Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship Program Curriculum and Schedule
The curriculum for UT Southwestern's Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) Fellowship Program is designed to support each fellow's individual interests. In collaboration with program leadership, fellows develop a tailored schedule that balances required hospital medicine training with individualized educational and scholarly experiences.
Rotations are organized into three categories: inpatient rotations, individualized curriculum, and scholarship. Each year, fellows will spend approximately 16 weeks in each of these areas. Most rotations are two weeks in length, allowing for continuity with supervising faculty while also providing flexibility to pursue scholarly and research goals.
Core PHM Rotations
During core Pediatric Hospital Medicine rotations, fellows work closely with faculty under direct supervision, with increasing autonomy as they progress through the program.
Year 1
- Six weeks of PHM teaching
- Eight weeks of PHM solo hospitalist
- Two weeks of intermediate care (step-down unit)
Year 2
- Six weeks of PHM teaching
- Four weeks of PHM solo hospitalist
- Four weeks of community hospital medicine at a community site
- Two weeks of newborn medicine at Parkland Health
- Two weeks of individualized additional clinical experience, with the fellow choosing between PHM solo hospitalist and intermediate care
Individualized Curriculum
With more than 40 unique options, the individualized curriculum is tailored to each fellow's interests and career goals, offering opportunities across pediatric subspecialties, leadership and hospital operations, advocacy, and medical education. Fellows may also design individualized experiences in collaboration with program leadership and faculty mentors.
Some highlights include:
- Antimicrobial stewardship
- Utilization management
- Leadership and healthcare organization
- Triage and hospital operations
- Interdisciplinary elective
- Pediatric sedation
Scholarship
Fellows receive dedicated training and mentorship in clinical research - including health services research - as well as quality improvement. Opportunities in medical education and clinical informatics are also supported.
Each fellow completes a primary project during fellowship with the support of a faculty mentor and scholarly oversight committee. Fellows have access to national databases, including the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database (HCUP-KID), and claims data, as well as statistical support and the full range of resources and specialty services available through UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Health.
Educational Opportunities
Fellows participate in monthly academic half-days focused on clinical, educational, and administrative topics, along with workshops in:
- Simulation
- Research design
- Critical appraisal of literature
- Quality improvement
- Patient safety
Additional learning occurs through divisional activities such as weekly intake presentations, practice and business meetings, morbidity and mortality conferences, faculty development sessions, and Journal Club, as well as department-wide conferences and multidisciplinary case discussions.
Fellows also play a key role in teaching and mentoring residents and medical students, further developing their skills as clinician-educators. Each year, approximately 240 medical students, 25 sub-interns, more than 100 categorical pediatric residents, and more than 35 residents from other residency programs rotate through our service lines.
Academic Half-Day
Faculty-led lectures provide fellows with board preparation content as well as pediatric hospital medicine-focused topics delivered by subspecialty providers. These sessions take place during a protected four-hour afternoon block once a month. Each academic half-day concludes with a program meeting with the program leadership, offering an opportunity to address questions and concerns in real time.
Professional Conferences
Fellows are encouraged to attend professional meetings each year. The program provides support to attend one meeting per year in addition to the national fellows' conference. Support to attend additional meetings per year is available for fellows presenting their research.