Program Structure

During the first two weeks, fellows are oriented to the NICU environment, and program expectations are outlined. Fellows  participate in neonatal resuscitation training (NRP), simulation-based difficulty conversations training, and the Midwest Neonatal Simulation Boot Camp, as well as other onboarding activities.  During the first year, each fellow spends a total of 5.5 months in the NICU. Under the direction of an Attending neonatologist, fellows are expected develop skills required to diagnose and provide clinical care, gain experience in neonatal resuscitation and delivery room management, and coordinate transports. Fellows are expected to gradually gain skill in common neonatal procedures and begin to develop teaching and leadership skills, progressing throughout the first year. Fellows achieve an increasing level of responsibility and independence, based on demonstrated ability and confidence as they progress throughout the year.

• Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Fellows rotate with the Maternal-fetal medicine service to understand and participate in the care of families with high-risk pregnancies and those with morbidities that can impact the fetus. During the rotations fellows participate in interdisciplinary consultations for parents/families with high-risk, complex pregnancies in the Rush Fetal-Neonatal Medicine Center clinic and the Chicago Institute for Fetal Health at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital.
• Radiology: The two-week rotation is designed to provide one-on-one training with a pediatric radiologist for fellows to learn the interpretation of neonatal radiologic studies, including x-rays, CTs, ultrasounds, MRIs, etc.

In the second year, each fellow spends a total of 4.5 months in the NICU, and the second year builds upon the first. With progressively less direct supervision, fellows are expected to demonstrate increasing knowledge of fetal/neonatal physiology and pathophysiology, develop diagnostic and treatment plans, direct and supervise clinical care, and demonstrate developing skill in neonatal resuscitation and delivery room management. Fellows are expected to conduct transports and demonstrate more advanced procedural and teaching ability. As the second year progresses, fellows are expected to demonstrate emerging leadership skills and attain growing knowledge of the administrative aspects of the field of neonatology.

• Pediatric Cardiac ICU: To gain an understanding of congenital heart defects and experience in the pre- and post-operative management of neonates with congenital heart defects, fellows rotate (in year 2 and 3) with the cardiothoracic teams in the Pediatric Cardiac ICU at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. Fellows also participate in a four-day, interdisciplinary hands-on ECMO training course at RUMC.

During the third year, each fellow spends a total of 3 months in the NICU. Third-year fellows are expected to function with increased independence, and for the final two clinical rotations function as the “Acting Attending Physician” (under the supervision of the Attending Physician on service). Fellows are expected to apply advanced knowledge of neonatology to develop diagnostic and treatment plans and direct and supervise the interprofessional care team, demonstrate procedural proficiency and advanced clinical and leadership skills in neonatal resuscitation and delivery room management. Third year fellows are responsible for teaching and supervising house staff, junior fellows and students. The third year provides fellows the opportunity to develop advanced leadership skills and additional knowledge and experience in the administrative aspects of neonatology.