Akron Children’s pediatric residency program celebrates 100% board pass rate

Akron Children’s Pediatric Residency Program’s graduating residents celebrate a major milestone: a 100% board pass rate, exceeding the national average.

Achieving board certification is one of the most important milestones in a pediatrician’s training. This year, every graduating resident in Akron Children’s Pediatric Residency Program reached that goal.

With a 100% board pass rate, the program exceeded the national average and demonstrated the strength of its training model, academic support and commitment to preparing residents for both exams and real-world pediatric care.

“This is a great accomplishment,” said Dr. Sabrina Ben-Zion, interim program director of the Pediatric Residency Program. “It shows that we’ve prepared our residents well for clinical care. Being a board-certified pediatrician means meeting rigorous standards beyond a basic medical license and demonstrating specialized expertise in caring for infants, children and adolescents.”

A culture of preparation

While the result is impressive, it didn’t happen by chance. Akron Children’s residency program places a strong academic focus on board preparation. An approach that Dr. Ben-Zion says is clearly paying off.

Residents are encouraged to view board preparation as a marathon, not a sprint, emphasizing consistent studying and regular engagement with content throughout training. One key support is a quarterly test-question requirement, with performance benchmarks tailored to each level of training. This ensures residents are continually practicing questions, identifying knowledge gaps and reinforcing learning over time.

“We do many things to support residents academically,” said Dr. Ben-Zion, “but consistency – regular reading, studying and self-assessment – is probably the biggest factor in success.”

Individualized support every step of the way

Academic success is closely monitored through a structured advising system. Each resident is paired with an academic advisor who meets with them quarterly to review progress across multiple areas, including standardized test preparation. In addition, the program director meets with every resident twice a year to ensure they remain on track.

“These touchpoints allow us to identify challenges early and provide support before anyone falls behind,” Dr. Ben-Zion said.

Residents are encouraged to view board preparation as a marathon, not a sprint, emphasizing consistent studying and regular engagement with content throughout training. One key support is a quarterly test-question requirement, with performance benchmarks tailored to each level of training.

Preparing residents for boards – and beyond

While board success is important, Dr. Ben-Zion emphasizes that it’s not the program’s only goal.

“Our mission is to graduate competent and compassionate pediatricians who provide excellent care to children,” she said. “The patient volume and wide range of pathology our residents see at Akron Children’s gives them outstanding preparation for real-world practice.”

That preparation is further strengthened by Akron Children’s community-based training model, particularly its continuity clinic experience. According to Dr. Ben-Zion, this approach offers residents a more authentic view of general pediatric practice than traditional resident-based clinics at large academic centers.

“It models the life and practice of a general pediatrician exceptionally well,” she said.

Attracting and developing top talent

The residency program’s 100% board pass rate, combined with its 2025 100% match rate, reflects its ability to attract, develop and retain high-caliber residents.

“Medical students are looking for programs that set them up for future success – whether that’s fellowship training or becoming a confident general pediatrician,” Dr. Ben-Zion said. “Strong board performance and match success make our program particularly attractive.”

For Dr. Ben-Zion, this milestone is both a point of pride and a source of optimism.

“This achievement makes me incredibly proud of our residents and faculty,” she said. “It reinforces my confidence in the future of graduate medical education at Akron Children’s.”

Her message to prospective residents is simple: “This is an amazing place to train. You’ll be well prepared for whatever your next steps are,” she said. “You may have a different training experience elsewhere – but likely not a better one.”