Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Program

The Clinical Informatics Fellowship Program at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) offers an extensive training opportunity for medical professionals interested in integrating technology with clinical practice. In partnership with the University of Pennsylvania Institute for Biomedical Informatics, the program provides a two-year fellowship where fellows engage in both didactic education and rotational training across various care settings.

Each year, three fellowship positions are awarded, allowing fellows to experience clinical informatics in diverse environments such as inpatient, ambulatory, and emergency care. Fellows work closely with distinguished faculty on essential projects that range from clinical decision support to data analytics and innovation, contributing significantly to their professional development in clinical informatics.

Fellowship Structure

The program comprises a combination of residency-style training and academic coursework. Fellows may earn either a Certificate in Biomedical Informatics or a Master’s degree in Biomedical Informatics. They also have the opportunity to undertake mentored research and scholarly activities, pivotal for developing future leaders in healthcare technology and informatics.

Curriculum and Rotations

The curriculum is designed to cover the core content set forth by the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) for the Clinical Informatics subspecialty. Rotations include:

• Clinical Informatics Inpatient Rotation
• Clinical Informatics Ambulatory Rotation
• Clinical Informatics Acute/ED Rotation
• Clinical Research Informatics Rotation
• Clinical Informatics Leadership Rotation
• Clinical Decision Support Rotation
• Data Acquisition Rotation
• Cognitive Informatics Rotation

In addition to the core rotations, fellows can participate in elective rotations at the University of Pennsylvania for a more comprehensive learning experience in clinical informatics.

Didactic Training

Fellows will complete required coursework in the Graduate Certificate in Biomedical Informatics program, which includes classes such as:

• Introduction to Biomedical and Health Informatics
• Databases in Biomedical Research
• Data Science for Biomedical Informatics
• Implementation Science in Health and Health Care

This rigorous academic curriculum is supplemented by additional coursework at CHOP and other institutions focused on leadership, project management, and informatics.

Research and Innovation

Fellows will have the chance to actively engage in research projects and innovation initiatives that address real-world healthcare challenges. The program emphasizes the importance of scholarly activity and provides mentored opportunities to ensure that fellows can contribute meaningfully to the field of clinical informatics.

Application Process and Eligibility

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), which is open annually for review starting in July. The application process requires multiple materials:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Three letters of reference
• Dean's Letter (Medical School Performance Evaluation)
• One-page personal statement outlining interests and career goals
• Medical school transcript (Unofficial)
• Photograph
• USMLE Parts 1, 2, and score transcripts (or COMPLEX if applicable)
• ECFMG Certification for international medical graduates

It is important to note that the fellowship cannot accept applicants with J1 visas.

Diversity and Inclusion

CHOP values diversity and inclusion as essential components for effective patient care and workforce recruitment. The program aims to foster an inclusive environment that addresses healthcare disparities and enhances the quality of care provided to the community.

Competitiveness and Unique Aspects

The Clinical Informatics Fellowship at CHOP is recognized as a highly competitive program that welcomes applicants from all primary clinical specialties, including but not limited to pediatrics, internal medicine, and pathology. Program applicants should possess a solid understanding of clinical practice and a keen interest in the application of informatics to enhance healthcare delivery.

As part of the fellowship experience, fellows will benefit from the extensive faculty network at both CHOP and the University of Pennsylvania, characterized by leaders in biomedical informatics and clinical research.