UPMC Medical Education Program

The Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) Fellowship program at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is designed to develop the next generation of pediatric emergency medicine clinicians and leaders. The comprehensive curriculum of this ACGME-accredited fellowship emphasizes clinical training, research, teaching, and administrative leadership. The aim is to prepare fellows with unique skills that will serve them throughout their careers in PEM.

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum offers robust early clinical training with graduated autonomy. This structure enables fellows to take leadership roles within interdisciplinary teams in the emergency department (ED). By the completion of the training, fellows are expected to manage acutely ill and injured children effectively. The curriculum supports fellows in becoming proficient in clinical excellence, academic excellence through individual scholarly projects, and effective teaching in varied settings, including simulations and didactics 1.

Clinical Excellence

Fellows are trained in a high-volume environment, with the UPMC Children’s Hospital being a designated Regional Level 1 Trauma Center that manages over 80,000 ED visits annually. This experience allows fellows to manage a wide range of pediatric emergencies 1. By the end of their fellowship, each fellow has developed significant clinical expertise and procedural skills.

Teaching Excellence

Throughout the fellowship, fellows engage in varied teaching activities, maintaining certifications, and serving as instructors for Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS) courses. They participate in procedure workshops, noon conferences, and morbidity and mortality reviews, further enhancing their effectiveness as educators 1.

Research and Academic Excellence

Candidates are encouraged to conceptualize and complete a scholarly project during their fellowship, supported by guidance from the program’s Scholarly Oversight Committee. The UPMC is also a site of the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN), thereby providing additional research opportunities 2.

Focus Tracks

Fellowship training includes personalized mentorship to help fellows identify academic areas of interest or Focus Tracks. Opportunities are available for advanced training through the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Clinical Research Education (ICRE) 3.

Service Excellence

In addition to clinical training, the fellowship strongly integrates patient safety and quality improvement initiatives into the curriculum. This educational framework allows fellows to gain significant experience in managing clinical and administrative responsibilities, which is essential for future leaders in both clinical and academic settings 4.

Benefits and Stipends

Fellows receive competitive stipends and benefits, including subsidized parking, gym access, and support for further education. There are also specific provisions for family support, such as lactation facilities and job assistance for spouses 5.

Application Process

Applications for the fellowship are accepted through the Fall Subspecialty Match. Eligibility requires successful completion of an ACGME-accredited residency in either pediatrics or emergency medicine. Applicants are encouraged to submit several letters of recommendation, notably from their residency program director and pediatric emergency medicine faculty 6.

Visa Support

The program provides visa sponsorship opportunities, allowing international medical graduates to apply. Specific visa types supported can include J-1 and H-1B visas, ensuring access for qualified candidates worldwide.

Competitiveness and Eligibility Requirements

The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship is known to be highly competitive. It is also friendly towards DO and international medical graduates (IMGs). Applicants should be aware of specific eligibility criteria, including the maximum number of failed STEP examinations accepted and the year of graduation from medical school, which can impact their applications.