Curricula & Schedules

The first year of fellowship is dedicated to fellows getting comfortable with the transition from resident to fellow, understanding the workflow of the PICU and the CVICU, and obtaining a good knowledge base in cardiopulmonary failure and resuscitation, shock, oxygen delivery, and management of oxygenation and ventilation. In addition to the normal rotations in the PICU and the separate CVICU, first-year fellows rotate with Anesthesia and CV/Cardiology to develop important procedural skills.

Anesthesia

Fellows spend four weeks with the Anesthesia service. Fellows gain experience in airway management skills, focusing on appropriate airway positioning to maintain patient airways, bag-valve-mask ventilation, and intubation skills. Fellows also work with central venous cannulation and arterial lines.

CV/Cardiology

Fellows spend four weeks with the Pediatric Cardiologists. Fellows spend time in the cardiac catheterization laboratory to develop expertise in waveform analysis and hemodynamic data.

CVICU

Fellows spend eight weeks in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. Fellows assist in the medical management of pre-operative patients under the supervision of cardiac intensivists. Fellows assist in the medical management of post-operative patients under the supervision of cardiac intensivists and with input from pediatric cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons. 

PICU

Fellows spend 24 weeks in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Fellows have primary responsibility for the care of a sub-group of patients while under the supervision of a pediatric intensivist. Fellows can be assigned to any one of three teams.

Research

Fellows receive protected time to progress toward completing their required scholarly activity. Fellows may take call in either the PICU or CVICU while assigned to a research rotation. Fellows can only take Paid Time Off, in one-week blocks, during research rotations.

During their second year of fellowship, fellows will begin to take on additional leadership and teaching roles as well as continue to grow in their medical knowledge. Fellows have four weeks of elective time.

Elective

Fellows are free to spend their four weeks elective time as they see fit. Often, fellows will split their elective time into one-week blocks, splitting their time between various subspecialties. Potential electives include spending time with the PICC team, doing an away rotation at the nearby burn center, or rotating with any of the subspecialty groups at Phoenix Children’s.

CVICU

Fellows spend eight weeks in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. Fellows assist in the medical management of pre-operative patients under the supervision of cardiac intensivists. Fellows assist in the medical management of post-operative patients under the supervision of cardiac intensivists and with input from pediatric cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons. 

PICU

Fellows spend 16 weeks in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Fellows have primary responsibility for the care of a sub-group of patients while under the supervision of a pediatric intensivist. Fellows can be assigned to any one of three teams.

Research

Fellows receive protected time to progress toward completing their required scholarly activity. Fellows may take call in either the PICU or CVICU while assigned to a research rotation. Fellows can only take Paid Time Off, in one-week blocks, during research rotations.

During their third year of fellowship, fellows lead rounds and care conferences. If attending physicians are not present, they should seek feedback from other attendees. Fellows continue to build on knowledge and skills and continue to study the board examination. Fellows staff all admissions with the residents and students followed by attending physicians once plans are in place. Fellows manage the unit and prepare for independent practice.

Elective

Fellows are free to spend their four weeks elective time as they see fit. Often, fellows will split their elective time into one-week blocks, splitting their time between various subspecialties. Potential electives include spending time with the PICC team, doing an away rotation at the nearby burn center, or rotating with any of the subspecialty groups at Phoenix Children’s.

CVICU

Fellows spend eight weeks in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. Fellows assist in the medical management of pre-operative patients under the supervision of cardiac intensivists. Fellows assist in the medical management of post-operative patients under the supervision of cardiac intensivists and with input from pediatric cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons. 

PICU

Fellows spend twelve weeks in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Fellows have primary responsibility for the care of a sub-group of patients while under the supervision of a pediatric intensivist. Fellows can be assigned to any one of three teams.

Research

Fellows receive protected time to progress toward completing their required scholarly activity. Fellows may take call in either the PICU or CVICU while assigned to a research rotation. Fellows can only take Paid Time Off, in one-week blocks, during research rotations.