University of California Davis Health Program

Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Training

The University of California Davis Health offers a comprehensive Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship accredited by the ACGME, lasting three years. This fellowship is designed to cultivate practitioners who will excel in neonatal-perinatal medicine, with extensive clinical training, research opportunities, and scholarly activities contributing to the education of future neonatal specialists.

Clinical Training and Facilities

Fellows at UC Davis Health gain invaluable experience in a state-of-the-art medical environment that includes the UC Davis Medical Center and Children’s Hospital, which features a 49-bed, level IV-designated Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The NICU is equipped to handle the most complex neonatal cases, including surgical and cardiac issues.

The clinical training also encompasses the Pediatric and Cardiac Intensive Care Units (PICU) and collaboration with the Fetal Care and Treatment Center, providing fellows with a broad spectrum of exposure to complex pediatric care.

Rotations and Responsibilities

Fellows engage in over a year of NICU experience where their responsibilities include counseling families about high-risk pregnancies, evaluating new admissions, supervising procedures, and mentoring residents and medical students. Moreover, the fellowship structure ensures that fellows have rotations in the PICU, maternal-fetal medicine, and attend specialized meetings for prenatal counseling and complex patient management.

Curriculum and Educational Activities

Fellows participate in a rich curriculum that combines clinical experiences with structured educational activities. This includes:

• Weekly Divisional Conferences covering clinical cases, mortality, morbidity, and journal review sessions.
• Monthly research conferences that allow fellows to present ongoing projects and receive feedback.
• Comprehensive training in advanced neonatal procedures through simulation sessions.

Additionally, the program emphasizes the importance of foundational knowledge, requiring fellows to master topics relevant to neonatal diseases through a variety of didactic seminars and hands-on experiences.

Research and Scholarly Activities

A key component of the fellowship is engagement in scholarly activities. This includes conducting clinically relevant research projects aimed at addressing significant health issues and improving patient care. Fellows develop skills in both research and quality improvement initiatives, often resulting in presentations at national meetings and publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Fellows are mentored through these projects by experienced faculty, ensuring that trainees acquire the necessary competencies to advance their careers in academic medicine or clinical practice.

Community and Lifestyle

Residing in Sacramento offers fellows a vibrant community with access to diverse food, arts, culture, and sports. The city’s amenities complement the rigorous training experience at UC Davis, providing a well-rounded lifestyle for fellows outside of their professional commitments.

Visa Support and Application Requirements

The UC Davis Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship program is supportive of international medical graduates. The program sponsors J-1 visas for clinical training, which necessitates the passage of USMLE Steps 1 and 2 for eligibility. Furthermore, applicants must have completed an ACGME-accredited pediatrics residency and obtain a California medical license prior to their fellowship.

Competitiveness and Eligibility

Admission to the fellowship is competitive, with a focus on candidates who demonstrate strong clinical training and scholarly potential. Prospective fellows should be prepared for the rigorous selection process as well as the demands of the training. The program is friendly to both MD and DO graduates, as well as international medical graduates who meet licensing requirements.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The program promotes diversity, health equity, and inclusion through its curriculum and training activities, ensuring that fellows understand and address the diverse needs of pediatric populations in their care practices.