and mentoring by attending staff. We challenge our residents and expect them to be active learners and participate fully in their education.

We are confident that by the end of your training you would have acquired the knowledge and skills necessary to be a successful general pediatrician.

Curriculum

The academic year is divided into 13 four-week cycles, including 4 weeks of vacation.

Continuity Clinic

The primary care experience is a major component of the residency-training program. Residents spend half a day per week in the clinic and are paired with a general pediatrician as a preceptor for all three years of the residency. This continuity facilitates an individualized educational experience and relationship building. Faculty and residents work side-by-side, creating an intimate learning environment. NY Health +Hospitals/Woodhull participates in Patient Centered Medical Home.

Outpatient/ Ambulatory Department

The primary care experience is a major component of the residency-training program. Residents spend half a day per week in the clinic and are paired with a general pediatrician as a preceptor for all three years of the residency. This continuity facilitates an individualized educational experience and relationship building. Faculty and residents work side-by-side, creating an intimate learning environment. NY Health +Hospitals/Woodhull participates in Patient Centered Medical Home.

Subspecialty Rotations/ Electives

Since exposure to certain subspecialties is essential to pediatric practice, residents rotate through several required electives: Adolescent Medicine, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Hematology/ Oncology, Developmental and Behavioral. Residents may choose other rotations to complement their own interests and needs (individualized learning curriculum). In all rotations, residents work under the close supervision of attending pediatric subspecialists.

Emergency Medicine Services

The diversity of patients and acuity of illness during the emergency medicine rotation offer residents a rich and varied experience. Under the continuous supervision of attending physicians, residents learn to evaluate, stabilize, and manage children with problems ranging from minor to critical. As a consequence of the large volume of patients, residents will see unusual diseases as well as learn the many different ways in which common diseases can present. The emphasis is on learning from direct clinical experience, in concert with seminars and hands-on workshops to hone procedural skills.

Inpatient Services

The general inpatient unit is a service where interns are the primary providers of care. Senior residents provide supervision and education and gain experience in leadership and decision-making, all under the supervision of attending physicians.

The level II NICU, is a busy multi-disciplinary service staffed by board certified neonatologists, physician assistants and residents. Residents attend deliveries, manage critically-ill neonates and staff the Well-Baby Nursery, all under the close supervision of board-certified neonatologists.

In addition, residents have 2 blocks of PICU at our affiliate institutions where they learn to evaluate and manage critically ill patients under the supervision of pediatric intensivists.
On all inpatient services, residents learn from direct patient contact, daily attending rounds and case discussion.

Academics

• Morning report: Monday to Friday consisting of case-based discussion, team-based teaching, OSCE or radiology conference
• Grand rounds: Friday mornings 2-3 times each month.
• Noon lectures: Mondays to Thursdays. An attending or resident (supervised by attendings) give a presentation on a topic from the content area assigned for the block..

Research

All residents are required to participate in a Quality Improvement (QI) project and encouraged to be involved in a research project.

In addition to the annual Woodhull Research Day to highlight the scholarly projects of our trainees, our residents have the opportunity to present every year at local and regional meetings such as the Residents’ Night of the Brooklyn Pediatric Society. Our residents also present posters at national meetings including The American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference Exhibition, The Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) meeting, Society of Hospital Physicians and other subspecialty meetings.

Simulation

Our residents participate in simulation in pediatric code and airway management protocols and other acute care scenarios at Woodhull. They also attend simulation sessions at the Simulation Center (IMSAL) which serves the entire healthcare system of NY Health and Hospitals. Residents also learn point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) skills during their rotations in the Emergency Department.

Wellness

Program wellness events take place monthly and include monthly birthday celebrations, games, yoga etc. The program also provides coffee, water and snacks for residents in the conference room.

Yearly Schedule

PGY1: The intern is the primary physician for his/her patient and is the interface between the patient, the family and the medical team. The intern year is one of intense clinical exposure and education, providing a solid foundation of knowledge and practical expertise. Increasing responsibility for patient care is assumed as the intern gains experience in an atmosphere of support and guidance. The in-depth exposure to a diverse range of clinical problems provides the ground work for clinical knowledge which will in the succeeding years of training lead to the development of an efficient, competent and humane physician.

PGY2: The second-year resident consolidates skills acquired during the intern year and begins to assume supervisory role, overseeing and coordinating patient care on the inpatient services and teaching medical students and interns.  During subspecialty rotations, second year residents increase their knowledge regarding disorders of specific organ systems that commonly generate referrals to subspecialists.

PGY3: Residents in the third year of training assume leadership role and under the supervision of an attending, take full responsibility for patient care management and teaching of junior house staff and medical students. Senior residents function with greater autonomy and demonstrate the ability to assess complicated patients in a thoughtful and comprehensive fashion.

Resident Life

What’s Life like in Brooklyn?

Amazing! NY Health and Hospital/ Woodhull is at the intersection of the unique and diverse neighborhoods of Bushwick, Bedford Stuyvesant and Williamsburg with many options for food, culture and sights to visit.

From the Coney Island beach and amusement park to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and the Brooklyn Museum, the borough of Brooklyn and its surrounding areas is home to activities for all interests.
Manhattan is a short train ride away for many of the most popular attractions from skyscrapers to Broadway and museums.

Public transportation makes it easy to get around the city or getting to one of several international airports for travel. Our hospital is adjacent to the Flushing station on the J and M subways lines, making commuting to and from work easy.

Because of the relatively small size of our program, our residents get to know each other quite well and enjoy spending some of their free time exploring New York. They develop relationships which continue after their residency training.

CIR (Committee of Interns and Residents/Service Employees International Union)

All residents are part of CIR house staff union, and provide additional resources for education, medical, and professional needs. Additional information regarding benefits can be found via their website, https://www.cirseiu.org/woodhull-hospital/.

Leadership

Leslie Hayes, M.D. FAAP
Chief, Department of Pediatrics
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull – NYU Affiliate
hayes15@nychhc.org

Dr. Leslie A. Hayes became the Chief of the Department of Pediatrics at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull-NYU Affiliate in March of 2026. A dedicated physician and community leader, she oversees ambulatory, inpatient, and neonatal services while driving quality improvement and supporting the residency program’s educational mission.

Dr. Hayes earned her medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, completed her pediatric residency at the Children’s National Medical Center and completed fellowship training in Adolescent Medicine at Children’s Hospital of Newark (UMDNJ). She was a 2019 inaugural Faculty Scholar in Health Equity at Weill Cornell Medicine/Cornell Center of Health Equity and the Diversity Center of Excellence.

Before taking leadership at Woodhull, Dr. Hayes served as the Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Family and Child Health at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Her extensive leadership history also includes serving as Chief of the Division of Adolescent Medicine at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and President of the Brooklyn Pediatric Society. In addition to her clinical oversight of ambulatory, inpatient, and neonatal services at Woodhull, Dr. Hayes is heavily invested in health policy, public advocacy, medical education, and quality metrics. She is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of pediatricians in a supportive, equity-driven environment.

Betty Ansong-Assoku, MD
Program Director, Pediatrics
Attending, Pediatric Ambulatory Practice
Attending, Hospitalist Service
Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman SOM
Betty.Ansong-Assoku@nychhc.org

Dr. Betty Ansong-Assoku is the Program Director of the Pediatric Residency Program and works as an attending in the Ambulatory Practice as well as the Pediatrics Inpatient Unit. Dr. Ansong-Assoku is a graduate of the University of Ghana Medical School. She completed her residency training at Woodhull Medical Center and served as a chief resident. Dr. Ansong-Assoku was the Associate Program Director at Woodhull Medical Center prior to becoming the Program Director. In addition to her administrative and clinical work, Dr. Ansong-Assoku works with residents on their research and quality improvement projects. She is passionate about educating the next generation of physician and is a candidate for the Masters of Health Professions Education from NYU and Maastricht University. Dr. Ansong-Assoku is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the Association of Pediatric Program Directors.

Marsha Medows, MD
Associate Program Director
Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Service
Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman SOM
Marsha.Medows@nychhc.org

Dr. Marsha Medows is the Director of Pediatric Hospitalist service and the Associate Program Director of the Pediatric Residency Program at Woodhull Medical Center. Dr. Medows received her medical degree from the University of Missouri and completed her residency training at Baylor College of Medicine. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Medows is actively involved with residents on their research and quality improvements projects. She also coordinates pediatric simulations on the inpatient unit. Dr. Medows is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Pediatric Hospital Medicine and a member of the Association of Pediatric Program Directors.

Maria Rodriguez
Program Coordinator
Maria.Rodriguez@nychhc.org

Maria has over 20 years in the department of Pediatrics as the residency Coordinator.  She is a native New Yorker born and raised in the borough of Brooklyn.  The Pediatric staff is her second family.  “I have seen over 230 pediatric residency graduate and I can tell you at least one quality about each one of them. Some of our Pediatric faculty were residents in our program and we share many fond memories over the years.  It has been a great experience and pleasure observing my residents grow from 1^st year to 3^rd year; I see them as my work “children”.  I am the first point of contact and usually the last so I get to know our residents very well.  I am a member of the Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC) and member of the APPD.

The hospital has many community events that staff can partake and interact with patients who are served by our institution.  I have lived in the community for several years and my children were patients in the pediatric clinic and adolescent clinic. My first grandchild was born at Woodhull and he was also a pediatric patient.  The institution has many wellness activities for all staff members.  I take great pride to be part of the Woodhull family and especially the Department of Pediatrics.”

Applying to the Program

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in our residency program. We accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS) and residents are currently selected outside the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) ie. pre-match offers.

A listing of our program’s information can be viewed on the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA) online. To access the information, go to:
www.ama-assn.org/go/freida

Click on Residency/Fellowship Training Program Search

Put in our 10-digit program ID number: 3203532387

Applications are made to the program exclusively through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) of the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Please do not send any application material directly to the program.

Candidates applying for PGY1 positions, must submit the following materials: 

• Curriculum vitae
• Personal statement
• Medical school transcript
• Dean’s letter
• Three letters of recommendation (preferably, at least one in Pediatrics)
• Results of Step 1 and 2 of the United States Medical Licensure Examination (USMLE) through ERAS

Interviews

• Applications are reviewed between September and October and thereafter as needed on an ongoing basis
• Once applications have been reviewed, candidates will be invited for interviews.
• Our interview season typically runs from November – January.
• We do not employ a “cut off” score for performance on USMLE examinations, but preference is given to candidates who demonstrate a high level of achievement on standardized tests of the basic and clinical sciences
• It is preferable to have passed Step 1 and 2 at the first attempt and passed Step 3 prior to starting residency
• Preference is given to candidates who have graduated medical school in the last 5 years and have been employed within the last 2 years.
• Observership and externships are not considered employment.

Because of the large number of applications received each year via ERAS, not all qualified candidates can be accommodated with interviews and we are also unable to provide status updates on individual applications. We ask for your understanding in this regard. 

Additional Info for applicants from medical schools outside the U.S.

For International Medical Graduates (IMGs), the program accepts applications from highly qualified, ECFMG certified candidates who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States under the J-1 visitor exchange program.

Please see table below for further details on J1 visas.

Please note ECFMG certification is required for an IMG’s application to be considered. Prior clinical experience in the US is not required.

The Department of Pediatrics does not offer externships or observerships

NYC Health and Hospitals is an equal opportunity employer.