McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University Program

The Pediatric Critical Care Medicine fellowship training program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine is designed to provide comprehensive training to pediatricians in the scientific and clinical practices necessary for pediatric critical care medicine. This fellowship aims to integrate medical knowledge, clinical skills, research skills, humanistic qualities, professionalism, and a commitment to life-long learning into the training of each fellow. The program hosts four to five fellows annually within a three-year fellowship structure, culminating in a team of thirteen fellows at any time.

The educational framework of the fellowship is well-rounded, beginning with an orientation curriculum that incorporates local and regional simulation-based bootcamps to enhance clinical skills, teamwork, and communication. Throughout the fellowship, a comprehensive didactic curriculum is maintained, supported by weekly conferences that address critical topics as outlined by the Critical Care Subboard of the American Board of Pediatrics. Topics covered include physiology, ethics in practice, neurocritical care, and cardiac critical care, among others. The fellows participate in a quarterly morbidity and mortality conference, alongside regular journal clubs and research update sessions which foster an environment of critical practice evaluation and innovative therapy discussions.

The program emphasizes ongoing research participation, equipping fellows with the skills necessary for academic achievement. This is supported through hypothesis-driven research activities under the mentorship of experienced faculty. As part of their training, fellows engage in a formal research curriculum with opportunities for involvement in diverse research topics, spanning from energy estimation in critically ill patients to longitudinal outcome studies for PICU patients. All fellows are expected to present their work at a national meeting during the third year of fellowship.

The clinical experience is robust, with fellows caring for patients in a 40-bed pediatric intensive care unit and a separate 44-bed cardiac care unit. Clinical training encompasses exposure to various critical conditions including level 1 traumas, organ transplants, and post-surgical care. This hands-on experience is complemented by rotations in anesthesiology, neurocritical care, and interventional cardiac catheterization laboratory by working alongside skilled faculty who are dedicated to fostering the fellows' growth into independent intensivists. A unique aspect of the program is the fellows' schedule, which maximizes patient care continuity and offers research stability through structured time allocations throughout the years.

For application, candidates are expected to be board-certified or in the process of completing an ACGME-accredited pediatrics residency program, with applicable documentation submitted via ERAS. The selection process is conducted through the NRMP match, and fellowship interviews typically occur between August and November prior to the start of the program. The fellowship is designed to be competitive, welcoming strong applicants from various backgrounds including both DO and IMG-qualified candidates.

Diversity and inclusion are cornerstones of the program, which actively seeks to create an environment conducive to personal and professional success for all fellows. The fellowship supports visa sponsorship for individuals requiring such support, typically through J-1 or H-1B visa types, making it accessible for international medical graduates.

Moreover, the fellowship provides unique global health opportunities where fellows may engage in initiatives like those at Bugando Medical Center in Tanzania. These initiatives allow for the management of complex pediatric diseases in low-resource settings, thereby broadening clinical exposure beyond local confines.

In summary, the Pediatric Critical Care Medicine fellowship at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital operates under a mission to develop well-rounded practitioners who excel in clinical care, contribute to the field, and advocate for pediatric needs while providing a supportive environment for personal and professional growth.