On Fridays, noon conference is replaced with social lunch in the resident lounge. Lunch is provided from a local restaurant and changes each week. Spouses, children and significant others are invited to join once per month for Social Plus Lunch! Residents spend the hour socializing with one another and their families. This is one of our residents favorite activities.

Our social committee plans social events for all the residents to enjoy regularly throughout the year. It is usually scheduled at one of the local Birmingham ‘hot-spots’ for some food, drinks, and laughs. Sometimes it’s pizza and beer - other times it’s bowling or cooking out at the park.  We're always open to suggestions and it's a great way to check out new places in Birmingham you might not have found otherwise!

To start off the recruiting season (and have a little fun), the UAB Pediatric Residency sponsors a skit and costume contest every year at Halloween. The skits are hilarious, the faculty and administration hand out prizes (from days off of jeopardy call to the Program Director's covering a night in the PICU- the competition is fierce)!

The Pediatric Residency Holiday Party is held every year for residents and their significant others at a large event space in Birmingham. Each class shows up in their holiday best, enjoy a delicious catered meal, and dance the night away in celebration of another year gone by with our co-residents who feel more like family. “Santa” comes early every year to leave behind gifts for the children of residents to enjoy when their parents return home. Faculty and fellows cover the hospital until the following morning so the entire program can celebrate the holiday season together!

Each upper-level class has a day-long retreat each year. The directors check in with each class at the beginning of the day and then they are sent off to just hang out and catch up as a class. Every class plans its own – in the past they have done everything from skiing on the lake to spending a day at Oak Mountain State Park.

For intern retreat, we load up and take off to Children's Harbor for an overnight trip of fun, fun, fun. During intern retreat, you will get to know your class and create memories that will stay with you throughout residency. From the ropes course to late night games – this is the weekend where you really start feeling like a family.

At least once a year, we cheer on the Birmingham Barons, the local AA farm team for the Chicago White Sox. The new Regions Park opened its doors for the 2013 baseball season, so now the Barons play just blocks away from Children’s! In addition to the residency-sponsored Barons Night, you can find a group of residents on the third base line on Thirsty Thursdays throughout the season.

Traditionally every year, each residency class will form a kickball team to play alongside a local recreational kickball league. Anyone is welcome to join the team regardless of skill levels. Games are played on Wednesday or Thursday nights either in the fall or spring, with everyone who participates having an excellent time!