Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship Curriculum and Training

Pediatric Fellowship Group Photo

Program Highlights Heading link

  • Due to our unique location in central Illinois, fellows get a more comprehensive range of pathologies and diversity than in urban programs.
  • Our Well-Rounded Curriculum prepares you for success in both academic and private practice.
  • We maintain a strong emphasis on the clinical care of neonates with comprehensive surgical and cardiac surgery services, along with a neonatal resuscitation program for extremely premature babies as young as 22 weeks gestation.
  • The strong Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program on campus is committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all fellows, regardless of background.
  • Opportunity to work at Jump Simulation, a collaboration of UICOMP and OSF HealthCare, an international leader in simulation and innovation.

Clinical Teams Heading link

The babies in our unit are typically divided into 4 teams. These teams each have a unique structure and make-up. Fellows will rotate through all teams with increasing independence throughout their fellowship experience. The red, blue, and green team comprises an attending, a neonatal nurse practitioner, and a resident. The white team is staffed by a neonatologist.

 

Research Experience Heading link

With a robust and dedicated research mentorship, the fellows are expected to develop research, analyze data, produce manuscripts, and publish projects.

The program will provide close guidance from experienced researchers in the Pediatric department. The program also includes dedicated lectures with statisticians and faculty to deconstruct important research projects to illustrate key elements of evidence-based data.

Current Fellows Projects:

 

  • Transfer validity testing of a VR UVC simulation
  • RSV prophylaxis with a single, one-time dose of palivizumab decreases RSV complication risks
  • Decreasing unplanned extubation using SonarMed
  • Racial and economic disparities amongst pregnant women affecting neonatal birth trauma
  • Virtual reality simulation for retention of Neonatal Procedure
  • AI model for the diagnosis and management of retinopathy of prematurity
  • Management of vigorous infants with profound fetal acidemia- QI project
  • Developing small baby unit IVH protocol- QI project
  • Unit guideline for PPHN- QI project
  • Antenatal steroids in the peri viability period and prenatal counseling and guidelines- QI project

Ongoing Faculty Research:

  • A predictive model for rebound hyperbilirubinemia in babies born less than 35 weeks gestation: A feasibility study
  • Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative (ILPQC) Mothers and Newborns affected by Opioids (MNO) Neonatal Initiative
  • Osteopenia of Prematurity QI
  • Intubation rates in the delivery room by Interface QI
  • Post-operative Hypothermia QI Collaborative
  • Hypothermia in the Delivery Room QI Collaborative
  • Piccolo Procedure for PDA closure QI
  • Illinois Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing (rWGS) State Consortium QI
  • ILPQC Health Disparities in the NICU
  • Least Invasive Surfactant QI
  • Review of readmission rates for infants administered a single dose of Synagis
  • Comparing intubation rates in the delivery room by interface.
  • Incidence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia requiring intervention in non-white, term, and early-term infants receiving delayed cord clamping
  • Incidence of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus in preterm population with early hypocalcemia
  • Use of POCUS for Umbilical Line placement in the NICU
  • Microaggression QI “Dropping the Mic”
  • Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn: Single Institution Experience from 2011-2021
  • Expanding on the LGBTQIA2+ Curriculum
  • Retrospective comparison of two modified screening tools for retinopathy of prematurity at a level IV neonatal intensive care unit in the United States

Fellowship Curriculum Heading link

Our fellowship offers a unique location with exposure to diverse pathology and a curriculum designed to prepare you for both academic and private practice careers in neonatology. With the busy unit, you will be directly involved in managing the most critical cases under the guidance of experienced faculty. You will have adequate opportunities to master neonatal procedures such as high-risk delivery resuscitation, intubations, chest tube placement, double volume exchange, and taking care of post-op surgical neonates. We take pride in a curriculum that equips you to excel in any area of neonatology, from managing the most delicate premature infants to tackling complex congenital diseases. Additionally, with over 40 subspecialties represented at our institution, you can participate in electives that further your interests and career goals.

Didactic Lectures Heading link

Our didactic curriculum is designed to give you a thorough knowledge of development and physiology that you will need to take care of patients as well as eventually pass your boards. Neonatal fellows participate in a dedicated didactic “educational” session each Thursday afternoon between 1-4 pm. During this time, fellows participate in educational activities including ECMO conference, a comprehensive neonatal board review curriculum, and simulation. In addition, fellows participate in a Fellows’ Collaborative along with the Pediatric Hospitalist Medicine and PICU fellows. Topics include wellness/well-being, mentorship, teaching, personal finance, career development, communication training, biostatistics, etc.

Conferences include:

  • Pediatric Grand rounds
  • Journal Club
  • Roundtable
  • Morning Report
  • Board Review/Board Prep
  • Joint Fellows Conference
  • MFM Conference
  • VON Conference
  • Neo/NNP Staff Meetings
  • Daily Huddle
  • ECMO Conference
  • Point of care ultrasound training
  • Joint conference for interesting case reviews, including cardiology, surgery, urology, and many more.