Children's National Hospital/George Washington University Program

Children’s National Hospital offers an ACGME-accredited 12-month Pediatric Sleep Medicine Fellowship, which is a collaborative program between Children’s National, the Veterans Affairs (VA) facility, and George Washington University (GWU). This unique fellowship is tailored to meet the board certification requirements in sleep medicine with a specialized focus, dedicating 75% of the fellow's time to pediatric sleep medicine and 25% to adult sleep medicine. The program integrates comprehensive clinical experiences across diverse clinical settings, offering fellows a robust training environment.

Fellows in the Pediatric Sleep Medicine Fellowship rotate through outpatient clinics at Children’s National Hospital. They also gain significant exposure to adult sleep medicine at the nearby Washington VA Medical Center, a facility recognized as a major teaching site for GWU. This multidisciplinary approach allows fellows to engage with a range of sleep disorders across different age groups, enhancing their clinical acumen and expertise in sleep medicine.

Faculty and Staff

The program is supported by a dedicated faculty that includes six board-certified pediatric sleep specialists, two board-certified adult sleep specialists, and two Ph.D. sleep psychologists specializing in both pediatric and adult sleep disorders. In addition, the multidisciplinary team encompasses faculty from various disciplines, including pulmonology, general pediatrics, adult neurology, child neurology, and epilepsy. This diverse faculty ensures comprehensive supervision and a wide range of expertise for fellows throughout their training.

Application Process

The Sleep Medicine Fellowship program participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Prospective applicants are required to submit their applications online through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). The program is currently accepting applications, and applicants should familiarize themselves with specific timelines and details related to application submission and matching processes.

In addition to the standard requirements set by ERAS, applicants must submit several essential documents as part of their application package. This includes a current curriculum vitae (CV), three letters of recommendation (including one letter from the most recent program director), a dean’s letter or Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE), a medical school transcript, USMLE scores, and an ECFMG certificate if applicable. Each application is thoroughly reviewed, and only selected candidates are invited for interviews, which typically occur in September and October.

Visa Support and Competitiveness

The program offers visa support and can sponsor various visa types for international medical graduates (IMGs), contributing to its welcoming environment for globally-trained physicians. The fellowship is noted for being competitive, with a strong emphasis on candidates who have demonstrated excellence in their prior academic and clinical experiences. The program values diversity in training backgrounds, hence being friendly towards DO and IMG applicants as well.

Unique Aspects of the Program

One of the standout features of the Pediatric Sleep Medicine Fellowship at Children’s National Hospital is its multidisciplinary approach, integrating pediatric and adult sleep medicine with a strong focus on comprehensive clinical training. The program’s collaboration with esteemed institutions like GWU and the VA not only enriches the educational experience but also expands the array of resources and networking opportunities available to fellows.