Department of Pediatrics
Department of Pediatrics
The Department of Pediatrics

Neonatology Fellowship Training Program

Our Division offers an accredited 3-year training program in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine with positions available for 3-4 new fellows each year.


The Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at the University of Texas Houston Medical School offers an accredited 3-year training program in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. The program's goal is to train pediatricians for a successful career in neonatal-perinatal medicine. The training program integrates a strong background in basic and clinical research, excellent clinical training in the care of sick neonates, and comprehensive follow-up of infants discharged from the neonatal ICU. The core curriculum is guided by the American Board of Pediatrics subspecialty training requirements and the ACGME's six areas of general competency (medical knowledge, patient care, professionalism, interpersonal and communication skills, practice-based learning and improvement, and systems-based practice). Upon successful completion of the program, the fellow will be eligible for certification by the Sub-Board of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine of the American Board of Pediatrics. Positions are available for 3-4 fellows each year; the training generally starts on July 1st, but alternative start dates may be considered.

 

Faculty

The Division consists of 20 teaching faculty, including 12 neonatologists, 4 pediatricians, 1 Ph.D. biochemist, and 3 Ph.D. psychologists/statisticians.

Read more about our faculty and staff.

Clinical Training Program

The Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine staffs the neonatal units at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital (CMHH) and Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) General Hospital. Both facilities are teaching hospitals for the University of Texas Medical School at Houston; they provide a full range of pediatric medical and surgical subspecialty services. CMHH is a referral center for pediatric cardiovascular surgery, neonatal ECMO, inhaled nitric oxide therapy and whole body hypothermia therapy. Care in the level 2 and 3 neonatal units is provided by the neonatologists, pediatricians, neonatal fellows, and neonatal nurse practitioners of the UT Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine and by the pediatric residents of the UT-Houston Department of Pediatrics.

Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital

  • 3,500 deliveries per year, 800 NICU admissions per year
  • Intensive Care Nursery: 80 beds
  • Intermediate Care Nursery: 38 beds

LBJ General Hospital

  • 6,000 deliveries per year, 600 NICU admissions per year
  • Intensive Care Nursery: 12 beds
  • Intermediate/Continuing Care: 24 beds

High Risk Follow-Up Clinics

  • Outpatient facilities at both CMHH and LBJ

Read more about our Clinical Services.

Research Training Program

The Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston is involved in numerous laboratory and clinical research activities in the following areas:

  • Areas of Ongoing Basic Research
    • Placental growth factors and fetal growth
    • Surfactant protein biochemistry
    • Mechanisms of meconium-induced lung injury
  • Areas of Ongoing Clinical Research (including NICHD Multicenter Network of Neonatal Intensive Care Units):
    • Evaluation of volumetric MRI as a predictor of neurodevelopmental outcome in ELBW infants
    • Observational study of the effects of noise on ELBW infants
    • Trial of aggressive vs conservative ventilation and different O2 saturation goals in ELBW infants
    • Trial of hydrocortisone for prevention of CLD
    • Trial of intra-ocular Avastin versus laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity

The primary goal of the research component of the fellowship program is high-quality scholarly activity by the fellow. The program provides the fellow with guided research training and broad exposure to research experiences during the three years of fellowship. The choice of research project must be decided by the fellow with advice and approval from the Fellowship Director and the Division Director. By the end of the first year, the fellow will have developed a research proposal. The two remaining years of fellowship will be used to execute the research proposal.

Read more about Division Research Activities.

Current Fellows' Research Projects

  • Erin Hamilton-Spence (2005-2008)
    • Antibody secreting cells in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis
  • Eva Wheatley (2005-2008)
    • Pharmacologic management of gastroesophageal reflux
    • Management of hyponatremia in infants on diuretics
  • Ana Rojas (2006-2009)
    • Surfactant biochemistry
  • Jerry Chen (2007-2010)
    • Effect of milk protein on surfactant biochemistry
  • Sangeeta Kandpal (2007-2010)
    • Surfactant biochemistry
  • Ulrike Mietzsch (2007-2010)
    • Mouse models of the neuropathology of tuberous sclerosis complex
  • Cea Tillis (2007-2010)
    • Surfactant biochemisty
  • Chiamaka Aneji (2008-2011)
  • John Chapman (2008-2011)
  • Marryam Khan (2008-2011)
  • Melissa Tilley (2008-2011)

Required Coursework

To supplement the individualized learning accomplished through the research project, the following didactic courses are offered over the three-year fellowship program:

  • Biostatistics for Clinical Investigators

    • (Wed 17:00-18:30, given over 4 months every 2 years)
    • Directed by Drs. Kathleen Kennedy and Bob Lasky.
  • Clinical Epidemiology
    • (Wed 17:00-18:30, given over 3 months every 2 years)
    • Directed by Dr. Charles Miller.
  • Literature Appraisal
    • (Wed 17:00-18:30, given over 2 months every 2 years)
    • Directed by Drs. Kathleen Kennedy and Jon Tyson

The above courses are part of the Clinical Research Curriculum (CRCA) and are specifically designed to accommodate the aptitudes of clinical investigators and clinicians and to meet the goals of the American Board of Subspecialty requirements.

  • Physiology of Pregnancy

    • (Mon 16:00-18:00, given in spring semester every 3 years)
    • Graduate school course covering the physiologic and pathophysiologic changes of pregnancy and the normal and abnormal development of the fetus
    • Directed by Drs. Manju Monga and Sue Ramin

See Detailed Curriculum/Rotation Schedule

 

Teaching Conferences

  • Fellows' Conference

    • (Tues 12:00-13:00) Two to three sessions each month are presentations and discussions by Neonatology and MFM faculty and fellows. The curriculum covers topics on development of the fetus and neonate, pathophysiology of maternal and neonatal diseases, management of maternal-fetal and neonatal problems, and basic research techniques. Each fellow is expected to present two sessions per year, on average.
    • One session each month is devoted to an evidence-based medicine discussion covering the interpretation and application of clinical research to the practice of neonatal-perinatal medicine. Published medical literature appraisal criteria are used to review and appraise the evidence supporting the reviewed topics. The emphasis is on clinical trials and systematic reviews in neonatology, but studies of diagnostic tests, prognosis, practice guidelines, and economic evaluation are also included.
    • One session each month is devoted to a journal club for basic and translational research. Standardized basic science literature appraisal criteria are used to review and appraise the evidence supporting the reviewed topics.
    • Directed by Dr. Sophia Tsakiri.
    • See schedule for upcoming lectures.
  • Division Conference
    • (Thurs 08:00-09:00) Neonatology faculty and fellows and other UT faculty present completed research, work in progress, and evidence-based literature reviews to guide the development of clinical consensus guidelines for the Division.
  • Neonatal Clinical Conference
    • (Thurs 12:00-1:00) Each week, the focus of this conference rotates as follows: 1) NICU clinical management meeting (directed by the fellow and faculty on the inpatient rotation); 2) multidisciplinary service line meeting; 3) neonatal morbidity and mortality conference; 4) joint case conference with maternal-fetal medicine; 5) nutrition journal club.
    • Directed by Drs. Kathleen Kennedy, Susan Denson, and Amir Khan

How to Apply:

Our three-year fellowship seeks physicians who will have completed two to three years of training in an accredited residency program to qualify for the American Board of Pediatrics certifying examination. Our fellowship program participates in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). Physicians interested in our Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine fellowship training program should review the program application requirements and submit the application through ERAS.

In Fall 2008, we will be accepting applications through ERAS from physicians interested in beginning fellowship training in July 2010. 
The deadline for ERAS applications for fellows beginning training in July 2009 was May 31, 2008.  Selected candidates will be interviewed through August 29, 2008.
We will participate in the match for our open positions.

Program Application Requirements

  • Personal statement
  • Official medical school transcript
  • Medical School Dean's letter or Medical School Performance Evaluation
  • 3 letters of recommendation: 1 from a Neonatologist and 1 from your Residency Program Director; all should be accompanied by the NPM Fellowship Referee's Evaluation Form.
  • USMLE transcript
  • Pediatric residency completed in US or Canada before beginning fellowship
  • Foreign Medical Graduates:
    • The only appropriate training visa is the J-1 visa. We do not work with or sponsor any other visas. IMPORTANT: You must have a valid ECFMG certificate before applying to our fellowship program.
    • Required Document List - If you are asked to interview, original and notarized copies (with notary stamp and signature on every page) will be reviewed by the GME staff on your interview day with the notarized copies provided as part of your GME file.

Useful Resources:

UT-Houston GME Office
UT System Medical Foundation (Payroll & Benefits)
AAP NPM Fellowship Applicants' Information

Questions should be addressed to:

Suzanne Lopez, MD
Director, NPM Fellowship Training Program
Department of Pediatrics
6431 Fannin, Suite 3.242
Houston, TX 77030

Or direct your email inquiry to: Kim Self, Executive Assistant & Fellowship Coordinator (Kimberly.A.Self@uth.tmc.edu)

If you have any questions, please call our office at (713) 500-5727.