Children’s Mercy Hospital Program

The Adolescent Medicine Fellowship at Children's Mercy Kansas City is a comprehensive training program designed to develop physician-leaders in adolescent medicine. Recognized as an ACGME-accredited fellowship, it provides extensive clinical, educational, and research experiences for physicians trained in pediatrics, family medicine, or internal medicine. The overarching goal of the program is to prepare fellows to deliver exceptional patient care to adolescents and young adults, reinforced by research and academic engagement.

Curriculum

The academic curriculum is structured to include a wide range of didactic and experiential learning opportunities, essential for those aspiring to an academic career in adolescent medicine. The fellows participate in a robust academic morning each week, which includes various curricular components such as clinical foundations, research methods, and business operations relevant to adolescent healthcare management 1.

Clinical Foundations

Weekly didactic sessions encompass core adolescent medicine topics aligned with board content specifications. Staff, fellows, and subject matter experts contribute to the teaching and learning process, and as fellows progress, they assume greater responsibility in presenting topics and facilitating discussions during these sessions 2.

Clinical Experience

The fellowship offers a rich clinical training experience through diverse rotations that enhance the fellows' understanding of both acute and chronic adolescent health issues. In the first year, the focus is on acquiring foundational skills through participation in various clinical settings, including:

• Adolescent Specialty Clinic: Central to the fellowship, fellows spend significant time in this primary teaching service, addressing various adolescent health concerns including mood disorders and reproductive health issues.
• Eating Disorder Center: This rotation allows fellows to engage in comprehensive care for adolescents with eating disorders within a multidisciplinary team.
• Procedure Clinic: Fellows gain hands-on experience in contraceptive procedures, enabling them to perform these independently by the end of the rotation.

The second and third years build upon the experiences of the first, allowing fellows to refine their skills and explore a breadth of clinical topics ranging from juvenile justice and substance abuse to community-based medicine 3.

Research

Research is a significant component of the fellowship, with fellows expected to engage in scholarly activities throughout their training. During orientation, fellows participate in a comprehensive research orientation to familiarize themselves with administrative processes and available support systems for research initiatives. They are encouraged to undertake a research project that culminates in presentations at national meetings and local research days 4.

Unique Aspects

The program emphasizes well-being and support, evident in the structured diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and in initiatives such as the UIM Mix & Mingles, which foster a sense of community among traditionally underrepresented groups in medicine.

Visa Support

The fellowship program is accessible to international applicants, primarily sponsoring J-1 Visas for foreign medical graduates. There are provisions available for H-1B Visa sponsorship on a case-by-case basis. International candidates must maintain a valid ECFMG certification and have completed a U.S. residency program to be eligible 5.

Application Competitiveness and Requirements

As a competitive program, the fellowship typically attracts a robust applicant pool. Candidates are required to have successfully completed an ACGME-accredited residency in Pediatrics, Family Medicine, or Internal Medicine, and must have passed USMLE Step 3 prior to ranking. Specific eligibility criteria and detailed application materials are provided via the Electronic Residency Application Services (ERAS) system 6.

Salaries and Benefits

Fellows received competitive salaries, starting at $78,540.80 for PGY-4 and increasing each year. Benefits include an educational stipend, health and dental insurance, logging support, free parking, and a generous vacation policy. Additional wellness resources and access to research and educational specialists support the fellows' professional growth and personal well-being 7.