• Year of commencement: 2026

• Duration: 3 years in the Making 

• Qualifications obtained: Pediatric General Kinesiology Residency.

• Accreditations:

• • CONEAU 

• • Accreditation from the Ministry of Health

• Mission and training approach:
  The proposed residency program aims to provide the knowledge and practical experience necessary to work autonomously and efficiently in the pediatric clinical setting. It offers structured, progressive, and continuous training with a strong scientific foundation and a holistic perspective focused on the child and their family.
  

• General service profile:
  The Austral University Hospital has a Kinesiology Service and a well-established residency program, actively participating in the interdisciplinary care of patients across various medical specialties, many of which have their own established residency programs. This reality has motivated the initiative to incorporate a residency program specifically focused on pediatrics, given the growing demand for specialized care and the critical need for in-depth and systematic training in this area. 

• Guard duty per month (average): 7 in 1st year, 6 in 2nd year and 4 in 3rd year
   

• Post-guard rest: they retire after making the pass (9am)
   

• Average entry/exit hours: Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 17 p.m. In addition to on-call shifts.
   

• Internal rotations include general pediatric inpatient care, pediatric intensive care unit, neonatology, emergency department, and the early intervention and swallowing therapy outpatient clinic. External rotations to be confirmed starting in the second and third years. 
   

• International rotations: if the resident wishes, it can be requested from the second and third year onwards.
   

• Weekly teaching hours: 10 hours.
   

• Vacation days per year: 30 days.
   

• High complexity and volume of patients
  Opportunity to train in a leading, high-complexity hospital with a large flow of respiratory patients and those with congenital heart disease. 

• multidisciplinary approach
  Interdisciplinary work in conjunction with pediatricians, pulmonologists, cardiologists and intensivists, as well as interaction with their respective residencies (both academic and clinical). 

• Human, ethical and holistic development
  The Austral University Hospital provides a human, ethical and comprehensive education, oriented towards responsible care and centered on the patient and their family. 

• Active participation in conferences / workshops with presentation of scientific articles prepared by residents in the hospital.

• Possibility of taking intra-residency courses, including the Higher Course in Critical Pediatric Kinesiology (provided by the Argentine Society of Intensive Therapy) and the Critical Ultrasonography in Kinesiology course (POCUS, ASARUC). 

• The head of the service is Mr. Rubén Castaño, the adult sector is coordinated by Mr. Hernán Cesario, and the pediatric sector is coordinated by Ms. Carolina Franco.
   
• The pediatrics sector is organized into a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, with 2 staff kinesiologists, general hospitalization and neonatology. 

• Head of Service: Mr. Rubén Castaño.

• Unit/Section Heads: Mr. Rubén Castaño and Mr. Hernán Cesario.

• Chief Resident: Ana Amarante, PhD. 

• Teachers or staff involved:
  Carolina Franco, María Alcira Molina, Antonella Pozzo.

	Rubén Castaño, Licensed Physiotherapist. Head of the Kinesiology Service and Director of the Residency Program. Specialist in the management and administration of health institutions (Universidad Austral). Advanced Diploma in Swallowing.
	Hernán Cesario, Licensed Kinesiologist. Coordinator of the Kinesiology Service and Director of the Residency Program. Specialist in Kinesiology in Intensive Care (SATI). Director, Coordinator, and Professor of the Advanced Postgraduate Program in Mechanical Ventilation Skills (Argentine Association of Kinesiology). Course in Critical Ultrasound in Kinesiology (ASARUC).
	Carolina Franco, Licensed Physiotherapist. Coordinator of the Pediatric Kinesiology area. Specialist in kinesiology in pediatric intensive care (SATI). Postgraduate degree in Pediatric Mechanical Ventilation (SATI).
	Lic. María Alcira Molina. Staff of the Pediatric Critical Care Unit. Specialist in kinesiology in pediatric intensive care (SATI).
	Antonela Pozo, Licensed Physiotherapist. Staff of the Pediatric Critical Care Unit. Specialist in kinesiology in pediatric intensive care (SATI).

The graduate will have received intensive theoretical and practical clinical training with advanced theoretical foundations, evidence-based intervention criteria, and specific competencies in the pediatric cardiorespiratory area. Minimum procedures: 

• Selection of appropriate ventilatory strategies according to pathology. 
• Motor assessment and rehabilitation of the critically ill patient, as well as swallowing. 
• Respiratory sampling in patients under mechanical ventilation. 
• Tracheostomy cannula change and family training. 
• Assistance in procedures such as intubation, tracheostomy and prone positioning. 
• Advanced management of patients on ECMO, ON, VAFO, NIV, MVMI and CAFO. 

The program includes theoretical classes, practical workshops, as well as inter-hospital and international clinical case conferences. The courses offered during the residency are: 

• Critical Ultrasonography Course in Kinesiology (ASARUC) 

• Advanced Course in Pediatric Critical Kinesiology (SATI). 

• Postgraduate Course in Applied Research in Kinesiology. 

• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) AHA.

A cordial and collaborative relationship exists between the residents and the Kinesiology Service, fostering an excellent work environment. They share daily clinical experiences, as well as academic opportunities and exchange programs outside the institution. This environment strengthens teamwork and communication, and is reflected in the quality of care provided to patients. 

• María Alcira Molina: ma.alciramolina@gmail.com
  
• kinepedhua@gmail.com
  
• residenciakinesiohua@gmail.com