About the fellowship

The one-year (12-month) Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Fellowship Program, is designed as a comprehensive educational and clinical training program to provide graduates the clinical expertise, scholarly experience, team leadership skills, and supervisory proficiency expected of consultants and leaders in the field of pediatric cardiac anesthesiology. The program attained accreditation through the ACGME in 2023. 

The experienced 15-member faculty in the Division of Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia is dedicated to the clinical care, education and research related to patients with congenital heart disease.. The unique complexity and acuity of our patient population exposes the advanced fellow to an unmatched training opportunity.

During the 2023-2024 fiscal year, we performed over 3,000 anesthetics, including 545  operations with cardiopulmonary bypass, 12 heart transplants, 4 lung transplants, 25 mechanical support device implantations, among other advanced procedures. We care for one of the largest populations of children with single ventricle physiology nationwide.

Clinical experience: 12 months (13 blocks)

A major component of the Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Fellowship is geared toward supervised clinical care of cardiac surgical patients of increasing complexity and progression to independent practice.

Clinical areas of rotation will include cardiac surgical operating rooms, catheterization and electrophysiological laboratories, diagnostic imaging suites, the pediatric cardiac ICU and non-OR-anesthetizing locations In addition, the Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia fellow will care for patients undergoing emergency procedures, heart and lung transplantations. The Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia fellow will be exposed to unique aspects of the Cardiac surgical program at CHOP, which includes::

• The entire spectrum of surgery for complex congenital heart defects, including fetal and intrapartum surgery, such as ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) and immediate postpartum access to cardiac therapy (IMPACT) procedures
• Major organ transplantations (heart, lung, and heart-lung)
• Patients with single ventricle physiology across the lifespan undergoing a variety of  surgeries and interventional procedures.
• Anesthetic management of patients receiving or depending on cardiac assist devices
• Surgical procedures on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
• An increasing number of patients with adult congenital heart disease for both cardiac and non-cardiac interventions

Clinical rotations

•  Nine blocks in the Cardiac Operative and Imaging Complex (COIC). This time will be largely in the cardiac operating rooms caring for children undergoing complex congenital heart repairs utilizing CPB.  Time will also be spent in the interventional and diagnostic cardiac catheterization laboratories.
• One block in the Cardiac ICU. The Cardiac Intensive Care Unit is staffed by intensivists with pediatric cardiology and pediatric anesthesia backgrounds. The clinical rotation is intended to provide further experience in the perioperative medical and surgical management of children with congenital heart disease. The fellow will be involved in bedside care of critically ill children, transitions of perioperative patients between operating room and CICU, and Cardiac Critical Care didactic conferences.
• A two week rotation on pediatric echocardiography under the guidance of the cardiologist assigned to the echocardiography lab for reviewing perioperative echoes, intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography, and needful didactics for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of congenital heart disease
• A two-week rotation with certified clinical perfusionists in the Cardiac Center to acquire an in-depth understanding of the functional components and physiology of cardiopulmonary bypass in the pediatric patient
• One block of elective for you to customize your fellowship experience.  Prior fellows have chosen to spend time in NORA locations, advanced ECHO, cath lab on the interventional cardiology side of the table, global health, and other customized experiences.
• Fellows have twenty days of vacation (one block) to be used throughout their fellowship, excluding time while in the CICU

Educational program

As a future consultant in pediatric cardiac anesthesiology, the advanced fellow will be provided with approximately one dedicated day every week for academic pursuits. Other educational opportunities include:

• Monthly departmental Grand Rounds series
• Dedicated weekly advanced pediatric cardiac anesthesia fellowship didactic series
• Divisional meetings including regular Quality and safety, case review, educational and research updates, journal clubs,
• Advanced fellows will participate in delivering two lectures in the “Cardiac Basics Curriculum” and presenting one QI/M&M case with a faculty mentor
• Cardiac Center wide conferences including neonatal review, CICU multidisciplinary Review, Presurgical Case review, Cardiology Pathology Conference and more.

Career preparation

Formal career mentoring with a dedicated faculty member as well as ongoing support from the program director is part of the year long program and beyond.

Research

Clinical research during this limited time fellowship year is beyond the scope and not mandatory. Motivated fellows may choose to participate in current ongoing projects. However, Fellows are encouraged to complete a scholarly academic project (clinical case report, PBLD) and submit to a national meeting such as CCAS or SPA.  Attendance to present is supported by the division.

Benefits

All benefits for the advanced fellowship are commensurate with the appropriate level of fellowship training year set forth by the CHOP GME offices.

The package includes medical, dental, vision benefits, vacation/meeting time, PE (professional expense account).

How to apply

Qualified candidates will have successfully completed 1 year training in an accredited pediatric anesthesia fellowship or a 1-year accredited Adult Cardiothoracic Fellowship.  Exceptional international candidates will be considered. Two-year training positions that combine pediatric anesthesiology and advanced pediatric cardiac anesthesiology are available for interested and qualified candidates. Candidates should be board certified diplomates of the ABA or board eligible.

All applications should include the following:

• Common application (CHOP)
• Four (4) letters of recommendation (LORs)
• Medical school performance evaluation (MSPE)
• Medical school transcripts
• Curriculum vitae
• Personal statement
• Photograph
• USMLE parts 1, 2 (CK and CS) and 3 score transcript(s) OR COMLEX
• Copy of ECFMG certificate for graduates of medical schools outside the U.S., Canada or Puerto Rico

Please submit all the requisite materials via email to cardiacanesthesiafellowship@chop.edu.

Other requirements

To carry out its mission, it is of critical importance for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to keep our patients, families and workforce safe and healthy and to support the health of our global community. In keeping with this, CHOP has mandated all workforce members (including trainees) on site at any CHOP location for any portion of their time be vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

This mandate also applies to workforce members or trainees performing work for CHOP at non-CHOP locations. Additionally, all workforce members based in or regularly scheduled to work at any New Jersey location are mandated to be both vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19, with booster timing consistent with applicable guidelines. The CHOP COVID-19 vaccine mandate is in alignment with applicable local, state and federal mandates. CHOP also requires all workforce members and trainees who work in patient care buildings or who provide patient care to receive an annual influenza vaccine. Employees may request exemption consideration for CHOP vaccine requirements for valid religious and medical reasons. Please note start dates may be delayed until candidates are fully immunized or valid exemption requests are reviewed. In addition, candidates other than those in positions with regularly scheduled hours in New Jersey, must attest to not using tobacco products.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other protected category. CHOP is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor seeking priority referrals for protected veterans.

CHOP is committed to building an inclusive culture where employees feel a sense of belonging, connection, and community within their workplace. We are a team dedicated to fostering an environment that allows for all to be their authentic selves. We are focused on attracting, cultivating, and retaining diverse talent who can help us deliver on our mission to be a world leader in the advancement of healthcare for children.

We strongly encourage all candidates of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

Contact

Thank you for your interest in our program. For additional questions, please contact:

Division of Cardiac Anesthesia
Email: cardiacanesthesiafellowship@chop.edu

or

Lindsey M. Loveland, MD, FASA
Associate Professor of Clinical Anesthesia
Program Director, Advanced Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship
Associate Chief for Education and Professional Development
Division of Cardiac Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Email: lovelandbl@chop.edu

Upon completion of our Advanced Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship Program, to request a Fellowship Verification Form, please contact the CHOP GME office at gme@chop.edu.