some pedi questions

[Shinkansen]

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I'm strongly considering applying for a pedi fellowship, 2018-2019. I'm a current CA-2. The SPA website is outdated and the dates for applying are from 2014. Does anyone know when the application becomes available for submission?

Also, what kinds of jobs did recent graduates of pedi anesthesia fellowships get offered/end up taking - salaries, job types, etc? Anyone who just recently finished fellowship or anyone who has anything to offer, please offer away!

Thanks

 

[Swamp Gas]

I'm not sure what the time line is for submission.
To answer your second question, I'm currently doing my peds fellowship and can confidently say that it has landed me several interviews that I would not have received other wise. Practices that are expanding their peds volume or groups that have new pressure from administration to have a board certified peds guy on the roster. Some of the jobs offered a 30k increase in starting salary but more importantly, I have gained access to very desirable PP groups that would not have been looking to hire otherwise. I haven't signed a contract yet but it has for sure helped with my marketability. From talking to friends doing CT, they have had a similar experience.

 

[IlDestriero]

The first step is to try to determine if you want to practice 100% peds or not. If not, what is your motivation to complete the fellowship? Are you sure you want to complete a "complex peds" fellowship and probably not do much/any complex peds cases ever again?
Our program seems to place about 50/50. So it's common, but I suspect they graduate with a lot of skills that they'll never really master and probably never need again.


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Il Destriero

 

[Robotic Wis-Hipple]

The first step is to try to determine if you want to practice 100% peds or not. If not, what is your motivation to complete the fellowship? Are you sure you want to complete a "complex peds" fellowship and probably not do much/any complex peds cases ever again?
Our program seems to place about 50/50. So it's common, but I suspect they graduate with a lot of skills that they'll never really master and probably never need again.


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Il Destriero

Sure, but if you enjoy peds you like the kids and the physio. And if PP groups are transitioning to only hiring fellowship trained docs it's an "in" you wouldn't have otherwise. There are lots of PP groups that may not be doing peds hearts etc but still do neonates that generalists may not want to do or the hospital is not a fan of non-peds guys doing.

And the same thing can be said about CT. How many CT trained guys go PP and never do a VAD or transplant again? If you like the work and it gives you a leg up for a PP job go for it. If you want to do the craziest of crazy cases in peds or CT you're likely staying academic.

 

[deleted162650]

Sure, but if you enjoy peds you like the kids and the physio. And if PP groups are transitioning to only hiring fellowship trained docs it's an "in" you wouldn't have otherwise. There are lots of PP groups that may not be doing peds hearts etc but still do neonates that generalists may not want to do or the hospital is not a fan of non-peds guys doing.

And the same thing can be said about CT. How many CT trained guys go PP and never do a VAD or transplant again? If you like the work and it gives you a leg up for a PP job go for it. If you want to do the craziest of crazy cases in peds or CT you're likely staying academic.

This is becoming the norm in many urban areas. At my shop if you wanna do kids <2 or take pedi call, you need a fellowship.

 

[Shinkansen]

I'm not sure what the time line is for submission.
To answer your second question, I'm currently doing my peds fellowship and can confidently say that it has landed me several interviews that I would not have received other wise. Practices that are expanding their peds volume or groups that have new pressure from administration to have a board certified peds guy on the roster. Some of the jobs offered a 30k increase in starting salary but more importantly, I have gained access to very desirable PP groups that would not have been looking to hire otherwise. I haven't signed a contract yet but it has for sure helped with my marketability. From talking to friends doing CT, they have had a similar experience.

I am not 100% sure about whether or not I will work in an all pediatric practice or not. I would like to but I guess it depends on where I end up living long term. I did not do med school or residency in my home state (or even the region), so I feel a bit transient and do not know where I will land. I wouldn't mind teaching residents but I don't want to do research - I know that a lot of all 100% peds practices are academic, so I yea, dunno. I wouldn't mind doing a mix of adults and peds though if I found a good job.

I want to be an attractive candidate for programs but I do not have research, have one case report pending publication, am not chief resident. i was top 15% in country for ITE in CA1 year - will this even matter?

 

[AdmiralChz]

I want to be an attractive candidate for programs but I do not have research, have one case report pending publication, am not chief resident. i was top 15% in country for ITE in CA1 year - will this even matter?

I just went through the cardiac match, but I think the process is largely the same. Peds (and Pain) have later matches in early-to-mid October, the NRMP runs the match and it opens sometime in the Spring so typically residents would apply towards the end of their CA-2 year. Interviewing continues late Spring through the Summer. I don't have any data about competitiveness (anyone out there have some?) but with pain and cardiac approaching a 70-75% match rate I can't see it being any lower.

Numbers mean less for fellowships in general, a strong ITE score (which you have) isn't as much of a positive as a very low (<20%) ITE score has on the negative end - there is a board exam at the end of fellowship and programs get dinged if the pass rates are not high. Since your match is later than Cardiac, they will be looking more at CA-2 ITE scores, so just stay in the upper 5th of scores and you'll be fine. Chief resident status had no influence on my application at all, and I don't see it moving the meter either way except perhaps internally for final ranking. Research is tough during a busy residency, but it looks like you are on the right track - maybe you can scrape together another case report for the SPA conference in the Spring? That would be a great opportunity to network with PDs as well.

It's a small field like cardiac, so a strong letter from an academic pediatric anesthesiologist will go a long way. LORs take a more important role in fellowship applications in general, so be thoughtful in who you approach. One of your letters will have to be either your PD or chair. Hope this helps.

 

[Swamp Gas]

I want to be an attractive candidate for programs but I do not have research, have one case report pending publication, am not chief resident. i was top 15% in country for ITE in CA1 year - will this even matter?

You'll be fine, don't sweat it. Focus on getting strong LORs (if possible, from a peds staff who is known within the community). Peds isn't that competitive, with the exception of big name programs, which are competitive regardless of the specialty. You won't be pigeonholed into academics if that's not what you are looking for. All the jobs that I'm interviewing for are a mix of peds and adults. Some of the groups have peds guys on staff already, where as others I'd be the go to.

 

[Shinkansen]

You'll be fine, don't sweat it. Focus on getting strong LORs (if possible, from a peds staff who is known within the community). Peds isn't that competitive, with the exception of big name programs, which are competitive regardless of the specialty. You won't be pigeonholed into academics if that's not what you are looking for. All the jobs that I'm interviewing for are a mix of peds and adults. Some of the groups have peds guys on staff already, where as others I'd be the go to.

thanks everyone for the information!

practically speaking if you take that job where you will be the peds go to guy, will your call schedule differ greatly from your colleagues?

 

[AdmiralChz]

thanks everyone for the information!

practically speaking if you take that job where you will be the peds go to guy, will your call schedule differ greatly from your colleagues?

Something you'll have to negotiate with your group, can't make generalizations.