Lehigh Valley Health Network Program

The Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is dedicated to training the next generation of perinatologists to deliver comprehensive and compassionate perinatal care. The program emphasizes the development of clinical skills, leadership abilities, and research acumen in a supportive educational environment.

The mission is fulfilled through a deeply committed faculty that provides high-quality perinatal care to a diverse population. This includes comprehensive prenatal diagnosis and fetal care programs, multidisciplinary inpatient and outpatient services for pregnant women, and extensive outreach and transport programs that contribute to an enriching learning experience for fellows.

Clinical Experience

Inpatient clinical experience occurs primarily at Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest and LVH–Muhlenberg. Outpatient clinical training takes place at LVPG Maternal Fetal Medicine offices in Allentown and Easton. The fellows participate in a broad spectrum of clinical activities, covering areas such as labor and delivery, high-risk obstetrics, and various outpatient specialty clinics, which include:

• Cardio-obstetrics program
• Comprehensive diabetes in pregnancy program
• Pregnancy hypertension kidney program
• Obstetric surgery program

Additionally, fellows engage in dedicated off-service rotations to broaden their knowledge and expertise in specialties beneficial to managing critically ill obstetric patients.

Curriculum

The fellowship curriculum incorporates a rigorous didactic component covering critical obstetric topics such as cesarean hysterectomy, antepartum fetal assessment, and operative vaginal delivery. Fellows spend:

• 4 months in the perinatal unit
• 2 months as supervising laborists in labor and delivery
• 1 month in medical intensive care
• 6 months in ultrasound rotation
• 6 months in outpatient maternal fetal medicine clinics
• 3-months elective rotations tailored to fellow interests

This structured curriculum allows for significant exposure to high-risk cases and the supervision of residents, thereby fostering a collaborative learning environment.

Research Opportunities

The program encourages fellows to engage in research activities, requiring them to undertake a scholarly project with the support of a research mentor. These projects can range from clinical studies to literary reviews and qualitative research initiatives, contributing to the continuous advancement of maternal-fetal medicine. The LVHN Network Office of Research and Innovation provides resources to support these endeavors.

Application Requirements

The Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship accepts one fellow annually into its three-year program. Applicants must submit their applications through ERAS, providing detailed USMLE or COMLEX scores along with three letters of recommendation. While clinical or research experience in the United States is not mandatory, it is viewed favorably during the application process.

International Medical Graduates

While the program welcomes applications from international medical graduates (IMGs), it does not provide visa sponsorship. Therefore, potential applicants must have valid visas independently to apply to the program.

Benefits

LVHN offers several benefits tailored specifically for maternal fetal medicine fellows, including:

• On-call meal allowances
• Continuing education funds
• 12 days of paid sick leave per year
• Pennsylvania medical training license
• Attendance at Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine meetings

In addition to these specific benefits, fellows receive a competitive salary in line with the general graduate medical education (GME) standards.

Life in Lehigh Valley

The Lehigh Valley region is known for its favorable business climate and relatively low cost of living, making it an attractive location for fellows. The area is conveniently located approximately 60 miles north of Philadelphia and 80 miles west of New York City, providing a mix of urban and suburban living opportunities.