Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship

Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowships

The Fellowship Experience

Fellows in pediatric anesthesia rotate through several assignments during the course of the year, including pediatric cardiac anesthesia, intensive care, pain management, regional anesthesia, an elective, and general pediatric anesthesia.

Elective time may be used for the fellow to explore the areas of their interest provided that the fellow has written appropriate goals and objectives and has identified a rotation director/advisor.

At Stanford Fellows Have the Opportunity to:

To learn and be on the leading edge of creating knowledge in pediatric anesthesia, pediatric cardiac anesthesia and pediatric pain management.
To learn and refine advanced patient care skills in the management of complex pediatric and neonatal anesthetic procedures. Fellows have the opportunity to manage both acute and chronic pediatric pain patients, in one of the nation’s most advanced pediatric tertiary care hospitals.
To grow as a professional through interaction with others in the Department of Anesthesia and other pediatric specialties. Our curriculum affords the opportunity to participate in overseas medical volunteer services, such HVO, ASA, OTP, Rotoplast, Interplast, Operation Rainbow, and others. Our faculty have strong commitments to contributing to anesthesia services and education in developing countries. Through Stanford's Center of Innovation in Global Health (CIGH), fellows may apply for grants to engage in educational opportunites in developing countries.
To receive mentoring and guidance from some of anesthesia’s most recognized experts in pain management, cardiac anesthesia, regional anesthesia, simulation, research, QI, informatics, organ transplantation, neuroanesthesia and education.
To advance anesthetic practice and science. Stanford offers an active research community with opportunities for research in pediatric pain, cardiac anesthesia, and education along with many other projects, including clinical trials, simulation, and basic science research.

Qualifications and Prerequisites for Fellowship Training

Positions are open to candidates who will have successfully completed residency training in anesthesiology at an ACGME-accredited training program and who will be board eligible or certified in anesthesiology. Candidates for training in cardiac anesthesia and pediatric pain management must have completed fellowship training in pediatric anesthesia at an accredited training program.

All fellows must have an active license to practice medicine in the State of California. Please review the requirements for California licensure prior to communicating with our department about your fellowship opportunity. To determine if you are qualified for a California license, please visit the Medical Board of California site.

Clinical Rotations

Fellows rotate through 13 4-week block assignments as follows:

General Pediatric OR

6 Blocks

Initial general OR blocks are first concentrated to provide repetitive learning experiences in subspecialties; neuroanesthesia, orthopedic anesthesia, plastic surgery, ENT, general surgery, urology, and ophthalmology. Ample solid organ transplant experience occurs while on call.

Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia

3 Blocks

The fellow spends time in the cardiac ORs, Electrophysiology Lab, Cardiac Interventional Radiology Suite, other out-of-OR locations, and will perform anesthesia for high risk cardiac patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.

Pediatric Pain Management and Regional Anesthesia

2 Blocks
The fellow will spend 1 rotation providing regional anesthesia in the OR and 1 rotation on the pediatric pain service providing consultation and management for acute and chronic pain patients.

Critical Care

1 Block
Either NICU, PICU, or CVICU.

Elective

1 Block
Common electives have included medical acupuncture, advanced pediatric pain management, simulation, research, QI, ambulatory pediatric anesthesia, and anesthesia scheduler/OR management. Other options may be chosen based on the fellow’s personal learning goals.

Educational Opportunities

Fellow didactic lecture series
Departmental Grand Rounds
Divisional Morbidity and Mortality Conference
Pediatric Anesthesia Safety Committee
Department of Pediatrics Grand Rounds
Formal Teach of Residents
Visiting Scholars in Pediatric Anesthesia Program (VisiPap)
Cross-Fellowship Council
Oral Board Prep
One-on-one coaching/mentoring
Journal Club
Simulation
Regional Anatomy Workshop
Pacemaker Workshop
TEE Simulator
Lane Medical Library
Leadership and supervisory experience
Participation in QI/Patient safety through the Pediatric Anesthesia Safety Committee and Perioperative Local Improvement Team

Helpful Links

How to Apply

The Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford participates in the SF Match process which encompasses both the Central Application Service (CAS) and match in one system with 8 fellowship positions available per year. Institutional start dates are typically July 1, August 1, and January 1 though the vast majority of fellows commence the fellowship program on August 1. Applications must be submitted through SF Match CAS. Please email any supplementary documents (copy of your medical diploma) to the Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship Coordinator: Jessica Martinez at jimenez5@stanford.edu.

SF Match applications close on March 5, 2025

Application Process After March 5, 2025

Please submit your application with the below documents electronically (PDF format, no photos of documents) to Jessica Martinez at jimenez5@stanford.edu. If you need to reach her by phone, please call (650) 497-8189.

Manual Fellowship Application Form, download pdf here
Curriculum Vitae
Personal Statement
3 letters of recommendation including one from your residency program director. At least one of the remaining letters should be written by a pediatric anesthesia faculty or staff member
USMLE (or COMLEX) Scores
ABA Basic Examination Scores
Copy of Medical School Dean’s letter
Copy of Medical School Diploma
If residency has been completed, please submit your competency-based final evaluation written by your program director

PALS Certification

We require all incoming fellows be PALS certified (or recertified) during their fellowship year. Upon starting the fellowship, you will be asked to sign up for PALS certification training within your first few weeks of training. If you are currently PALS certified, your certificate expiration date must be valid through July of your fellowship graduation year. You will be reimbursed for the cost of certification or recertification when taken at LPCH. Please send Jessica Martinez (jimenez5@stanford.edu) a copy of your certificate if you have one already.

Program Director

Tom Caruso, MD, MEd
Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology
453 Quarry Road, MC 5663
Palo Alto, CA 94304
tjcaruso@stanford.edu

Fellowship Coordinator

Jessica Martinez
Fellowship Coordinator
453 Quarry Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304
jimenez5@stanford.edu
Office: 650-497-8189

Application Timeline

Applications Accepted
Applications are accepted January 6 - March 5 (via SF Match);
March 5 - April 15 for manual applications
Initial Application File Review
January 15
End Applications
April 15
Interviews
February - May
Rank Order Lists Due
June 10
Match Results
June 24

All applications received as of January 8 are reviewed en masse and interview invitations are issued. Subsequent applications are reviewed as they are received and notice of interview will occur within two weeks of receipt of completed application.

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