University of California (San Francisco) Program

The Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) Fellowship Program at the University of California, San Francisco, is designed to cultivate academic leaders in the field of pediatric hospital medicine. With a two-year ACGME-accredited structure, the program aims to develop expert clinicians skilled in family-centered care for hospitalized children while simultaneously promoting academic and scholarly work.

The program's vision focuses on transforming fellows into leaders in hospital safety and quality, emphasizing the importance of developing both clinical skills and scholarly abilities to effect positive change in academic hospital medicine 1.

Program Overview

The fellowship consists of a balanced training program structured around three main areas of focus:

• Developing core clinical skills
• Gaining expertise in a mentored area of scholarly focus
• Participating in an individualized curriculum

Fellows engage with core competencies categorized into clinical conditions, core skills, specialized clinical services, and system organization and improvement. Mentorship plays a vital role in guiding fellows towards producing meaningful scholarly work as specified by the American Board of Pediatrics. The program welcomes two fellows each year, having received initial accreditation in July 2022 1.

Curriculum

The fellowship curriculum is intentionally flexible, allowing the educational experiences to be tailored to the interests and skill sets of individual fellows, while still aligning with core PHM competencies and ACGME requirements. Training is divided into the following domains:

• Clinical Care: Advanced training in caring for hospitalized children and honing procedural skills
• Systems and Scholarship: Cultivation of an area of expertise leading to a scholarly product
• Individualized Curriculum: Focused training in medical education, quality improvement, patient safety, leadership, and communication

Throughout the program, fellows partake in various activities, including hospital-based clinical rotations, electives, research initiatives, and administrative responsibilities, all with close mentorship from experienced faculty members and a dedicated Scholarship Oversight Committee 1.

Clinical Training Sites

Fellows receive clinical training primarily at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco, where they manage complex pediatric patients under faculty supervision. Additional experience is gained through rotations at affiliated sites like Washington Hospital in Fremont and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. Clinical exposure also includes working with Pain and Palliative Care Services, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of patient care 1.

Research Opportunities

Research is an integral component of the fellowship, as it enables fellows to develop expertise in a specific area, culminating in a peer-reviewed scholarly project, mentored by faculty. Training in clinical research is facilitated through the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and focuses on aligning with the fellow's academic and career aspirations 1.

Career Development

Fellows benefit from extensive education and career development resources, including formal coursework in clinical teaching and quality improvement methodologies. Engagement in the PHM Faculty Development Series promotes further skills through journal clubs, research sessions, and clinical case conferences. Fellows actively lead quality improvement initiatives, participate in division meetings, and may join educational committees focusing on safety, quality, and medication practices 1.

Special Application Requirements

To apply for the fellowship, candidates must hold completion of an ACGME-accredited pediatric residency program. Currently, applicants must be US citizens as the program cannot accept applications from those on visas 1.

Visa Support

The program currently is unable to sponsor visa applications for non-US citizens, so international medical graduates must ensure they meet citizenship criteria to be eligible for application 1.

Competitiveness

The Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship at UCSF is highly competitive due to its strong academic framework, mentoring opportunities, and the prestigious training environment. The program seeks to attract top candidates passionate about advancing pediatric healthcare 1.