Welcome future pediatricians!
I am very excited about your interest in our Pediatrics L.E.A.D. (Leaders Evaluating and Addressing Disparities) Program at Baylor College of Medicine. As LEAD residents, we complete most of our rotations at Texas Children’s Hospital, the largest children’s hospital in the world, in the city of Houston, Texas, one of the most diverse and largest cities in the country. This unique combination lends us daily opportunities to better care for the underserved, by helping patients navigate the healthcare system, building local partnerships and advocating for our patients at the bedside and in the community.
Each L.E.A.D. class includes four residents, for a total of 12 residents across all years. This small cohort fosters close relationships among residents and with faculty mentors, while still offering the advantages of training within the larger program at Texas Children’s Hospital.
The clinical rotations in the L.E.A.D. curriculum have significant overlap with the categorical program, with a focus on outpatient care when possible. Our continuity clinic serves as a medical home to a diverse patient population that are primarily insured by Medicaid. Beyond the clinical space, there are evening sessions and academic half days throughout the year that allow L.E.A.D. residents to learn from guest speakers, develop skills and participate in self-reflection.
L.E.A.D. residents have a dedicated month each year during which we come together as an entire cohort to work on becoming successful advocates for children in our community. In the first year, residents collaborate with a community organization to create a meaningful project. In the second year, residents build their advocacy skills by engaging in legislative initiatives. In the third year, residents focus on public health, exploring how environments and systems influence health outcomes.
While L.E.A.D. residents gain exposure to many aspects of primary care—including public health, legislative and media advocacy, and community partnerships—the curriculum is designed to support individual interests. This flexibility allows each resident to tailor their experience to their goals. L.E.A.D. alumni have gone on to apply their training in careers across both primary care and subspecialties.
I remember thinking the L.E.A.D. program was too good to be true when I was applying to residency, and it honestly has exceeded my expectations. The ability to have dedicated time to craft my advocacy skills and discover my passions for addressing health disparities all while getting world class clinical training has truly been the greatest gift of residency.
We look forward to meeting you and good luck during this application cycle!
Karen Pereira, M.D., MSPH
Pediatrics LEAD Chief Resident 2025-2026
