Pediatric Surgery Fellowship

The pediatric surgery fellows are at the center of the surgical service at Children’s National, functioning as the leader of a dynamic, high-functioning team. The fellows are supported by surgical residents from multiple local institutions — as well as a full cadre of experienced advanced practice providers (APPs). Each day begins with fellow-led morning rounds, during which the Surgeon of the Day (SOD) joins to collaboratively establish management plans. While the SOD provides senior guidance and oversight, fellow autonomy is paramount, and decision-making responsibility is intentionally prioritized at the fellow level.

The team also includes dedicated Pediatric Colorectal Surgery fellows, who provides additional support and continuity for patients followed by the internationally recognized colorectal program. This subspecialty fellow works in partnership with the categorical pediatric surgery fellows and does not diminish their operative or leadership experience.

Call is covered through an in-house call system, shared between senior general surgery residents and the pediatric surgery fellows. Fellows typically take 5-6 overnight calls per month, ensuring a balance of clinical immersion and wellness. When not on call, fellows are not expected to return to the hospital or respond to pages, and there are no geographic restrictions on where they may reside, providing additional flexibility outside of clinical duties.

The pediatric surgery fellowship at Children’s National is structured to maximize operative experience and clinical leadership. Fellows primarily lead the core pediatric surgical service, overseeing inpatient care, consults, and operative management. In addition to this continuous responsibility, each fellow completes dedicated one-month rotations in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) to deepen their understanding of complex critical care.

Opportunities for selective rotations in pediatric surgical subspecialties—including urology, otolaryngology, gynecology, and cardiac surgery—are available and tailored to the fellow’s individual interests and career goals.

Surgical training is further enriched through participation in multidisciplinary programs that define the breadth and depth of care at Children’s National, including:

• Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Program
• Trauma Care and Burn Surgery Program
• Prenatal Pediatrics Institute
• Pediatric Surgical Oncology
• Vascular Anomalies Clinic
• Thoracic and Foregut Program
• Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery
• Chest Wall Defects Program

Fellows attend outpatient clinics approximately one half-day per week, providing continuity of care and exposure to pre- and post-operative decision-making. A robust conference curriculum supports the educational mission of the fellowship, with weekly didactics following the PedSCORE national curriculum alongside advanced surgical topics and board preparation. Fellows also participate in Morbidity and Mortality Conference, NICU/Surgery Combined Conference, Pathology/Radiology/Surgery Combined Conference, and Tumor Board, ensuring a rich and integrated academic experience. The fellowship supports attendance at two national meetings for each fellow. Typically, the junior fellow attends that Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Learning Consortium (PCPLC) meeting in the fall and the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) meeting in the spring. The senior fellow attends the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) meeting in the fall and the St Jude’s Pediatric Surgical Oncology course in the spring.