Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship 2020 - 2021

[KPride]

It's that time!
Have you applied? Have you heard back? Have you received any interviews? How frikkin' excited are you?!?!

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[Morzh]

Submitted ERAS in December. One interview so far. Several have said they won't start reviewing applications until middle February. So far it seems way more casual and drawn out than residency interview season.

 

[JoelJoel84]

Hi everyone, long time lurker, created an account to post a quick note:

I am a current CA-3, who matched into Peds anesthesia this past cycle. All the usual advice applies, eg. apply broadly, and go where you think you'll fit best, etc. But in this case, I do think national reputation matters more than in residency, and I'll explain why:

I felt there was a huge disparity between the very 'top' national programs (not going to name names or argue about that), and the middle of the road / lesser programs, in the match rate, and I'd imagine the quality of applicants.

This year's peds anesthesia match left almost half, or 24 total programs, unfilled (42%). I'm not sure if the ACGME rules allow me to post which ones did not even fill a single spot, but there were many, including a few I interviewed at and seemed fine.

The caliber of people interviewing whom I met at those top 4-5 Children's hospitals were outstanding, and I just got a feeling that there is a large rift developing in the (perceived) quality of peds anesthesia graduates when looking for jobs afterwards, and I'd recommend considering reputation and training with really sick children and complicated cases when making your decision, more so than with your residency decision. It's only one year, and for that reason I figured I could tolerate the cold northeast.

Sorry if that was rambling, and if anyone is a peds anesthesia attending I would love to hear your thoughts on the match rates, or whatever else you would like.

 

[KPride]

For that reason, I applied broadly. But now I’m wondering if I should add more programs to my list.


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[skankhunt42]

d recommend considering reputation and training with really sick children and complicated cases when making your decision, more so than with your residency decision. It's only one year, and for that reason I figured I could tolerate the cold northeast.

Very good points, part of this is I believe the national sentiment that there are less and less pure pedi jobs out there which is fueling less applicants.

But the one problem with focusing on the ivory towers is that these programs have subtely grown in fellowship classes. There are some places that are pushing 14/15 fellows. When you do the fellow/ procedure math, the Bostons and CHOPs look less alluring (which is not to say there are not outstanding).

 

[skankhunt42]

Anyone hear from any more programs? I've still haven't heard from anywhere...

 

[Inygma]

With so many programs going unfilled, how will switching to a 2-year fellowship help any of this =/

Good luck this year everyone!

 

[skankhunt42]

My understanding is the 2 year plan is still a maybe. And with the Peds applications being on the down side (at least the last two years) I doubt they would be willing to push it.

 

[KPride]

Anyone hear from any more programs? I've still haven't heard from anywhere...

Couple people I know have heard from some of the Midwest programs. I’ve received emails saying they will start reviewing applications but no firm date as to when to start stalking my email.


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[SEPA]

3 invites from east coast programs so far

 

[BenSimmons]

Has anybody heard from west coast programs (excluding California)?

 

[stinkycheese]

It is good that programs are not going filled because the job market is SATURATED right now. It is extremely difficult to get a pedi job in a major urban center without titrating in some significant adult anesthesia as well. If that's your jam, more power to you; if you want to do exclusively pedi, you'll have to work at a major children's hospital. So for all you incoming fellows and applying residents, be glad that its a lot less competitive right now: you'll have an easier time finding work.

 

[BigMAC3]

It is good that programs are not going filled because the job market is SATURATED right now. It is extremely difficult to get a pedi job in a major urban center without titrating in some significant adult anesthesia as well. If that's your jam, more power to you; if you want to do exclusively pedi, you'll have to work at a major children's hospital. So for all you incoming fellows and applying residents, be glad that its a lot less competitive right now: you'll have an easier time finding work.

This is true, but the job situation right now is not at all gloom and doom. Unless you work for a pediatric hospital, most jobs in urban centers are mixed practice.

I'm probably 50-70% pediatrics, and I really enjoy it. I get a lot of job satisfaction out of pediatric cases -- but sometimes adults are a nice change of pace. I'm glad I get some adults, because it allows me to keep up on my skills (ex: epidural, regional, thoracic).

At an academic center, I'm compensated about the same as a general anesthesiologist -- but it gives me a niche, and I'm treated as a specialist. Some of my colleagues went to nice private practice gigs, they were sought after because most groups want someone who's comfortable taking care of kids.

So yes, if you're hell bent on 100% peds -- both coasts are a bit saturated. But if you don't mind taking care of adults sometimes, it's still a great gig.

 

[skankhunt42]

Any sense of this year has low applicants. I asked our Pedi fellowship director and got a coy response...

 

[skankhunt42]

This thread has been quiet... might reflect the current enthusiasm of applicants....

I wanted to ask to the general group, when looking at a program for fellowship how to you evaluate it?
-Prestige/ reputation?
-Gut feeling
-Fellowship Director
-Salary
-Number of procedures
-Number of fellows...

What else will you be looking at and asking about?

 

[OneTyme]

I set thresholds for most of the criteria you list (procedure #’s, number of fellows, reputation, etc.).

As long as a program met all of my requirements, I went totally on gut instinct. Then I went to a second tier for programs that met “most” of my criteria, and ranked those by gut instinct.

Don’t forget to think about required in house call, and how close a program makes you love to the hospital if you’re home call. Some places have tons of in house call that they won’t tell you about unless you explicitly ask. And, some places have home call but you have to live within 15 minutes of the hospital (which can be very expensive for some locations).

 

[PediDoc007]

This thread has been pretty quiet. Has anyone heard back from Texas Children’s, CHOP Emory or Stanford?

 

[deleted171991]

This thread has been quiet... might reflect the current enthusiasm of applicants....

I wanted to ask to the general group, when looking at a program for fellowship how to you evaluate it?
-Prestige/ reputation?
-Gut feeling
-Fellowship Director
-Salary
-Number of procedures
-Number of fellows...

What else will you be looking at and asking about?

Ask yourself: what do you want from a fellowship? Salary should be irrelevant (for the right fellowship). Number of procedures? This ain't pain. I would argue the first 3 in your list are more important.

A pediatric fellowship is really like another year of residency, so it should be selected on the same criteria. What matters is broad exposure to severe pathology, with plenty of education and autonomy, with good job placement and alumni network, with a good reputation (either regionally - if one wants to work in the same region - or nationally). One should wonder what this extra year would bring, when compared to an anesthesiology residency, and the answer should not be mostly just a piece of paper. There should be a measurable step-up in one's skills, due to massive exposure to sick and complicated cases.

The main question is: will you be a much better doctor after this extra year, and, if yes, in what way?

 

[NoHumbug]

This thread has been pretty quiet. Has anyone heard back from Texas Children’s, CHOP Emory or Stanford?

Of that group, I only applied to Emory and I heard back about a week ago.

 

[skankhunt42]

Heard from Texas Childrens and CHOP....

 

[skankhunt42]

Thought I would bump this thread, how are interviews going for everyone?

 

[dp101]

Hello everyone,
This may be a silly question to post on this thread, but just realizing my interest in peds anesthesia, im hoping to apply. Just became a CA2 this past July, and am curious when most residents send out applications or start the whole ERAS process again?
Im doing my second month of peds in September, and hoping to finalize my decision then. Is it too late to wait until then?
I will hopefully be starting my fellowship in 2021, so is it too soon to be thinking about this?
Any input will be helpful. Thanks everyone.

 

[ambiturner]

You have plenty of time - current CA3s are still interviewing. As a CA2 you will want to send out your application early in 2020, so spend some time building relationships now to maybe do some research projects, ask for letters this winter.

If you are considering regional, cardiac etc you should also decide this fall, the timeline might be slightly different but you’ll still have time to apply.

 

[skankhunt42]

Bumping again, everyone finished interviews? Anyone any thoughts on programs etc?

 

[skankhunt42]

Love the enthusiasm for Peds around here.

Any thoughts on any programs? Or has everyone submitted their lists and walked away.

I still get the sense that there has not been a big surge in Peds applications. Likely its still good to be an applicant.

 

[abolt18]

Love the enthusiasm for Peds around here.

Any thoughts on any programs? Or has everyone submitted their lists and walked away.

I still get the sense that there has not been a big surge in Peds applications. Likely its still good to be an applicant.

Nobody from my program the past couple years, and no one in my class or senior class planning on it either.

One recent grad shooting for peds cardiac.

 

[Maverick13]

Decent popularity at my home program (top 10 doximity program) - 2-3 per year, often 1-2 with an interest in peds cardiac.

My list has been submitted. Enjoyed many of the top programs and really enjoyed some of the smaller programs as well. CHOP had incredible people, happy fellows and a wide variety of cases. Boston Childrens also fantastic, you will work hard but have exposure to every type of case, >>> peds cardiac although have some superfellows in cardiac but doesn't appear to interfere with numbers at all. The faculty I interviewed at Boston Children's were happy, kind and very interested in my application and interests. Texas Childrens with a fantastic pediatric cardiac experience, great faculty and fellows, and great exposure to fetal surgery.

I am very excited for match day, although it seems to be taking forever until mid-October.

 

[ladydst03]

Best of luck to all!

 

[AdmiralChz]

Love the enthusiasm for Peds around here.

Any thoughts on any programs? Or has everyone submitted their lists and walked away.

I still get the sense that there has not been a big surge in Peds applications. Likely its still good to be an applicant.

Word from my friend who is an associate fellowship PD at a mid range program is that application numbers are even more down then the year before. They are worried about filling this year as they didn’t mean their target for interviews, despite being way more liberal on criteria. Their CCM program had more success in recruiting this year he told me. He didn’t think his particular program had any red flags.

This will probably put the brakes on a transition to a 2 year program. Last year most would have said it’s a certainty but with interest in the field falling off a cliff it’s hard to imagine squeezing the applicant pool even more. My friend things 50% or more of total spots will be left after the match.

Good season to be an applicant. These numbers have redistributed to pain and cardiac, for the most part.

 

[Morzh]

How'd match day go for everyone? Any word on number of spots unfilled?

 

[TexasDoc2388]

How'd match day go for everyone? Any word on number of spots unfilled?

It was fantastic. Decent amount of open positions left after the match at some solid places.

 

[dp101]

So on the ERAS website it states, PTAL form will no longer be needed effective January 2020 if applying to west coast programs. Curious if anyone knows if that hold true? Hoping to match into California in 2021, not sure if I need it.