University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Program

UT Southwestern Medical Center offers a one-year, ACGME-accredited fellowship in Pediatric Anesthesiology, welcoming four fellows each year. The primary focus of the program is to deliver exceptional training aimed at achieving Board Certification in Pediatric Anesthesia by the American Board of Anesthesiology. The program operates in conjunction with the Children's Health System of Texas, noted for being among the best children's hospitals in the United States according to U.S. News & World Report.

The affiliated pediatric hospital is the eighth largest in the nation and includes a Level 1 pediatric trauma center, a Level 4 NICU, and both a Level 1 PICU and CVICU. The Pediatric Anesthesiology Division delivers over 43,000 anesthetics annually across various surgical specialties.

Fellowship Application and Match

Applications to the fellowship are processed through ERAS, beginning at the start of the calendar year, with interviews typically occurring in March and April. All interviews are held virtually using the Thalamus system.

Fellowship Objectives

The goals of the fellowship include:

• Acquiring the specialized knowledge, clinical judgment, and technical skills necessary to safely provide evidence-based anesthetic care for a diverse pediatric population, including those with various medical comorbidities.
• Gaining familiarity with research methodologies and actively participating in research projects.
• Creating an educational environment that promotes lifelong learning among fellows.
• Achieving board certification in pediatric anesthesiology.

Curriculum and Rotations

The curriculum is structured into an annual rotation schedule encompassing:

• Operating Room: Six months, including experience in the main operating room and the ambulatory surgery center.
• Cardiac Rotation: Two months focused on cardiac OR and cardiac catheterization lab.
• Spine/Orthopedics/Regional: One month of rotation.
• Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU): One month.
• Elective: One month available for specialized rotations.

The fellowship boasts a robust clinical practice supported by one of the largest pediatric anesthesiology faculties in the country, with 55 board-certified pediatric anesthesiologists. The multidisciplinary teamwork model incorporates collaboration across pediatrics, surgery, and radiology to provide comprehensive care.

Furthermore, with over 40,000 cases performed annually and only four fellows, the program offers an intimate training setting combined with the resources available at one of the largest medical facilities.

Training Sites

This fellowship provides training across several clinical sites, including the UT Southwestern Medical Center, Children’s Health System, and Texas Health Resources, allowing fellows to treat a diverse metropolitan patient population in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Fellow-Supportive Environment

The fellowship cultivates a supportive and educational environment through the following:

• Provision of expert clinical experiences supervised by a diverse faculty.
• Dedicated faculty mentors aligned with each fellow's professional goals.
• Faculty-mentored research opportunities.
• Dedicated conference days and nonclinical time for scholarly activities.
• Structured didactic lectures, patient safety simulations, and access to all departmental resources.
• Regular departmental conferences, grand rounds, and morbidity and mortality conferences.
• Quarterly journal clubs that engage fellows in ongoing learning.

Visa Support

The fellowship actively supports international medical graduates (IMG) through the visa application process. The program can sponsor J-1 visas for eligible applicants, emphasizing its commitment to inclusivity and diverse talent.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

The Pediatric Anesthesiology fellowship is highly competitive, attracting applications from various backgrounds, including allopathic and osteopathic medical graduates. Applicants must have completed an ACGME-accredited anesthesiology residency and are encouraged to demonstrate strong academic and clinical performance. Specific application requirements include:

• Completion of an ACGME-accredited pediatric anesthesiology fellowship or equivalent.
• No more than one failed attempt on any STEP examinations is generally preferred.

Overall, the fellowship program empowers residents to become leaders in the pediatric anesthesiology field, providing them with diverse experiences, expert mentorship, and comprehensive training to excel in their future careers.