Medical College of Wisconsin Neonatology Fellowship

Children's Wisconsin is home to a newly renovated 71-bed Level IV NICU. We recently moved from our previous bay style NICU into the new unit, which features all private rooms. The average daily census of 50-60 patients is divided between three care teams.

While on service in the NICU, fellows oversee the team and provide teaching for the residents, either formally or at bedside when possible. This team oversight may involve interacting with one of the many subspecialty services Children’s has to offer, as the NICU team rounds daily with both Cardiology and Pediatric Surgery.

The variety of patients admitted to Children's provides an unrivaled opportunity to master procedural skills. First year fellows are preferentially given procedural opportunities during the first six months of fellowship, and nearly all have become phenomenally competent during that time.

Children’s Wisconsin and The Medical College of Wisconsin have a strong tradition of research accomplishments among our fellows.  After graduating, many of our fellows have continued their research endeavors and have become leaders in their respective fields of research.   The Division of Neonatology recognizes the unique opportunity that is present during fellowship training.  

Just as we prepare our fellows to become experts in neonatal medicine, we also mentor them to develop the skills to become experts in research. Rather than assign a project to each fellow, we encourage our fellows to choose a project that will both interest them during fellowship and prepare them for a career in academic neonatology. Our division has a wide variety of research interests, and faculty members are eager to train fellows. However, fellows are not limited to just the Division of Neonatology. As the only academic medical campus in Milwaukee, fellows have a wide variety of research projects to choose from. Past fellows have worked with many different divisions at CW/MCW, including genetics, pediatric surgery, physiology, neurology, and palliative care.

During the first few months of fellowship, fellows will find a mentor and research project. Each faculty member conducting research presents their research to the fellows. The fellowship director will meet with each new fellow to help them decide on a project and will facilitate discussions with researchers outside of the division if a fellow has a particular interest. Fellows will also pick other faculty members to be on their Scholarly Oversight Committee (SOC), who provide guidance to fellows throughout their training. Fellows meet with their SOC members twice per year for updates and advice on their progress. Fellows are expected to submit their research as a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal in order to graduate. The majority of our fellows not only have submitted one manuscript, but have had several accepted during their training.

Our fellows are encouraged to present their research at national and international conferences. Nearly all of our third year fellows have presented their research at the Pediatric Academic Society/Society for Pediatric Research (PAS/SPR) annual convention, the preeminent neonatology conference in the world. In addition, many have presented at other conferences, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, in addition to local and regional meetings. The Department of Pediatrics often provides additional funding for travel to the PAS/SPR meeting for presenting fellows.

We recognize the importance of training fellows to become successful physician scientists, and have the ability and expertise to help each fellow achieve their research goals. Our faculty take great pride in training fellows and watching them achieve success in their scholarly project. We are confident that if you choose our fellowship program, you will have the ability to become an excellent clinician and be competitive in your future research endeavors.

Research Mentorship

Fellows receive excellent mentoring at all levels of training. They are required to complete a research project before the end of the third year and to have at least one or more first author publications in a peer reviewed journal. In order for them to complete a successful research project, a faculty mentor along with two additional faculty members, will be assigned to assist and monitor their progress by meeting twice yearly with a Scholarship Oversight Committee. Fellows will also be expected to present their research periodically in formal conferences to the faculty. The senior faculty and others provide guidance in grant writing, paper presentations, and manuscript writing in the Medical College of Wisconsin. Fellows will be expected to take courses in biostatistics and will have the opportunity to take courses in specialized areas of research Interests (e.g. molecular biology).

Fellows are encouraged to submit abstracts to national meetings annually (both basic science and pediatric meetings, such as Pediatric Academic Society Meetings). The Department of Pediatrics pays for the expenses to attend these meetings through the academic development fund assigned to each fellow.

Fellow Research Accomplishments

Original manuscript publications in the following journals:

• Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol*
• J Neuroinfect Dis*
• Pediatrics
• Pediatr Res*
• J Perinatol.*
• Perinatal Cardiology*
• Pediatric Emergency Care*
• Mat Child Health*
• J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med.
• Journal of Surgical Research
• Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

*Fellow was first author

Regional and National Conference Presentations

• Pediatric Academy Society
• Pediatric Endocrine Society
• Best Practices in Pediatrics
• AAP Central Conference on Perinatal Research

Awards

• Young Investigator Career Development Award, Department of Pediatrics, MCW
• Marshall Klaus Perinatal Research Award
• District 6 American Academy of Pediatrics Award

SOC Expectations (PDF)

Children's Wisconsin is home to a newly renovated 71-bed Level IV NICU. We recently moved from our previous bay style NICU into the new unit, which features all private rooms. The average daily census of 50-60 patients is divided between three care teams. Teams A and B are comprised of a Neonatology faculty member, one fellow, 1-2 nurse practitioners, and 2-4 pediatric residents. Team C is comprised of one Neonatology attending, one senior fellow and two nurse practitioners. While on service in the NICU, fellows oversee the team and provide teaching for the residents, either formally or at bedside when possible. This team oversight may involve interacting with one of the many subspecialty services Children’s has to offer, as the NICU team rounds daily with both Cardiology and Pediatric Surgery. The variety of patients admitted to Children's provides an unrivaled opportunity to master procedural skills. First year fellows are preferentially given procedural opportunities during the first six months of fellowship, and nearly all have become phenomenally competent during that time.

In addition to direct patient care of infants in the NICU, fellows attend deliveries and perform prenatal consults. Children’s Wisconsin is affiliated with Froedtert Hospital. Froedtert Hospital has over 3,000 deliveries annually and is home to an expanding Maternal Fetal Medicine and High Risk OB program. Children's is recognized as both the top children’s hospital in the state, and also one of the most prestigious hospitals in the nation. Expecting parents are referred to Children's for many reasons, including prematurity, high-risk deliveries, and congenital anomalies. Our pediatric surgeons and MFM physicians have successfully conducted many fetal procedures, including meningomyelocele (MMC) repairs, bladder outlet obstructions, and fetal hydrops. These unique opportunities ensure that fellows will become skilled at not only typical neonatal resuscitations, but also in the delivery room management of complex congenital anomalies. The Labor and Delivery unit is conveniently located within the east tower of the Children’s building and is a short walk from the NICU.

Neonatal Developmental Follow-Up Clinic
All fellows will participate in the Neonatal Developmental Follow-up Clinic, which is run by our developmental pediatrician and follows NICU graduates up to age three. Fellows will attend clinic twice per month when not on service. This experience provides fellows with an opportunity to see the outcomes of our smallest and sickest patients, and provide fellows experience with the developmental assessment tools.

Newborn Nursery Rotation
During the first year, fellows will rotate through the newborn nursery for 2 weeks. During the rotation, fellows manage the resident team and are responsible for running rounds and staffing patients in the afternoon. The Newborn Nursery actually functions as a Level II NICU, and often has late premature infants and those requiring moderate intervention. Fellows will become familiar with the protocols and abilities of the Level II newborn nursery within Froedtert Hospital.

Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic
During their second year, fellows rotate for two weeks in the maternal fetal medicine clinic. Fellows follow MFM providers to learn about the obstetrical management of our potential patients. Fellows attend prenatal consults with Neonatology faculty and pediatric subspecialists and observe fetal surgery if possible.

Cardiac ICU Rotation
During the third year of fellowship, fellows will rotate for two weeks in the cardiac ICU. While there, fellows will gain experience with the post-operative management cardiac conditions and ECMO. NICU fellow rotating through the CICU will provide care for post-operative neonates only.

Clinical Electives
Depending on the individual fellow's needs and desires, elective rotations will be designed throughout the fellowship for additional exposure to areas of particular clinical interest to the fellow (e.g. cardiology rotation with focus on neonatal echocardiography, radiology rotation with emphasis on neonatal ultrasounds and special procedures). Each elective is done for a period of one month and no more than one elective month may be requested for each subspecialty area.

For each year of your fellowship, you will be given more responsibility in direct patient care and leading the care team. We expect that by the end of your third year, you will be functioning at the level of an attending and we will work with you to help you get there! Because of this graded responsibility, each year of your fellowship will look a little different.

First Year:

1. Develop clinical competence (5 months in the NICU, ½ month in the Newborn Nursery, and one month in the Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up Clinic). You will master the procedural skills during the first 6 months by preferentially giving procedures to first-year fellows during this time.
2. Present two basic physiology conferences, one journal club, and at least one patient-oriented conference during your service months.
3. Attend the Joint Fellowship Curriculum of the Department of Pediatrics.
4. Initiate research: Identify project, mentor, and Scholarly Oversight Committee (SOC). You will have two SOC meetings to evaluate your progress and provide guidance (see Research).

Second Year:

1. Continue to develop clinical competence (3 months in NICU) but focus more on teaching residents and junior fellows.
2. Present two basic physiology conferences, two journal clubs, and at least one patient-oriented conference while on service.
3. Work on research project. We encourage fellows to write a first author abstract that will be submitted by the fall of the third year.
4. Participate in the Joint Fellowship Curriculum.

Third Year:

1. Continue to develop clinical competence and teaching skills by serving approximately 3 months (including at least 1 month as a Junior Attending in the NICU).
2. Present three basic physiology conferences (one of which is a presentation of your research), one journal club, and at least one patient-oriented conference while on service.
3. Complete research project and write manuscript for submission by end of third year.
4. Present your completed research project at a major conference (usually PAS/SPR).
   

Children’s Wisconsin (CW) is the only referral service for the majority of pediatric and neonatal patients in Wisconsin, covering an area of nearly six million people. Many patients require medical transport from referring hospitals to CW. We have a dedicated transport team that provides this service. This specialized group includes nurses and respiratory therapists who go on every transport. Physicians only go on 10 % of the annual transports. However, given the unique challenges inherited in transporting a critically ill neonate, our neonatal fellows often go on these transports to ensure optimal care. CW has access to transport via ambulance, helicopter, and fixed wing plane. The majority of transports are within Wisconsin; however CW commonly transports patients from the upper peninsula of Michigan and northern Illinois as well.

If a physician is needed to go on a transport during the day, the fellow on the admitting team will go with the transport team. On nights and weekends, this responsibility is for the on-call fellow. Exceptions to this are if the fellow is unable to go on transports (pregnancy, illness, or other circumstances). The attending acting as medical control makes the final decision about who goes on transport after assessing the unit’s needs and acuity. On transport, the fellow is the “eyes and ears” for the faculty at CW. They will perform procedural expertise as needed, and will provide medical care in coordination with the transport nurse and respiratory therapist. In addition, the fellow is the representative of CW, and is responsible for communicating with the patient’s family members. Senior fellows also have the opportunity to serve as the “Junior Medical Control” by communicating with the referring physician and transport team in conjunction with the staff neonatologist.

In order to be eligible for transports, you will complete a short orientation to get familiar with the equipment used and review safety information for the helicopters. Fellows are required to document care provided during the transport.

The Division of Neonatology holds many academic conferences throughout the year to enhance fellow’s learning. Some of these conferences occur on a weekly basis, while others are monthly to bimonthly. Fellows are expected to participate in these conferences, and the level of responsibility is graduated based on fellowship level.

Weekly conferences include:

• Physiology conference- Each fellow presents two lectures per year. Topics are based on ABP guidelines and review both common and rare neonatal physiology and pathophysiology. Third year fellows will also present their own research during one physiology lecture.
• Academic conference- includes a variety of topics including case conference in which on service fellows present interesting cases for discussion, M&M conference during which patient deaths are discussed, and Maternal Fetal Medicine conference which is a joint conference with MFM fellows where interesting MFM/NICU cases are presented.
• Back to Basics- during the first half of the year, core neonatology topics are discussed along with the evidence behind our work-up and management. This conference is attended by fellows only and presented by rotating faculty members.
• Evidenced based medicine- Faculty from across the hospital are invited to present topics relevant to neonatology with discussion of the evidence behind management decisions. This conference is for fellows only.

Monthly Conferences include:

• Journal club- each fellow chooses and presents an article for discussion, including if the article should change department practice or not.
• Research meeting with Dr. Konduri (Section Chief, Neonatology)- meet monthly to discuss research progress and provide mentorship and oversight to research projects
• Fellow’s meeting- discuss any housekeeping issues or concerns of the fellows that may arise.
• Board review- run by fellows, review of key topics needed to pass neonatology boards

Other Didactic sessions:

• Fetal care conference- weekly meeting with neonatology, Maternal fetal medicine, pediatric surgery, and cardiology (with other specialties as needed) to discuss the management of women with known fetal anomalies who are followed by the fetal concerns center
• Pediatric Surgery conference- held every other month to discuss surgical management of NICU patients
• Radiology rounds- Radiology reviews images twice weekly with Imaging Faculty
• Joint Fellow’s Curriculum (JFC)- monthly conference for fellows of all specialties across Children's Wisconsin to learn about topics such as writing a CV, looking for an attending position, cultural competence, how to search the medical literature, fellow’s research day. Because each topic is required for all pediatric fellows, Children's Wisconsin provides for protected lecture time, and ensures that local experts provide high quality lectures.
• Department of Pediatrics lectures- the department of pediatrics sponsors weekly Grand Rounds, Friday afternoon research talks, and has many other invited lectures throughout the year that fellows are welcome to attend

Learn more about our curriculum

At MCW and within the Department of Pediatrics, we have several programs and resources focused on fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. Our departmental and institutional focus is confronting negative perceptions and welcoming our community. Below is just a sampling of the efforts across our institutions to embed the principles of diversity and inclusion into our culture.

• DOP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council | Our Diversity Council, led by Dr. Mike Levas, the DOP Vice Chair for Diversity and Inclusion, and comprised of faculty, staff, administration, and trainees, is focused on connecting with partners across our system and within the community to ensure the DOP is a diverse, equitable and inclusive employer.
• DOP Fellowship and Residency Diversity and Inclusion Committees | In a city filled with its own diversity and rich cultural history, our fellows and residents recognize the importance of addressing diversity, health equity, and inclusion within our programs. As such, the program is proud to recognize the presence and work of its Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
• DOP Unconscious Bias Training | The AAMC has partnered with Cook Ross, Inc., a leading consulting firm, to create training focused on the science behind unconscious bias to help academic medical staff and faculty mitigate disparities. Seven members of our team have earned a certification as unconscious bias trainers through Cook Ross. These trainers have translated what they’ve learned into a two-hour training for our faculty and staff. By learning how to identify and confront unconscious bias, it is possible to mitigate the impact and promote respect for all groups.
• Trauma-Informed Workplace Training | This committee has undertaken actions including a department-wide survey and the creation of four online training modules sharing the principles of trauma-informed approach and how to recognize signs and symptoms of trauma in ourselves and others. This group started as part of Fostering Futures, a state-wide initiative aimed at infusing a trauma-informed approach into all the systems and organizations that touch the lives of Wisconsin citizens with the goal of expanding across the state to make Wisconsin the first trauma-informed state in the nation.
• Office of Diversity and Inclusion | Established in March 2016, the MCW Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) partners within MCW and with community partners to foster and drive inclusion excellence as an effective, empowering enabler of MCW mission and strategic goals.
• Spring Festival of Cultures | The annual Spring Festival of Cultures encourages an increased awareness and celebration of the visible and non-visible identities among our MCW community. This three-day event is an opportunity to promote the fostering of diversity, inclusion and unity at MCW.
• President’s Diversity and Inclusion Award | MCW’s President's Diversity and Inclusion Award recognizes the accomplishments of faculty, staff, students, residents, trainees, and community members in contributing to diversity and inclusion through exemplary leadership.
• Institute of Health and Equity | The Institute for Health & Equity is focused on researching the root causes of health disparities in our communities, and advancing the best ideas to foster health equity throughout the world. We target populations with abnormally high rates of disease and injury – urban and rural alike – and then we find out why. Partnering with community health collaborators who live and work closest to the most vulnerable populations, we are making an impact on reducing those disparities, one community at a time.
• GMF-MCW Partnership | Through their overall partnership, MCW and GMF will bring complementary expertise on a range of strategies to invest in the health, equity and economic well-being of people across Milwaukee, beginning with the neighborhoods adjacent to the new development. Guided by community priorities and data, the GMF-MCW Partnership will be a catalyst for additional investment and community impact. Together, the partners will:
  • Engage resident and community partnerships
  • Improve social determinants of health
  • Catalyze change that leverages resources and investment

Learn More about MCW's Office of Diversity and Inclusion

After fellowship, our fellows go on to do great things! Over the years, fellows who graduate from our program have entered practice in both academic and private settings. The training you receive at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin/The Medical College of Wisconsin will prepare you to take care of neonates, participate in an academic institution, and enjoy your career.

Our board review series and the clinical knowledge and skills you will acquire during your fellowship will prepare you to pass your neonatology boards. Over the last 5 years, our fellows have had a 95% pass rate on the first try.

Graduates of our program have entered a variety of clinical settings. These include:

• Private Practice
• Basic Science Research
• Clinical Science Research
• Medical Education

For those interested in private practice, our fellows have gone on to practice in the following states:

• Wisconsin
• Illinois
• Texas
• California
• Arizona
• Michigan

For those interested in academics, our fellows have become attendings at:

• Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
• Phoenix Children’s Hospital
• Advocate Christ Medical Center (Illinois)
• Children’s Mercy (Kansas City)
• Sanford Children’s Hospital (Sioux Falls, South Dakota)
• UCLA
• Children’s Hospital of Illinois
• Oklahoma Children’s Hospital

Meet our team

About the Medical College of Wisconsin
With a history dating back to 1893, the Medical College of Wisconsin is dedicated to leadership and excellence in education, patient care, research and community engagement. More than 1,400 students are enrolled in MCW’s medical school and graduate school programs in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Central Wisconsin. MCW’s School of Pharmacy opened in 2017. A major national research center, MCW is the largest research institution in the Milwaukee metro area and second largest in Wisconsin. In the last ten years, faculty received more than $1.5 billion in external support for research, teaching, training and related purposes. This total includes highly competitive research and training awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Annually, MCW faculty direct or collaborate on more than 3,100 research studies, including clinical trials. Additionally, more than 1,600 physicians provide care in virtually every specialty of medicine for more than 4.0 million patients annually.

About Children’s Wisconsin
Children’s Wisconsin is the region’s only independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. The hospital, with locations in Milwaukee and Neenah, Wisconsin, is recognized as one of the leading pediatric health care centers in the United States. It is ranked in nine specialty areas in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019-20 Best Children’s Hospitals report. Children’s provides primary care, specialty care, urgent care, emergency care, community health services, foster and adoption services, child and family counseling, child advocacy services and family resource centers. In 2019, Children’s invested more than $130 million in the community to improve the health status of children through medical care, advocacy, education and pediatric medical research. Children’s achieves its mission in part through donations from individuals, corporations and foundations and is proud to be a member of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

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Milwaukee is one of the Midwest’s best-kept secrets and a prime location for the Medical College of Wisconsin’s main campus. A one-of-a-kind city with a vibrant and diverse culture, this charming, yet metropolitan must-see is just 90 minutes north of Chicago and nestled on the coast of Lake Michigan. Whether you’re catching a show at Summerfest, the world’s largest music festival, immersing yourself in the old world charm of the Historic Third Ward or taking in the sights and sounds of one of the many cafés, beer gardens or restaurants that line the city’s riverbank and shoreline, Milwaukee never disappoints. Find out why MCW students, faculty and employees take pride in calling Milwaukee home. You will find that there are many great things to do in Milwaukee.

Neighborhoods that past and current fellows have lived include: Wauwatosa, The Third Ward, Cathedral Square, Bay View, Mequon, Brookfield, and Oak Creek.  Fellows even have commuted from places between Milwaukee and Chicago and Milwaukee and Madison (Waukesha, Pewaukee, Racine, Kenosha). 

Learn more about housing and rental options.

More about Milwaukee

Fellows are employed by the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals (MCWAH).

See MCWAH Benefits, Conditions & Terms of Employment for information regarding vacations, leaves, insurance, stipends and professional liability.

Our 3-year fellowship program is ACGME accredited and begins on July 1 each year. We accept three fellows each year through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Applicants must have completed a US-accredited residency program. Applications from prospective applicants are accepted from July through October via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). We will access your application and contact you to make interview arrangements.

Complete applications should include the following:

• ERAS application form
• At least 3 letters of reference including Program Director letter
• Medical Student Performance Evaluation/Dean's Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Personal statement
• MD Applicants: USMLE scores - Steps 1, 2, and 3 or
• DO Applicants: COMLEX scores – Levels 1, 2 and 3
• ECFMG certificate for foreign medical school graduates (see visa information below)

Our program currently accepts the following visas:

• Permanent Resident Visa
• Visitor Exchange Visa sponsored by ECFMG (J-1)
• Temporary Professional Workers (H-1B)

For additional visa information please visit MCW’s office of Graduate Medical Education.

Apply on ERAS