Innovation in residency education and evolving pediatric health needs.

The Initiative for Innovation in Pediatric Education (IIPE)1 is the next phase in a comprehensive reevaluation of pediatric residency education that began with the Residency Review and Redesign in Pediatrics (R3P) project.2 As the IIPE begins, it is worth reflecting on questions that arose repeatedly during the R3P project: Just what role does residency play in child health? Does it make a difference where one trains? Can residency improve later adherence to clinical guidelines? and Can residency modify the frequently steep learning curve of subsequent practice?