Indiana University School of Medicine Program

The Pediatric Hospital Medicine program at Indiana University School of Medicine is designed for dedicated pediatricians seeking careers in pediatric hospital medicine. The program focuses on providing excellent clinical care, and fostering a collaborative learning environment among faculty, residents, and healthcare staff. Pediatricians in this division work in several facilities, notably including Methodist Hospital, IU Health North Hospital, IU Health West Hospital, and Riley Hospital for Children, which is recognized as one of the nation’s top-ranked children’s hospitals. This diverse training environment enables pediatric hospitalists to deliver comprehensive care from delivery room services to the management of complex pediatric conditions throughout Indiana and the broader Midwest United States.

Founded in 2002, the division emphasizes a multidisciplinary and family-centered care approach, ensuring that advocacy extends not only to the children but also to their families or support groups. The commitment to evidence-based medicine is paramount, aiming for the highest quality of care that is both safe and efficient 1.

Clinical Rotations

The Pediatric Hospital Medicine program comprises significant clinical experience across four hospitals, enhancing exposure to various patient care scenarios. At Riley Hospital for Children, fellows encounter a busy Level 1 trauma emergency department and have access to numerous pediatric subspecialists, enhancing their learning and interdisciplinary consultative skills. The program emphasizes direct bedside teaching where residents, fellows, and medical students learn alongside experienced faculty members.

Fellowship Structure

The Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship offers a two-year ACGME-accredited fellowship with the option of extending to a three-year research track. Annually, one fellow is accepted into the program, allowing for individualized attention and opportunities to engage deeply with clinical practices, teaching methods, advocacy, and research in pediatric hospital medicine. The fellowship aims to cultivate academic careers, allowing fellows to lead initiatives in quality improvement and child health advocacy 2.

Curriculum and Education

The curriculum is flexible and tailored to meet the interests and career goals of the fellow, with a strong focus on education. Fellows gain robust clinical experience while teaching medical students and residents, thus honing their teaching skills. Each fellow will also design and execute at least one quality improvement or clinical research project during their training, supported by mentorship from faculty and a dedicated Scholarship Oversight Committee to guide them through the project lifecycle 5.

Research Opportunities

Indiana University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the top 10 in pediatric health research, providing fellows with substantial resources to pursue research initiatives. The program requires fellows to complete research projects that aim to enhance the quality of pediatric care based on evidence-based guidelines. Active involvement in quality improvement projects is highly encouraged, ensuring fellows can translate their research into practice effectively 7.

Visa Support and Competitiveness

The program is open to international applicants and provides visa sponsorship. The types of visas that the program can sponsor include J-1 visas for clinical training, which are common among international medical graduates. The selection process is competitive, but the program prides itself on being friendly towards DO and IMG candidates, showcasing a commitment to diversity in training backgrounds. Additionally, special application requirements include a completed application, required documents, and demonstrated interest in pediatric hospital medicine 3.

Special Application Requirements

Applicants are encouraged to check specific conditions regarding graduation year and application documents. While there is no fixed maximum for failed Step exams, performance on these examinations is a critical component of the selection process.

Unique Aspects of the Program

One distinguishing feature of the Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship at Indiana University is the emphasis on individualized learning paths. This is facilitated by the wide range of electives available that cover several subspecialties such as toxicology, child protection, transport medicine, and genetics. Furthermore, opportunities for global health participation, such as rotations in international settings, are also available for those fellows interested in expanding their training experiences 6.

The fellowship operates within Indiana’s largest comprehensive health center, ensuring that fellows are immersed in a rich clinical environment that handles over 17,000 pediatric patients annually. This level of exposure is instrumental in establishing clinical proficiency and leadership skills in a hospitalist setting.