Our training program consists of 12-15 months of clinical service (including 1 month of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, one month of Cardiology/Cardiothoracic Surgery), 15-19 months for research, and time in a continuity clinic. Each year, the fellow has four weeks of vacation.
Clinical Opportunities
Our fellows attend high-risk inborn service at two different Level III NICUs that provide challenges in caring for all types of sick infants. Care starts with involvement in prenatal case conferences about difficult patients and perinatal consults. The teams are available 24 hours a day for calls to the delivery room. Care is provided in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with up-to-date equipment and an excellent nursing staff.
Rotation Name | Rotation Goals | Rotation Length |
---|---|---|
Level IV NICU rotation at SCHC | Fellows will become competent in:
| Two to four, weeks per rotation |
Level III NICU rotation at Abington | Fellows will become competent in:
| Two to four weeks per rotation |
MFM rotation at Einstein Medical Center | Fellows will:
| Three weeks |
CICU rotation at AI DuPont Hospital | Fellows will:
| Four weeks |
High Risk follow-up Clinic (“Next Step”) | Fellows will become competent in:
| One afternoon every six weeks |
Point of Care Ultrasound | Fellows will become competent in:
| One afternoon every six weeks |
Educational Opportunities
There is a strong commitment to fellow education. There are daily NICU attending teaching conferences and rounds with staff radiologists. One afternoon a week, there is dedicated time for fellow education that covers topics in clinical medicine, perinatal physiology, and research. We also hold evidence-based medicine and Journal Club conferences. Monthly, there are conferences with our obstetrical colleagues. The educational experience is augmented by participation in simulations using high-fidelity mannequins that apply what is taught at other times through a structured curriculum. Similarly, the material is reviewed using a Board Course format.
In addition, St. Christopher's Hospital offers a comprehensive Core Curriculum for the education of the fellows. At these meetings, the Neonatal-Perinatal fellows are able to interact with their peers/fellows from all of the other disciplines. The faculty fully supports each fellow to meet all of the American Board of Pediatrics requirements for Scholarly Activity. By having joint educational meetings with fellows from other programs in Philadelphia, the fellow's experience is enriched. Fellows are encouraged to attend meetings of the Philadelphia Perinatal Society and present their research in the annual Boggs Award competition.
Research Opportunities
Ample time spread over three years is available to formulate a research project, collect data, write abstracts for national and international meetings, and prepare manuscripts for publication in competitive scientific journals.
Research is important for the future to improve the care of newborns and understand disease processes that affect babies. Members of our division are currently investigating:
Brain injury induced by:
- Hypoxia
- Hyperoxia
- Drugs
- Systemic inflammation
Understanding the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia:
- Utilizing in vitro and in vivo hyperoxia-induced lung injury models
- Utilizing genetic gain-of-function (transgenic mice) and loss-of-function (null mutant mice; siRNA) models
- Utilizing in vitro and in vivo sepsis-induced lung injury models
Collaborative clinical projects to enhance clinical care:
- Impact of preterm formula on bone mineralization
Mechanisms of fetal programming of adult-onset diseases by investigating:
- Impact of maternal nutrition on modulating hypothalamic gene expression in offspring
- Interaction of maternal stress and diet on the development of metabolic dysfunction in offspring
- Neonatal immune response to infection
- Mechanisms that the neonate uses to fight the influenza virus
Simulation as an Educational Tool:
- Quantitatively Measure Critical Thinking Skills of Neonatology Fellows
This research is supported in part by grants funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), March of Dimes, The Hartwell Foundation, St. Christopher's Foundation for Children, and the Newborn Resuscitation Program of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is industry-sponsored.
Quality Improvement in the NICU – Fellow-led projects
- I-Pass: Handoff tool
- Timely Administration of Antibiotics in High-risk Admission
- Accuracy of Hands-off information
- Improvement of Discharge summaries
- Oxygen targets
- Improvement of MRI slots for NICU patients
- Improve placement of umbilical catheters
- Prevention of unplanned extubation events in Neonates
- Consult Documentation
- Improving discharge communication between well-baby nursery physicians and community
primary care providers - Improving adherence to AAP recommendations for the prevention of perinatal GBS
- Improving physician documentation in the medical record of central line placement and removal
- Vancomycin use in Neonatal patients
- Newborn Resuscitation Program Compliance
- Medication Reconciliation 'NPSG8'