University of Colorado Program

The Pediatric Critical Care Medicine (PCCM) Fellowship at the University of Colorado School of Medicine offers a robust training program for board-eligible pediatricians focused on the care of critically ill children. Up to 12 fellows can be enrolled at any time, with an average of three new fellows each year. The mission of the program is to cultivate the next generation of leaders in pediatric critical care who are committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care and advancing the field.

Program Aims

The program focuses on several key educational goals, which include:

• Equipping fellows with the skills necessary to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care through an interdisciplinary team approach.
• Encouraging engagement in various scholarly activities that foster critical thinking and discovery within pediatric critical care medicine.
• Developing fellows as effective educators who can accommodate learners with diverse needs.
• Promoting wellness, resilience, and burnout prevention strategies within the practice of pediatric critical care.
• Creating an inclusive learning environment that aims to recruit diverse fellows and celebrate differences.

With a faculty comprising 20 board-certified pediatric intensivists, including advanced practitioners and researchers, the PCCM Fellowship is deeply integrated into a clinical training site, namely Children’s Hospital Colorado. This free-standing facility features a 32-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) that serves around 2,600 patients annually from the Denver metro area and surrounding regions.

Clinical Training Structure

The fellowship consists of structured clinical rotations across three years:

• First Year: The initial year is heavily clinical, with seven months dedicated to working in both the PICU and the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU), alongside additional rotations in pediatric anesthesiology and pulmonary medicine.
• Second and Third Years: The focus shifts to refining clinical skills while fostering independence, with a more flexible rotation schedule.

Critical educational opportunities throughout all fellowship years include interdisciplinary high-fidelity simulations, ultrasound-guided procedure training, and departmental conferences that cover topics like evidence-based medicine and quality improvement.

Clinical Electives

Fellows have the flexibility to engage in elective experiences, both locally at the Denver Health Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and internationally with the International Children’s Heart Foundation.

Research Opportunities

The PCCM program prioritizes research, with dedicated time for scholarly activities throughout the fellowship. Fellows are encouraged to engage in various projects related to basic science, translational research, and quality improvement initiatives. This research is supported by a structured program designed to guide fellows through the process of knowledge acquisition and dissemination.

The fellowship also engages in a Subspecialty Excellence in Educational Leadership & Scholarship (SEELS) Program aimed at developing future medical educators through research mentorship and community engagement.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

Applicants to the PCCM Fellowship must possess a valid ECFMG certificate (for international medical graduates) and must be eligible for a Colorado medical license. The program currently supports applicants with J-1 visas only. The selection process is competitive, taking into account the applicant's academic performance, clinical training, and recommendation letters.

The PCCM Fellowship maintains commitment to a diverse and inclusive approach to recruitment and education while providing a comprehensive salary and benefits package that is competitive with other fellowship programs nationwide.

Conclusion

Overall, the PCCM Fellowship at the University of Colorado School of Medicine stands out as a comprehensive training program that covers clinical excellence, teaching, and research while fostering individual growth in resilience and leadership capabilities.