Pediatric Fellowship: Critical Care

Critical Care Fellowship

Program Overview

The Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship Program at the �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware, in affiliation with Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University (TJU), offers a multifaceted fellowship training program in pediatric critical care medicine.

Accredited by the , the program is based at �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware’s only pediatric trauma center. Both the training program and our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) itself are staffed by board-certified and fellowship-trained intensivists with varying backgrounds and extensive experience in both the clinical and research realms.

This fellowship program is an exciting opportunity for pediatric residents interested in a career in critical care. We expect that our graduates will go forward to have successful academic careers in tertiary care settings.

ON THIS PAGE:

Curriculum
Research & Training
Salary & Benefits
Location & Living
Faculty & Participants

Our Fellowship Program

The Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship Program at �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware gives residents opportunities to develop their knowledge base and skills to provide the highest level of critical care to children in an academic environment that is rigorous, friendly and supportive.

You’ll receive an introduction to laboratory and clinical research and the principles of administration, as well as training to be an excellent educator.

The 3-year program provides both clinical and laboratory research, with strong mentorship from experienced researchers. Internal funding for research from �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware is also available. The critical care team provides medical coverage for pediatric trauma patients as �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware is Delaware’s only pediatric Level 1 trauma center.

�ֲ��ý has a dedicated and very active Pediatric Critical Care Transport Program, �ֲ��ý Kids Transport, which serves our large referral base. Our pediatric intensivists serve as medical command for all pediatric transports. Throughout transport, our advanced electronic health record (EHR) links our clinical team to the patient’s entire record.

Clinical Curriculum Highlights

The clinical component of the curriculum emphasizes the pathophysiology of acute, life-threatening disease and injury, and the general principles and physiology of advanced life support — including training in, and use of, advanced technologies. This part of the program places equal emphasis on clinical and academic skills.

You’ll be required to demonstrate excellence in all aspects of clinical care, including working in and leading teams, as well as teaching. Upon successful completion, you’ll be able to pursue subspecialty certification in pediatric critical care medicine.

Program Aims

Our main goal, as always, is to train clinically excellent fellows who are exposed to a wide variety of critical care pathology. Our secondary goal involves a broad exposure to the research process, including generation of a hypothesis, design of a comprehensive scholarly activity, robust data collection and analysis, formulation of a manuscript and intimate knowledge of the publication process. Finally, we strive by combining goals one and two above to produce fellows who are able to thrive in multiple critical care settings as an attending physician.

Research Opportunities

In addition to academic and clinical training, our fellowship program provides a structured, supervised research experience that includes 3 months of protected research time in the first year, 7 months in the second year and 8 months in the third year.

Curriculum

The first and second year includes a series of didactic lectures on experimental design and data collection and analysis sponsored by our academic partner Thomas Jefferson University.. You’ll have opportunities to learn laboratory techniques by observing and participating in current research projects. You’ll also attend a mandatory statistics course that includes lectures on experimental design also sponsored by Thomas Jefferson University.

To enhance your research experience, you’ll work with a mentor chosen from our critical care faculty. Thomas Shaffer, MSE, PhD, Director of the Center for Pediatric Lung Research, also shares his knowledge and experience with our trainees and sometimes serves as a mentor.

Your mentor will follow your progress and supervise the research process from hypothesis through experimental design, use of laboratory methods, data collection, analysis, presentation, and finally to abstract/poster presentation and manuscript preparation.

You’ll meet with your research mentor for at least 1 hour per week during research months and with the program director every 6 months. You’ll also report on your progress at monthly departmental research meetings. In addition, each fellow is assigned a Scholarship Oversite Committee (SOC).�� It consists of experienced researchers both from within and outside of the division who will meet with you every six months to review your research progress and help navigate you through difficulties that may arise.

Simulation

We run weekly mock codes for fellows and residents rotating through the PICU. All mock codes are fellow-driven where you will have the opportunity to create your own scenarios and make your own education points. More recently we have also included mock codes that run through a virtual reality system and shared over a teleconferencing platform, so that we have been able to continue this educational experience while being socially distanced.

There is always opportunity to practice procedural skills on mannequins owned by the department. This is especially helpful for first year fellows, and something that we do periodically throughout the year.

Additional opportunities to partake in simulation exist as well. There are interdisciplinary mock codes that fellows choose to become involved with and also have the opportunity to facilitate and serve as team leader for. There is a mannequin that allows for practice of CPR skills with real-time feedback and performance indicators.

Didactic and Research Links

View Recent Publications

Didactic Schedule

World-Class Facilities

The �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware Life Science Center has current approval from the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) and houses the research facilities for the �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware. The center has the necessary facilities to house both large and small animals.

Our department has a research laboratory within the Life Science Center, , formally the original �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware founded in 1940. The center is fully equipped with all necessary equipment, including invasive catheters, mechanical ventilators and respiratory monitoring equipment, intubation and tracheostomy equipment, and hemodynamic monitoring equipment. Many hospital and research departments have laboratory space within this building, and collaboration and borrowing of necessary equipment is easy and common.

In addition to this laboratory, the 2,500-square-foot laboratory of Dr. Thomas Shaffer will be available. Supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other funding sources, his lab is outfitted with Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) equipment, hemodynamic flow transducers, critical care monitors, data recording instruments, computers, image analysis equipment, and cell and muscle bath setups. The lab also offers the capability of running in vivo studies with rats, rabbits, newborn lambs, weanling lambs and adult sheep. The animal research coordinator is Anne Heseck.

Finally, you will have access to research space at the duPont Experimental Station, formerly the home of duPont Chemical. Founded in 1903, it now serves as a collaborative research science and business development facility and is home to many fledgling companies and incubator/startups. Located less than 2 miles from the hospital, it is a short drive for fellows and serves as the home lab for Dr. Yosef Levenbrown, one of our critical care attending who investigates hemodynamic physiology in swine models.

Learn More About Research at �ֲ��ý

Salary & Benefits

Salary

PGY 1: $71,923
PGY 2: $74,799
PGY 3: $77,792
PGY 4: $80,904
PGY 5: $84,139
PGY 6: $87,505
PGY 7: $91,005
PGY 8: $94,646

Benefits

Medical
Dental
Malpractice insurance
Office space
On-call cell phone
Prescription drug coverage
Secretarial support

About Our Hospital in Delaware

The �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware is a multispecialty, tertiary care teaching institution located on a 300-acre estate in the scenic Brandywine Valley in Wilmington, Del.

Among the hospital’s amenities for all staff are:

Free parking
Park-like setting
Gym/fitness center
On-site child care center for children of staff

Learn More About Our Children's Hospital

Living in Delaware Valley

Because of our location in the tri-state area of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, we offer unique living/working opportunities. For example, you can choose to live in the downtown Philadelphia area and easily commute to our park-like hospital campus in Wilmington.

Wilmington, Del.
Philadelphia, Pa.

Explore Wilmington

�ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware is located in Wilmington, Del., about 30 minutes from center city Philadelphia, and an easy drive to Baltimore, Lancaster County, Pa. (“Amish Country”), and the beaches in Atlantic City and Delaware. There is much to do in and around the city, including mansion and garden tours, museums, breweries, wineries, fine restaurants and numerous state parks.

Learn More About Delaware:

Explore Philadelphia

Philadelphia is the sixth largest metropolitan area in the United States and offers a wealth of historical, cultural and recreational opportunities. From world-class museums to its professional sports teams to the colorful, bustling districts of South Street, Chinatown and the Italian Market, Philadelphia has something for everyone.

Learn More About the Philadelphia Area:

Train With Recognized Leaders

If you’re looking for a rewarding program built on academic excellence and family-centered care, �ֲ��ý Children's offers outstanding medical, surgical, pharmacy, nursing, therapy and psychology programs. Train with faculty who are respected leaders in their fields, a patient care model that stands apart and access to groundbreaking research.��

Leadership
Faculty
Participants & Alumni

Meet Our Clinical Leadership

Nicholas B. Slamon, MD

Director, Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship Program

Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware

Learn More About Dr. Slamon

Mindy Dickerman, MD

Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship Program

Associate Fellowship Program Director; Director of Education — Critical Care Medicine Palliative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware

Learn More About Dr. Dickerman

Shirley Viteri, MD, MSHQS

Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship Program

Medical Director, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware

Learn More About Dr. Viteri

Scott Weiss, MD, MSCE

Division Chief, Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, �ֲ��ý Children's Hospital

Learn More About Dr. Weiss

Meet Our Program Faculty

David Blauvelt, MD, Staff Intensivist; Department of Pediatrics, �ֲ��ý Children's Hospital, Delaware

Christin Carroll, MD, MS, Medical Director, Critical Care ECMO, Staff Intensivist, Department of Pediatrics, �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware

Jigar Chaudan, MD, Staff Intensivist, Associate Fellowship Program Director

Meg Frizzola, DO, Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship Program, Chief of Medical Staff, Delaware Valley; Staff Intensivist, Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware

Yosef Levenbrown, DO, Medical Director, Apheresis Services, Department of Pediatrics, �ֲ��ý Children's Hospital, Delaware

Nicholas Kalbach, MD, Staff Intensivist

Catherine Madurski, MD, Staff Intensivist

Kimberly McMahon, MD, MSHQS, Director of Quality — Critical Care Medicine; Medical Director, Respiratory Care, Department of Pediatrics, �ֲ��ý Children's Hospital, Delaware

Marisa Meyer, DO, Staff Intensivist, Medical Director, �ֲ��ý Kids Transport Program, �ֲ��ý Children's Hospital, Delaware

Odiraa Nwankwor, MD, MPH, Staff Intensivist

Sarah Perry, MD, Staff Intensivist, Director of Medical Student PICU Clerkship, Department of Pediatrics, �ֲ��ý Children's Hospital, Delaware

Thomas Shaffer, PhD, Director of �ֲ��ý Research Lung Center

Meet Our Participants

Current Participants��

Allison Blatz, MD
John Boos, MD
Erin Brown, DO
Yasaman Brown, DO
Ryan Hessenius, MD
Jennifer Nestor, MD
Laura Pucillo, MD
Brett Russell, MD
Eric Tom, MD

Alumni

Nisha Agasthya, MD — The University of Kansas Hospital
Hussam Alharash, MD — Brooklyn Hospital Center
Dana Barry, DO — �ֲ��ý Children's Health, Cardiology Fellowship
Suzanne Barry, DO — Albany Medical Center
Jessica Becker, MD — UPMC Harrisburg
Rahul Bhattia, MD — Maricopa Medical Center Pediatrics
Caroline Boyd, MD — �ֲ��ý Cardiac Center
Belinda Chandra, MD — East Carolina University Hospital
Jigar Chauhan, MD — �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware
Suhasini Chico, MD — Boston Medical Center/Boston Children's Hospital
Kevin Couloures, DO — Lucille Packard Stanford Children's Hospital
Kaustuv De, MBBS — �ֲ��ý Children's Health
Meg Frizzola, DO — �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware
Erin Hulfish, MD — Stonybrook Children’s
Travis Kauffmann, MD, MPH��— Neuro Critical Care Fellowship, University of Rochester/Golisano Children's Hospital
Stephen Kong, DO — Lehigh Valley
Yosef Levenbrown, DO — �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware
Jennifer Lutz, DO — Lehigh Valley
Shruthi Mahadevaiah, MD — University of Florida, Shands Hospital
Smitha Mathew, MD — Children’s Hospital of Georgia
Kimberly McMahon, MD — �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware
Deepika Murala, MBBS — �ֲ��ý Children's Health
Jermey Neese, MD — Le Bonheur Children's Hospital
Robert Parker, DO — University of Connecticut Children's Hospital
Shetal Patel, MD — Winthrop Hospital
Sarah Perry, MD — �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware
Christopher Plymire, MD — St, Luke's University Health Network
Alan Salas, MD — NYU Langone
Anuradha Setlur, MD — Miller Children's Hospital
Nicholas Slamon, MD — �ֲ��ý Children’s Hospital, Delaware
Kevin Smith, MD — Medical Informatics Fellowship at University of Chicago/Comer Children's Hospital
Cory Templeton, MD — St. Luke's University Hospital
Natalie Torres, MD — Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
Jennifer van Helmond, MD —��Hassenfield Children's Hospital at NYU Langone

Apply Today

Application Requirements

Deadline: October 1, 2024

Training begins: July 1, 2025

2. Curriculum vitae

3. Personal statement

4. Medical school transcript

5. USMLE scores (all 3 levels)

6. Three references

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Questions About Applying?

Nicholas B. Slamon, MD
Program Director
(302) 651-4029
nicholas.slamon@nemours.org

Jennifer DuBois
Administrative Coordinator
(302) 651-4029
jennifer.dubois@nemours.org

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