Pediatric Surgery Fellowship

Fellowship training takes place at the main campus at Children’s National Hospital. Located in Washington, D.C., the hospital provides care for regional as well as international patients and offers fellows exposure to the full range of pediatric surgical disease and its complexity. The Division of General and Thoracic Surgery performs over 3,500 cases annually offering the trainee a robust clinical experience, particularly in advanced minimally invasive techniques. Graduating fellows finish with an average of 1200 cases encompassing all pediatric surgery index categories as well as innovative techniques.

Together the senior and junior fellows lead a busy pediatric surgical team. The pediatric surgical service consists of 4^th and 2nd-year general surgical residents, nurse practitioners and medical students. The average daily census is 30-40 patients, a significant portion comprised of neonatal patients. Fellows are encouraged and supported to develop autonomy and direct care. An attending surgeon rounds with the team daily to provide appropriate supervision while encouraging independent decision making. The successful fellow takes ownership of the service, facilitates communication and develops effective working relationships to provide compassionate care for children and families.

Fellows rotate on the pediatric surgical service as a continuous block with the exception of a two-week required NICU elective. Additional electives in ENT, Urology and Cardiac Surgery can be arranged based on the fellow’s interest and needs. Surgical education is also enhanced by exposure to multidisciplinary, clinical programs that have been developed within the institution and include:

• Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Program – MBSAQIP accredited
• Trauma and Burn Surgery Program – ACS verified
• Fetal Medicine Institute
• Surgical Oncology
• Vascular Anomalies Clinic
• Thoracic and Foregut Program
• Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery
• Chest Wall Defects Program

Fellows attend outpatient clinics an average of one half-day per week. A comprehensive conference series supplements the fellows’ educational experience. The fellows’ weekly conference follows an organized schedule incorporating the PedSCORE curriculum topics and advanced topics. Additional conferences include Morbidity and Mortality Conference, NICU/Surgery Combined Conference, Pathology/Radiology/Surgery Combined Conference and Tumor Board.

In addition to receiving a competitive salary and full benefits, fellows are funded to attend national conferences. The first year fellow routinely attends a colorectal conference and the APSA meeting. The second year fellow typically attends the surgical oncology course and the AAP surgical section meeting. Fellows are also encouraged to participate in research activities and are funded to present their work at national meetings. Secretarial support is also available to the fellows to assist with licensure applications, reimbursement forms and clerical duties related to patient care.