Children's Hospital Los Angeles Program

The Clinical Informatics Fellowship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is an ACGME-accredited program designed for 24 months of in-depth training in clinical informatics across various clinical disciplines and care environments. The program is hosted by the Department of Pediatrics, with administration support from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. This program enables fellows to maintain their clinical skills by allowing them to spend up to 20% of their time in their primary specialties while gaining insights into diverse medical specialties, including inpatient, outpatient, and diagnostic services such as radiology and pathology 1.

In the first year, fellows develop foundational knowledge and exposure to the interplay between healthcare systems and outcomes. During the second year, the fellows engage in a scholarly project applying their clinical informatics skills—aiming not only for academic publication but also for future professional work in this growing field 1.

Program Details

Accreditation and Eligibility

The fellowship is fully accredited by the ACGME and accepts two fellows each year. Applicants must have completed a primary residency program and be eligible for a California medical license, with citizenship options extending to U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, or those eligible for a visa 1.

Salary and Benefits

For the 2024-2025 academic year, fellows can anticipate the following minimum salaries, depending on their postgraduate year:

• Post Graduate Year 4: $84,073.60
• Post Graduate Year 5: $87,401.60
• Post Graduate Year 6: $90,667.20
• Post Graduate Year 7: $93,828.80
• Post Graduate Year 8: $96,948.80

Additionally, fellows receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, vision, and dental insurance, 14 weekdays of paid vacation, 6 protected personal days, an educational stipend, monthly meal stipend, 401(k) matching, and an annual housing stipend 1.

Application Requirements

The application process involves submitting an ERAS application, a curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation (one preferably from the program director), a personal statement focused on clinical informatics, medical school transcripts, ECFMG Certification (for international graduates), a Medical Student Performance Evaluation, and USMLE or COMLEX scores 1.

Training Overview

Individualized Learning Plan

Each fellow establishes an individualized learning plan containing 2-3 goals, revisited twice a year with the program director. This bespoke approach allows for elective rotations tailored to the fellow's interests, ensuring advanced exposure within their chosen specialty 1.

Rotations and Competencies

Rotations are conducted at CHLA, where fellows gain core competencies essential for clinical informatics practice. Core rotations cover essential areas, including:

• Informatics Essentials Boot Camp
• Clinical Informatics: Acute and Ambulatory Care
• Clinical Decision Support
• Data Governance and Biomedical Informatics Research Project
• Health Information Exchange and Standards

Elective options further deepen the fellows' training in advanced areas like Cybersecurity and Clinical Bioinformatics with EHR Genomics 1.

Didactic Learning

The fellows engage in weekly didactic sessions focusing on topics relevant to the Clinical Informatics Board certification and specialized content. Participation in clinical informatics presentations, journal clubs, and exposure to external speakers remains a crucial part of their education 1.

Research Activities

Fellows must undertake peer-reviewed research or publication and present findings at professional meetings. A longitudinal research project, alongside multiple interdisciplinary team interactions, enables fellows to confront real-world clinical informatics challenges 1.

Team and Faculty

The fellowship program includes a dedicated faculty team, such as the fellowship program director and various subject matter experts, ensuring profound mentorship and guidance throughout the training 2.