Pulmonary medicine fellowship program
We are actively recruiting for a pulmonary medicine fellow to start in July 2025. The fellowship is a three-year, ACGME-accredited program designed to provide outstanding candidates with the clinical, research and teaching skills needed to become a leader in academic pediatric pulmonology. Fellows completing the program will be eligible for certification. We are accepting applications through the ERAS system until Oct 1, 2024 for a July 8, 2025 start date. (All documents must be submitted through ERAS.)
Mission
The mission of our pulmonary medicine fellowship is to prepare specialists with medical knowledge; clinical skills and judgment; self-assessment; proficiency in communication, professional attitudes and behavior; competence performing medical procedures; research skills; teaching proficiency; humanistic qualities; and a commitment to scholarship.
During the first year, comprehensive patient care is established through intensive hands-on patient-focused training. In addition, fellows supervise and teach pediatric residents and medical students in the care of hospitalized pediatric pulmonary patients. Fellows are assigned as the primary physician for a number of newly diagnosed patients whom they continue to follow throughout the three years of fellowship. The second and third years of the fellowship are dedicated to providing the fellow with a meaningful research experience with the perspective of publication, independent grant support and recognition. Continuity clinics and on call schedules continue throughout the fellowship.
Clinical training
Under the supervision of faculty, fellows will become competent in the physiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, evaluation and treatments of a full range of pulmonary conditions, including:
- Asthma
- Chronic cough
- Wheeze
- Dyspnea
- Hypoxia
- Respiratory manifestations of systemic diseases
- Cystic fibrosis
- Primary ciliary dyskinesia
- Non-CF bronchiectasis
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (chronic lung disease of infancy)
- Lower respiratory tract infections of the airways, airspaces and pleural space
- Newborn respiratory distress
- Respiratory infections in immunocompromised hosts
- Sleep disordered breathing
- Chronic ventilatory assistance, including home mechanical ventilation such as bi-level positive airway pressure ventilation (BiPAP), and tracheostomy management.
- Aspiration syndromes
- Hemoptysis
- Congenital anomalies of the respiratory system (TEF, vascular ring, CPAM, sequestration, lung agenesis/hypoplasia, diaphragmatic hernia, bronchogenic cyst, tracheomalacia, laryngomalacia)
- Acquired upper airway obstruction (vocal cord dysfunction, Subglottic stenosis)
- Other diseases such as pulmonary hypertension, interstitial lung disease, hemosiderosis, neuromuscular disease and acute lung injuries
- Pre-operative and post-operative management of children with respiratory disorders (scoliosis, muscular weakness, upper airway obstruction)
Curriculum
First-year
In addition to defining a research mentor and project during the first year, a minimum of seven months are spent on pulmonary service. One or two months are devoted to critical care experience and the remainder of the year is spent in pertinent clinical electives. During this year, you'll refine your clinical skills and judgment. Targeted skills include:
- Pulmonary function test interpretation
- Bronchoscopy
- Blood gas analysis
- Introduction to sleep medicine
- Radiographic interpretation
- Respiratory care
- Interventional bronchoscopy
- Infant lung function
A clinical basic science curriculum that includes the developmental biology and physiology, pharmacology and pathology of the lung, will be addressed by tutorials and lectures. Critical review of the literature will be addressed throughout training and formally through journal club. In clinical training, an interdisciplinary team approach will be emphasized.
Second and third year
During the second year, the fellow will become progressively independent in clinical management. During the third year, the fellow will assume the role of a junior attending physician with special responsibility for coordinating the interdisciplinary team. Throughout training the fellow will follow specific patients with chronic illnesses.
Research
Fellows will receive training in cutting-edge basic or clinical/translational pulmonary research with internationally recognized mentors. Intensive training is provided in scientific evaluation, research design, current methodologies, data generation, manuscript and grant preparation and critical features of research career development. Grantsmanship skills will be developed by introductory lectures followed by practical application. Presentation of research at major national meetings will be expected of all medical fellows.
Conferences
Didactic conference are held on a regular scheduled basis with attendance required of all fellows and divisional faculty.
- Weekly Conferences
- Pulmonary Science/Journal Club- Friday
- Pediatric Grand Rounds- Tuesday
- Monthly Conferences
- Pediatric Research Conference- Wednesday
- Annual Conference
- North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference or American Thoracic Society Conference
- Pediatric Flexible Bronchoscopy Postgraduate Course- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
- Research Graduate Course- Research 4 Residents & Fellows
Teaching Opportunities
Throughout all 3 years of training, the fellow will be intimately involved in the teaching endeavors of the division, including teaching medical students, nursing and allied health professions students, residents, and other fellows.
Evaluations
Evaluations are performed for each rotation and on a semi-annual basis by the program director, with input from supervising faculty (Clinical Competency Committee) and various fellowship committees (Scholarship Oversight Committee).
How to Apply
If you would like to join our dynamic training program as a fellow in pediatric pulmonary medicine, we encourage you to apply! We participate in the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) and the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Applications should be submitted via ERAS.
Important dates
- July 3, 2024 Applicants begin applying through ERAS
- July 17, 2024 Programs begin to review and select applicants for interview
- August- October, 2024 Interview cycle
- September 25, 2024 NRMP rank order list opens
- November 20, 2024 Rank order list closes
- December 4, 2024 Match day
Our fellowship program is highly competitive. Applicants are required to be board-eligible or board-certified in pediatrics.
VCU Health System provides equal opportunity, services and access to all persons, including but not limited to team members, patients, visitors, vendors, etc. without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics or disability in accordance with state and federal laws. For more information, please visit the VCU Graduate Medical Education website.
Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
The Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine is dedicated to improving the lives of children with respiratory disorders and their families by advancing outstanding and compassionate care, thoughtful research, comprehensive education and effective advocacy.
Fellowship program contacts
