Children's Hospital Los Angeles Program

The Pediatric Transplant Hepatology Fellowship Training Program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles is a comprehensive one-year clinical program specifically designed to meet the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirements. This fellowship enables trainees to become eligible for Board certification in Pediatric Transplant Hepatology. The curriculum incorporates extensive inpatient and outpatient clinical experiences along with didactic teaching, equipping trainees with the necessary skills to manage advanced liver diseases, address complex hepatology problems, and engage in clinical research activities related to hepatology 1.

Children's Hospital Los Angeles has established itself as a premier institution for liver transplants since its pediatric liver transplant program was launched in 1998. Affiliated with the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC), the program boasts a robust team comprising four dedicated transplant hepatologists, four pediatric liver transplant surgeons, and eleven pediatric gastroenterologists. With an annual average of 18 pediatric liver transplants performed and over 250 post-transplant patients actively monitored, the hospital is recognized as one of the largest pediatric liver transplant centers on the West Coast 1.

Training Structure

The fellowship program consists of a total of 12 months divided into distinct clinical experiences. Trainees are expected to spend six months on the inpatient Liver Transplant Service, focusing primarily on inpatient care, performing procedures, and educating residents. The additional six months are dedicated to clinical observational activities, which include experiences in interventional radiology, liver pathology, and liver imaging, in conjunction with involvement in clinical research projects. Furthermore, trainees maintain significant outpatient involvement in the Transplant Clinic and the Hepatology Continuity Clinic 1.

Research and Quality Improvement Initiatives

Research plays a pivotal role in the fellowship program, with opportunities for involvement in quality improvement projects such as modifications in immunosuppression and detailed analyses of graft and patient survival outcomes. As part of the ChiLDREN pediatric liver disease consortium, the program engages in NIH-sponsored clinical trials, allowing fellows insight into cutting-edge research initiatives 1.

Application and Requirements

The fellowship participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and accepts applications exclusively through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). The program does not impose a U.S. citizenship requirement, thus supporting International Medical Graduates (IMGs) seeking visa sponsorship for J-1 and H-1B visas 1. Furthermore, applicants are expected to have completed a three-year pediatric residency before entering the fellowship.

Compensation and Benefits

Fellow salaries are competitive, with a structured increase as fellows progress through the post-graduate years. For instance, the minimum salary at Post Graduate Year (PGY) 4 is $84,073.60, rising to $96,948.80 at PGY 8. Benefits associated with the fellowship include health and dental insurance, 14 days of paid vacation, six protected sick days, and a yearly educational stipend. Additionally, there is a monthly meal stipend and a 401(k) matching program 1.

Additional Training Opportunities

Children's Hospital Los Angeles offers several additional training opportunities in Gastroenterology, including specialized tracks for Advanced Training in Gastroenterology Nutrition and Advanced Training in Gastrointestinal Motility and Functional Disorders. This can provide fellows with further expertise relevant to pediatric liver care within the broader context of pediatric gastroenterology 1.