The fellowship educational curriculum is structured and multimodal, consisting of core didactic teaching sessions, subspecialty (electrophysiology, cardiac MR/CT, echocardiography, fetal cardiology) conferences, fellow-driving learning sessions, ongoing simulation-based training, divisional conferences, quality improvement, and several invited lectures, as well as hospital and medical center educational activities. All first-year fellows participate in a structured, four-week cardiology “boot camp” to assist in the transition to fellowship and develop essential skills, with an emphasis on echocardiography and ICU care.
From an educational perspective, our goal is to provide a foundation of knowledge to compliment the clinical experience and encourage lifelong learning. Fellows have the opportunity to take advantage of additional educational opportunities through Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Feinberg School of Medicine, including certificate and degree programs.
The fellowship program offers a robust scholarly experience for trainees. Under the leadership of the Center for Cardiovascular Innovation, the fellowship strives to accelerate innovative clinical, translational and basic science research to improve outcomes for pediatric cardiovascular disease. The program allots time to develop and foster the research skills fellows need for productive academic careers. There are twelve months of protected research time to allow for project development, refinement and completion. Depending on career goals and prior achievements, senior fellows may make alterations in their schedules to allow for additional research time of six to 12 months. Fellows’ progress in academic pursuits is monitored by a standing Scholarship Oversight Committee and is based on specific milestones and a timeline established in the first months of training.
Fellows are educated in scholarship through a specific research curriculum, as well as monthly research meetings, where divisional and hospital staff provide updates on their projects. The scholarly goal is project acceptance and presentation at a national conference and a completed manuscript, but ample opportunity exists for secondary and tertiary projects. The CCI’s Clinical Research Team helps lead over 200 IRB-approved trials and studies, including device trials, drug trials, registry studies, imaging studies, and retrospective studies, all aimed at better understanding the complexities of pediatric congenital and acquired cardiac disease. Moreover, the Clinical Research Team is supported by a Data, Quality, and Statistics Team; a Medical Education and Academic Program Team; and a Basic Science Team, which together ensure CCI’s studies run as smoothly as possible.
The clinical experience in fellowship training is extensive and intensive, encompassing all aspects of pediatric cardiology. Fellows rotate through core subspecialties (imaging, heart failure/transplant, electrophysiology, cardiac catheterization and inpatient care, including cardiac ICU) and gain exposure to outpatient management in both subspecialty clinics and in their own longitudinal continuity clinic. There are over 70 members of the division, and our program is fortunate to have numerous representatives in each subspecialty to optimize the clinical experience. Additionally, our highly ranked CV surgical program is comprised of three congential cardiac surgeons who consistently provide outstanding surgical results, even in the most complex patients.
The Regenstein Cardiac Care Unit is a 44-bed, state-of-the-art, acuity-adaptable model, capable of providing care to any cardiology patient. It was recently expanded and completely remodeled. We offer all forms of cardiac surgery/intervention, including VAD/ECMO and complex catheter-based procedures. Lurie Children’s Heart Center also provides the only cardiac transplantation service in Illinois. It is one of the busiest in the country, offering trainees tremendous exposure to this patient population.
The goal of the clinical experience is to provide fellows with a broad exposure to prepare them for careers in academic pediatric cardiology or further subspecialty cardiology training.
To be considered, applicants must have completed an accredited pediatric residency program prior to the start of fellowship training. Applicants must be board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics or board-eligible to sit for the licensing exam during the first year of fellowship training. We encourage applicants with additional pediatric subspecialty training, such as pediatric critical care, to consider our program. We strive for a diverse group of trainees and look to find highly-qualified members of under-represented groups. International Medical Graduates are welcome to apply but must meet specific criteria, including a valid ECFMG certificate and documentation of U.S. citizenship, valid green card, or J-1 visa as per the requirements set forth by Northwestern McGaw Medical Center. Our program does not sponsor H-1B visas. Pediatric Cardiology Technical Training Requirements can be downloaded here.
Applicants may begin submitting applications through the online Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) in July of the year prior to the anticipated fellowship start date. Our program’s ERAS number is 3251611013. Program leadership reviews applications beginning in July. The application requirements are spelled out in ERAS, but include:
- Online application
- Current CV
- Personal statement
- Recent photograph
- Copies of USMLE or COMLEX scores
- Medical school transcript
- Three to four letters of recommendation, including one from the residency program director and preferably (but not required) one from a member of the Division of Cardiology at the applicant’s residency training program
Due to the large number of applications we receive, all applicants are encouraged to submit their completed applications as early as possible. Applications are reviewed by the program from late July into early August. Interviews begin at the end of August and continue until late October or early November. Interview offers will be made via email, typically in the second to third week of August. If the initial interview days are not filled, additional offers will be extended in the latter part of August. Over the course of the interview season, interview slots can become available and in such cases, further offers will be extended. The latest that additional interview dates will be offered is the last week in October.
Discover the many ways our faculty are impacting children's health beyond the hospital.
Each year, as many as 20 third-year pediatric residents travel to Bugando Medical Center in Mwanza, Tanzania, to participate in an educational initiative that provides exposure to the management of complex pediatric diseases in a low-resource setting. Learn more about this extraordinary opportunity.
Housestaff training through McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University provides diverse and challenging clinical experiences and world-class education located in the heart of the beautiful city of Chicago.
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