Curriculum

St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center (SJHMC)

• Program’s primary delivery hospital
• Level III NICU
• 70 beds with >4000 deliveries and >600 admission per year
• Primary referral hospital for mothers in the Center for Fetal and Neonatal Care
• Small Baby Unit with dedicated protocols, nurses and care providers
• Primary rotating site for pediatric residents and the Creighton University Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency and Maternal-Fetal-Medicine Fellowship Programs
   

Phoenix Children's

• Level IV referral NICU
• 61 beds with ~400 admissions per year
• Approximately half of all admissions require surgery
• Primary neonatal ECMO center in Arizona with >10 ECMO and CRRT cases each year
• NICU is a nationally recognized Neuro-ICU and BPD Unit
• Other areas of expertise include CDH, intestinal failure rehabilitation, neurocritical care and hemodynamics
  
   

Our fellowship offers an exceptional opportunity for fellows to develop specialized expertise in research related to neonatal and perinatal medicine. We designed the research curriculum to immerse fellows in both clinical and basic science research, fostering an environment that encourages innovation, critical thinking and collaboration. Fellows can become leaders in the field and make meaningful contributions to the advancement of neonatal care through scientific discovery.

Goals of the Research Curriculum

The primary goals of the research curriculum are to:

1. Develop Advanced Research Skills: Fellows will gain proficiency in conducting both clinical and laboratory research. They learn research methodologies such as study design, statistical analysis and manuscript preparation.
2. Foster Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Fellows will have opportunities to collaborate with experts in neonatology and related fields to expand their research horizons.
3. Advance Knowledge in Neonatal Health: Fellows will engage in studies that address critical issues such as prematurity, respiratory disorders, hemodynamics and neurodevelopmental outcomes. They contribute to the body of knowledge that directly impacts clinical care.
4. Prepare for Leadership in Research: Fellows will gain the tools and experience needed to lead independent research projects. They can contribute significantly to the academic and clinical communities.
    

Research Opportunities

Our fellowship offers a variety of research opportunities across multiple domains of neonatal and perinatal medicine, including:

1. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Research: Fellows have access to a large NICU population and database(s) for studies related to patient outcomes, clinical interventions, and quality improvement. These also include projects utilizing POCUS and TNE technology.
2. Phoenix Children’s Research Institute at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and Phoenix Children’s: There are opportunities for NIH grant-supported research focusing on basic/translational projects. Neonatal projects surround novel molecular mechanisms critical for embryonic lung development and lung regeneration after injury. We’re developing new therapeutic strategies and technologies that can improve clinical care for patients suffering from pediatric pulmonary disorders. These include nanoparticle delivery systems for gene therapy, cell therapies with endothelial progenitor cells and artificial lung tissue derived from pluripotent embryonic stem cells.
3. Neurodevelopmental Outcomes: The Phoenix Children's NEST Clinic and its robust database of neurodevelopmental screening outcomes provides significant research opportunities for fellows.
4. Clinical Trials: Fellows will participate in ongoing clinical trials aimed at evaluating new interventions and treatments in neonatal care, including drug therapies, device development, and preventive strategies.

Faculty & Mentorship

The research curriculum is led by a team of experienced faculty members who are leaders in their respective fields. We pair fellows with faculty mentors who provide individualized guidance and support throughout their fellowship. The mentorship process ensures fellows can develop their research ideas, learn about the intricacies of grant writing and publication and receive constructive feedback on their work.

Faculty mentors stay actively engaged in both clinical and basic science research. We encourage fellows to work closely with faculty to design and execute projects that align with their interests. Mentors are available for regular meetings to discuss research progress, challenges and strategies for success in both academic and clinical settings.

The Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship offers extensive didactic/education training that includes:

• A core didactic curriculum that teaches current concepts in fetal and neonatal medicine (consistent with current ABP Content Outline)
• Medical Statistics and QI curriculum
• ECMO curriculum
• POCUS curriculum with both a local and national training component
• Regular perinatal/fetal review meetings held jointly with OB, MFM, and Phoenix Children's subspecialists
• Phoenix Children's and NICU-specific Grand Rounds with international/national/local speakers
• Morbidity and Mortality conferences
• Regular Journal Club seminars with neonatal medicine and invited faculty
• Palliative Care conferences (joint with Palliative Care Medicine fellows)