Tower Health Program

The program offers a comprehensive three-year fellowship training in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, accredited by the ACGME. Each year, the program accepts only one fellow, ensuring personalized training and mentorship. The training curriculum spans 36 months and consists of various rotations that provide extensive clinical exposure and learning opportunities.

Curriculum Structure

The curriculum is designed to offer 15 months of clinical service across multiple critical care settings including:

• Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
• Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU)
• Special Care Unit
• Pediatric Burn Unit

Additionally, the fellows spend three months in anesthesia and have the opportunity to engage in three months of elective rotations that may include Procedural Sedation, Cardiology, Neurosurgery, Pediatric Surgery, Palliative Care, and Transport Medicine. There is a protected nine months dedicated to research, supporting fellows in developing academic proficiency alongside clinical training. Importantly, each fellow is entitled to four weeks of vacation yearly.

Educational Activities

The fellowship program emphasizes a robust educational component. Structured educational activities encompass various courses on statistics, research study design, bio-ethics, evidence-based medicine, pedagogical techniques, and presentation skills. Regular involvement in division and departmental conferences such as didactic lectures, journal clubs, morbidity and mortality conferences, quality improvement meetings, and weekly clinical case conferences are mandatory, fostering an interactive learning environment.

Research Opportunities

The program is committed to establishing a solid foundation in research for future pediatric intensivists. Fellows have access to a wealth of resources for both basic and clinical research, with opportunities to collaborate with Drexel University College of Medicine. Exploratory research areas include pharmacology, traumatic brain injury, burn care, sedation practices, and the evaluation of ethical considerations in pediatric care. The faculty actively participates in national meetings, enhancing exposure to a wide array of scientific discourse and knowledge dissemination.

Training Environment

The fellowship is conducted in a state-of-the-art facility within St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, which operates a Level One Pediatric Trauma Center and houses a nationally recognized ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) service. The hospital manages over 4,000 pediatric admissions annually, providing the fellows with a rich exposure to a diverse patient population with varying medical complexities. Fellows work collaboratively with a dedicated team of experienced pediatric intensivists, nurse practitioners, and other pediatric specialists, all committed to superior patient care and education.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the program, physicians must have completed an approved residency in Pediatrics, demonstrating eligibility for board certification. Furthermore, Pennsylvania law mandates successful completion of all three steps of the USMLE, and proof of this accomplishment must accompany the application. The program welcomes foreign medical graduates with a valid ECFMG certificate.

Visa Sponsorship

The program provides visa support for applicants in good standing, sponsoring both H-1B or J-1 visas for qualified candidates, thus facilitating international applicants to join the fellowship.

Competitiveness and Application Process

The Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Fellowship at St. Christopher’s Hospital is regarded as highly competitive. Applicants should be aware of the strong emphasis on previous academic performance, clinical excellence, and demonstrated interest in pediatric critical care. A completed application, including three letters of reference and USMLE scores, must be submitted through the ERAS application process.

Teaching Responsibilities

Fellows are encouraged to engage in educational activities, actively participating in the training of pediatric residents and medical students during both bedside and didactic sessions, fostering an environment of peer learning.