Research

Fellows at Children’s National Hospital are encouraged to pursue research aligned with their interests, supported by strong mentorship and institutional resources. Recent projects have explored pulmonary vascular disease, quality improvement in care, and interdisciplinary studies with programs like sleep medicine. Fellows regularly present at national conferences and contribute to peer-reviewed publications, gaining valuable experience in both clinical and translational research.

Explore Our Research Opportunities

Approximately 15 of the 36 months of training in the Pediatric Pulmonary Fellowship Training Program are dedicated to research, mostly divided between the second and third years. Opportunities for clinical and basic science research are available with Children’s National faculty, Pulmonary Medicine and other divisions as well as at the Children’s National Research Institute, including the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, George Washington University and the National Institutes of Health.

In addition, fellows will have access to the new JLABS @ Washington, D.C., a 32,000-square-foot facility located at the new Children’s National Research and Innovation Campus, which opened in 2020. This one-of-a-kind research and innovation hub will drive discoveries that save and improve the lives of children.

Fellows are provided support to prepare their research for presentation at national meetings and for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

American Thoracic Society (ATS) Abstract Scholarship. Awarded to Kaitlyn Kuntzman, DO, in May 2024 for abstract titled Impact of Natal and Childhood Metabolism Markers on Childhood Asthma Burden – A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Pediatric Pulmonary Training Directors Association (PEPTDA) Trainee Abstract Scholarship Award. Awarded to Nada Alabdulkarim, MD, in May 2025 for abstract titled Impact of Inhaled Tobramycin on Healthcare Utilization and Morbidity in Non-CF Pediatric Tracheostomy Dependent Patients with Pseudomonas Infections.

American Thoracic Society (ATS) Pediatric Clinician Educator Award. Awarded to Iman Sami, MD, program director, in May 2026. This award represents one of the highest distinctions for pediatric educational leadership in the field. It recognizes individuals for outstanding and innovative clinical care and excellence in teaching.

Advanced Degrees and Certificates

Advanced degrees and certificates may be pursued through our affiliation with the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Some of our fellows have pursued Master of Public Health degrees at the Milken Institute School of Public Health and coursework as a part of their academic experience. Additionally, George Washington is home to the Master Teacher Leadership Development Program, a year-long certificate program for medical educators.

Pulmonary fellows can also take two-week electives in the following courses:

Global Health

The course is organized around issues central to global health topics and principles, and includes a dynamic line-up of presentations and speakers.

Explore global child health course

Medical Education

Residents participating in the Medical Education Pathway will be able to apply core principles of curriculum design, evaluation of learner performance, program evaluation and educational scholarship.

Learn more about the medical education pathway

Health Policy

The Policy, Equity and Advocacy for Kids (PEAK) Pathway consists of a variety of optional activities aimed at building residents’ skill and understanding around public policy and advocacy, and planning for a career that incorporates public policy and advocacy.

Discover more about PEAK Pathway

Sleep Medicine Fellowship

Children’s National Hospital offers an ACGME-accredited 12-month Sleep Medicine Clinical Fellowship program. The Sleep Medicine Fellowship is a collaboration between Children’s National, Veterans Affairs (VA) and George Washington University (GWU).

Faculty and Staff

Meet the dedicated faculty and staff who are committed to mentoring, inspiring and supporting our pulmonary fellows every step of the way.

Meet faculty and staff