Prenatal and Neonatal Fellowship

Children’s National Hospital is a 300-plus bed hospital, of which more than 100 are intensive care beds. Children's National was ranked on the U.S. News & World Report Best Children's Hospitals Honor Roll as one of the nation’s top 10 children’s hospitals, a top five performer in neurology and neurosurgery, and pediatric cancer as well as number one children’s hospital in the Mid-Atlantic for 2024-25.

Children’s National offers candidates a two-year fellowship program in fetal and neonatal neurology and neonatal neurocritical care. Two positions are available each year in a clinically focused track with 80% clinical experience and 20% research. This fellowship is accredited by the United Council of Neurological Specialties for Neonatal Neurocritical Care. In addition, the Developing Brain Institute (DBI), directed by Catherine Limperopoulos, Ph.D., and Adré du Plessis, M.B.Ch.B., provides a clinical research focused NIH T32 fellowship with 80% clinical research and 20% clinical experience.

The Zickler Family Prenatal Pediatrics Institute evaluates over 1,000 fetal cases per year with consultations provided by 20 different specialties (about 300 evaluations for fetal brain concerns and 300 for fetal heart). The DBI performs over 300 fetal, preterm and neonatal MRI research studies each year providing access to large multi-modal quantitative fetal brain and placental studies in both low- and high-risk pregnancies. Fellows will train in brain-oriented fetal, transitional and neonatal care and learn research methods to assess and evaluate the immature brain.

This fellowship is for candidates who plan to pursue an academic career in fetal and/or neonatal neurology and neonatal neurocritical care, and also those with interest in establishing independently-funded research careers.

What to Expect

The fellow will be immersed in clinical prenatal and neonatal neurology through fetal neurology consultations and will rotate through neonatal neurocritical care service and postnatal clinics. The curriculum will prepare fellows for the certification examination in neonatal neurocritical care under the UCNS and for development as a leader in prenatal and neonatal neurology. The fellow will receive training in fetal diagnostic techniques including fetal ultrasound and MRI, as well as bedside training in the evaluation and management of infants undergoing complicated transition from the fetal environment. The fellow will receive training in basic research methodology and the application, and interpretation of specialized fetal MRI diagnostic, neuromonitoring and research tools. The fellow will be encouraged to develop a clinical research protocol with support from a mentor. Details regarding the T32 clinical research fellowship in the DBI are available to applicants interested in that program.

Program Prerequisites

Completion of residency-level training in child neurology or neurodevelopmental disabilities, or fellowship-level training in neonatology and a demonstrated interest in the immature brain are required. Direct patient contact is expected, therefore, full licensure to practice medicine in the United States is required.