Overview
Thank you for your interest in the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Program at Cleveland Clinic Children’s!
We are a three-year accredited program in compliance set forth by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Successful completion of an ACGME accredited residency and our neonatal fellowship program will provide a solid foundation for a successful career in the field of neonatal-perinatal medicine and eligibility for specialty boards.
Our staff of 20 academic neonatologists and 24 neonatal nurse practitioners provide care for over 1,300 neonatal patients each year, which are housed primarily in two of our regional hospitals with approximately 10,000 deliveries per year. Patients in our highly specialized surgical NICU are transferred to, or born in, the Special Delivery Unit, a centerpiece of the Fetal Care Center. The Fetal Care Center offers comprehensive counseling, delivery planning and a fetal surgery program that allows fellows to gain experience in this rapidly evolving field. The PICU provides ECMO services in joint management with neonatal management for babies with respiratory failure. Cleveland Clinic has an active transport service, with fellows accompanying the most critical babies. Through rotations in each site, fellows gain extensive experience in the care of our most vulnerable, extremely low birth weight infants and medically complex neonates. Our department achieved excellent outcomes which are reflected in the high ranking we received from U.S. News & World Report. We have developed highly protocolized care paths reflecting best practice evidence. Our fellows will be actively involved in task forces that focus on improving neonatal care and will actively participate in our sizeable neonatal follow-up program.
U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks Cleveland Clinic Children’s neonatology program among the top programs in the nation. Through active interaction with our highly trained consultants, fellows will acquire the general knowledge required to become excellent neonatologists. Cleveland Clinic Children’s provides extensive research opportunities within the Department of Neonatology, and fellows also have the opportunity to work in close collaboration with other subspecialists interested in neonatal aspects of their field. In addition, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine is a host of extensive primary research laboratories. Fellows will have a close relationship with their neonatal faculty mentor. Their research progress will be monitored through the neonatal and pediatric research committees and the scholarly oversight committee. The fellow will have the opportunity to present their research at the annual Douglas S. Moodie Annual Pediatric Research Day, as well as in regional and national meetings.
Our department hosts multiple departmental didactic meetings and nationally advertised virtual monthly Brain Club, Tiny Hearts and Neonatal Ethics series. With several faculty members trained in neonatal cardiology, neonatal neurology and bioethics, we strive to provide individualized training based on specific interests.
We are excited to welcome motivated neonatal fellows who wish to pursue their passion for improving neonatal care to our program!
How to Apply
Our fellowship program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and meets all requirements of the American Board of Pediatrics Subspecialty Board of Neonatology-Perinatal Medicine. Applicants must be in, or have completed, an accredited pediatric residency in the United States or Canada. Two positions are available each year. The program participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) for Neonatology-Perinatal Medicine and accepts applications via the AAMC’s ERAS program.
If you would like additional information, please contact our program director or program coordinator below.
Fellowship Program Director
Sabine Iben, MD
Ibens@ccf.org
Program Coordinator
Alice Ewida
Ewidaa@ccf.org
Mailing Address
Cleveland Clinic Children’s
Department of Neonatology
8950 Euclid Avenue, M31
Cleveland, OH 44195
Phone: 216.444.7966
Fax: 216.444.7625
Benefits
Fellowship appointment includes a competitive salary and full benefits, including paid vacation, maternity/paternity/adoption leave, health and dental insurance and malpractice insurance.
Fellow support services
In addition to these benefits, fellows are also members of the Cleveland Clinic House Staff Association, a peer-elected representative body of Cleveland Clinic physician trainees (or house staff), that advocates for the well-being, interests and education of house staff. The House Staff Association sponsors activities, such as educational seminars, volunteer events, an annual art contest, painting with the DIO and QPS opportunities. There's also a House Staff Spouse Association that provides support and recreational activities for the families of trainees at Cleveland Clinic.
The Cleveland Clinic Office of Physician Recruitment supports residents and fellows as they transition from training to their first professional position. The Office supports those interested in opportunities at Cleveland Clinic, as well as those who are exploring opportunities throughout the United States. CV and cover letter review, career consultation, mock interviews and contract reviews are also provided for free.
Curriculum
The fellowship begins with an orientation in July where trainees will learn about the different sites, meet with potential research mentors, attend core classroom sessions and watch simulations of standard neonatal procedures through our simulation lab and Neonatal Resuscitation Program® (NRP®) where they can receive NRP certification. Following orientation, educational activities are scheduled weekly and consist of case conferences, board reviews, journal clubs, guest lectures and physiology discussions. Morbidity and mortality conferences are held every month. Fellows will present at these conferences, as well as at weekly departmental case discussions.
All fellows are required to participate in Quality Improvement (Q.I.) projects based on individual interests.
During the first year of the program, fellows will attend an annual two-day multidisciplinary ECMO course. In the second year, the educational curriculum will include a month-long introductory course in clinical research and biostatistics at Case Western Reserve University. In addition, Cleveland Clinic Children’s offers a longitudinal series on ethics, professionalism, quality and patient safety for fellows of all subspecialties.
Fellows will have a total of 12 months of clinical rotations in our Level III and Level IV NICUs, with additional months in cardiothoracic surgery and maternal-fetal medicine. Clinical responsibilities include an average of 48 overnight calls per year at the beginning of the training to facilitate proficiency in clinical skills. As the fellowship progresses, clinical responsibilities will decrease with more emphasis placed on completing a research project.
Rotations at the highly specialized Cleveland Clinic main campus Level IV NICU will provide the opportunity to manage neonates with complex conditions requiring multispecialty care and develop skills necessary for the resuscitation of neonates with a variety of congenital malformations and disorders, including congenital heart disease. This NICU is supported by a Special Delivery Unit that delivers mothers with prenatally diagnosed fetal problems admitted directly to the NICU. This NICU supports the fetal care center and fetal surgery program. Collaboration with the Pediatric Cardiac ICU and ECMO program is an essential aspect of the training. Many neonates are co-managed between neonatologists trained in cardiology and Pediatrics Intensivists. Our fellows have opportunities to participate in the care of neonates with congenital heart disease.
Two of our regional hospitals are high-volume delivery units that care for the most immature preterm infants and a variety of common neonatal conditions. Fellows will actively participate in neonatal resuscitation and become proficient in standard neonatal procedures. Pediatric residents rotate through both regional sites. Fellows actively participate in their teaching and supervision.
Our fellows have access to several resources in education, research, career development, leadership and personal growth through Cleveland Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. The Simulation and Advanced Skills Center offers a variety of courses, including simulation educator workshops. Fellows interested in medical education have the opportunity to participate in formal medical education courses and a certificate program for the Distinguished Educator. The Mandel Global Leadership and Learning Institute offers leadership and career development courses, as well. Close collaboration with the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and the Department of Neurology allows for additional training in neonatal cardiology and neonatal neurology if desired by individual trainees.
Our Team
About Cleveland
Located approximately two miles from Cleveland Clinic main campus, downtown Cleveland features a host of cultural and recreational attractions for an ethnically diverse mid-sized city. Many of Cleveland's neighborhoods, such as Ohio City, Tremont, Lakewood and Cedar-Fairmount are overflowing with cultural heritage, as well an eclectic offering of restaurants and nightlife.
Take advantage of all this beautiful city has to offer! Champion sports teams, culture, outdoor adventure and a food scene that was once ranked by TIME as #7 on their 20 'Best Food Cities' in America and is home to two James Beard award-winning restaurants. There really is something for everyone in Cleveland!
