Education

Fellows learn cardiac physiology via case-based discussion and review of echocardiographs with the oversight of expert cardiology faculty.

In these forums, fellows will research and present cases that present clinical challenges and specific learning opportunities with the support of specialty experts.

Lead by the Palliative care and Ethics departments, fellows will be exposed to discussions of ethical dilemmas and considerations in neonatal care.

This seminar series, lead by a combination of fellows (with faculty mentorship) and expert faculty, covers the fundamental principals underlying neonatal medicine. Seminars are organized in a two part series to ensure that all the American Board of Pediatric content specifications are covered twice during the fellow’s three year training period. We utilize a combination of standard didactics, flipped classroom, and Q&A formats depending on the topics. To gain administrative experience, fellows (with faculty oversight) are responsible for organizing these lecture series.

Fellows participate in a high-fidelity standardized curriculum to actively improve skills and knowledge including ECMO and cardiac cases. We incorporate a combination of high risk-low frequency events, transport scenarios, difficult conversations, and error disclosure to maximize the impact of these sessions.

Fellows are exposed to a discussion of prenatal cases including imaging review, subspecialty discussion, and coordination of care. 

Our neonatal neurologist and neuroradiologist combine to take the NICU fellows through 2-3 neurology cases per session. They review the case, assess the imaging, and predict the developmental outcome for each patient.

In this forum, fellows learn how to critically appraise literature reviewing both classic and contemporary articles. With faculty mentorship, fellows will learn to evaluate a journal’s quality and metrics (peer review, impact factor, audience, focus, etc.), understand the different components of a scientific paper, interpret the methods for appropriateness of study design and analysis for the proposed study outcomes, and maintain awareness of potential bias. 

Morbidities and mortality discussions, enhanced by participation from the pathology department, are reviewed in detail monthly to highlight key opportunities for improvement.

Children’s National faculty, along with invited guest speakers, present updates in cutting edge research to expose fellows to faculty interests and inspire collaboration. Fellows also present their senior research accomplishments in this forum.

Our neonatal neurologist and neuroradiologist combine to take the NICU fellows through 2-3 neurology cases per session. They review the case, assess the imaging, and predict the developmental outcome for each patient.

As a division, we review our quality metrics and initiatives, safety events including subsequent RCAs and ACAs. Each quarter, a fellow takes a deep dive into quality and safety with our Director of Patient Safety to learn more about these processes.