Pediatric Neurocritical Care Fellowship
The Ruth D. and Ken M. Davee Pediatric Neurocritical Care Program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics, Divisions of Neurology and Critical Care Medicine invites applications from candidates interested in training in pediatric neurocritical care. During this training program, the fellow will develop expertise in the recognition, evaluation and acute and long-term management of acute neurologic insults, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, refractory status epilepticus, autoimmune and demyelinating disorders, CNS infections, metabolic, neuromuscular disorders and neurologic complications of critical illness. The fellow will develop expertise in the use and interpretation of neurophysiologic data, such as prolonged video EEG recording, near-infrared spectroscopy and transcranial doppler sonography.
video: meet Fellowship Director, Andrea Pardo, MD
The Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is a 360-bed, free-standing children’s hospital that serves the city of Chicago and beyond. It houses the 40-bed Lefkofsky Family Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, the 44-bed Regenstein Cardiac Care unit and the 44-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. There are active cardiac surgery, transplant and ECMO programs. It is a national leader for pediatric subspecialty care and is consistently ranked in the U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll.
Curriculum for Physician Fellow
This one-year program offers two tracks depending on the candidate's previous fellowship training in either Child Neurology or Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. The curriculum includes the following:
- ICU Consult Rotation (six to seven months)
- Neurosurgery Rotation (one month)
- Adult Neurointensive Care at Northwestern University (two months)
- Rehabilitation Medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (two to four weeks)
- Neurocritical Care Follow-Up Clinic (once a month)
- Neuroradiology (two to four weeks)
Program Tracks
Critical Care Track: Additional training with a formal neurophysiology course (two weeks).
Neurology Track: Additional rotations in the Cardiac ICU (two weeks) and and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (two weeks).
Curriculum for Advanced Practice Nursing Fellow
Lurie Children’s offers the only pediatric neurocritical care advanced practice nurse fellowship in the country. This six-month program is designed to provide advanced practice nurses the opportunity to develop subspecialty expertise in pediatric neurocritical care. The fellow will work closely with Michele Mills, neurocritical care APN, in order to develop expertise in the neurologic exam, neuroimaging, diagnosis and management of neurologic conditions in critically ill patients.
- ICU Consult Rotation (sixteen weeks)
- PICU Rotation (two weeks)
- Neurosurgery/Neuro-oncology Rotation (two weeks)
- Rehabilitation (two weeks)
- Palliative Care (one week)
- Infectious Disease (one week)
- Neurocritical Care Follow-up Clinic (once a month)
Didactics for Fellows
- Chief of Service Conference and Neuroradiology Rounds: Every Thursday morning, the Neurology and NCC fellows present interesting cases to the division of Child Neurology, followed by Neuroradiology rounds.
- Neurocritical Care Conference and EEG Review: Every Friday, the NCC group reviews the previous week’s EEGs, discuss interesting cases, and have formal didactics
- Joint Adult-Pediatric Stroke/Neurocritical Care Conference: Every Friday, NCC discusses interesting vascular/neurocritical care cases with adult neurology, neuroradiology and neurosurgery.
- Neurobiology Conference: Once a month, invited speakers discuss their research in the neurosciences.
- Neurocritical Care-PICU conference: Once a month, NCC faculty provide didactics on neurologic topics relevant to a joint NCC/PICU audience.
- Neuroanatomy: Every Friday morning for half the year, joint Child and Adult Neurology trainees receive formal neuroanatomy lectures and wet lab experience.
- Stroke Consortium: Once a quarter, all the academic hospitals within greater Chicago gather to discuss interesting and educational stroke cases.
Diversity & Inclusion
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine seeks to attract inquisitive, motivated fellows and is committed to providing them with every opportunity for success. We encourage a diverse and inclusive work environment that allows each trainee to achieve their personal goals.
For more information on Northwestern’s commitment to diversity, please see the McGaw Diversity & Inclusion page, the Northwestern McGaw Underrepresented Residents & Fellows Forum and Feinberg School of Medicine Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
Research
Focused clinical research will be encouraged and there are ample opportunities and mentors within the Division of Neurology and Division of Critical Care Medicine. The fellowship will include support for attendance to present research at a national meeting.
Application Process
Applicants for the physician fellowship should be board-certified/eligible in pediatric critical care or pediatric neurology. Physician inquiries should be directed to the fellowship directors, Andrea Pardo, MD, and Sue Hong, MD.
Applicants for the APN fellowship should have a minimum of two years of ICU nursing experience, a Masters in Nursing from an accredited university, be certified as an acute care pediatric nurse practitioner and be licensed as a registered nurse and advanced practice nurse in the state of Illinois by the time they begin the program.
APN inquiries should be directed to Andrea Pardo, MD, or Michele Mills, RN, MSN, FNP-BC, PNP-AC.
Advocacy
Discover the many ways our faculty are impacting children's health beyond the hospital.
Global Health
Each year, as many as 20 third-year pediatric residents travel to Bugando Medical Center in Mwanza, Tanzania, to participate in an educational initiative that provides exposure to the management of complex pediatric diseases in a low-resource setting. Learn more about this extraordinary opportunity.
Why Northwestern?
Housestaff training through McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University provides diverse and challenging clinical experiences and world-class education located in the heart of the beautiful city of Chicago. Learn more via the links to the McGaw website below.
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Meet Dr. Leon Epstein, Head of the Division of Neurology at Lurie Children's
Dr. Leon Epstein is the head of the Division of Neurology at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. The division is ranked #4 in the nation by US News & World Report. His special interests include viral disorders on the nervous system and migraine headaches.
Meet Dr. Craig M. Smith, MD, Pediatric Critical Care / Neurocritical Care at Lurie Children's
Craig M. Smith, MD is a Pediatric Critical Care / Neurocritical Care Intensivist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
Meet Dr. Nancy Kuntz, Neurologist at Lurie Children's
Dr. Nancy Kuntz is a physician in the Division of Neurology at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. In addition, she serves as medical director of the Mazza Foundation Neuromuscular Program, and director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinic. Her special interests include neuromuscular disorders in children with special emphasis on neuroimmunology and autonomic disorders.
Meet Sunita Misra, MD, Ph.D., Researcher, and Physician at Lurie Children's
Sunita Misra, MD, Ph.D., is a researcher, and physician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Her special interests include neurology.
Contact Us
Andrea Pardo, MD
Fellowship Director, Davee Pediatric Neurocritical Care Fellowship
Neurology
Michele Mills, RN, FNP-BC, PNP-AC
Associate Program Director, Davee Pediatric Neurocritical Care Fellowship
Neurology
Zulaika Guzman
Coordinator, Child Neurology Training Program
Neurology
312-227-4455
More Information
Further program details, including the housestaff manual and a sample training contract, are available on the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University site.
Physician-Scientist Training & Resources
We offer a wide range of resources, mentorship opportunities and formal training programs to help our residents and fellows excel as physician-scientists. Explore all of the resources and hear from housestaff who are making research a major part of their career development plans.