Program Overview

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Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Program

The Pediatric Surgery fellowship program at the University of Chicago Medicine is a two-year ACGME-accredited program that consists of extensive clinical and surgical training in pediatric surgery, including trauma, ECMO, oncology, congenital abnormalities, minimally invasive surgery, subspecialty, and critical care services.

Program Structure

During the first year, pediatric surgery fellows work closely with attending staff in all aspects of general pediatric surgery, and gain exposure to a number of pediatric specialists during electives, including:

• Neonatology
• Pediatric critical care
• Urology
• Otolaryngology
• Cardiac surgery
• Burn surgery

The second-year fellow serves as the chief of the pediatric surgical service with full clinical responsibility, as well as administrative responsibilities coordinating and conducting conferences, including:

• Morbidity and Mortality
• Multidisciplinary conferences (ECMO, NICU, PICU, Trauma, Maternal Fetal Medicine, ER)
• Surgery/Pathology/Radiology rounds
• Journal Club

Each fellow will have the opportunity to attend the following courses/conferences:

• American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA)
• Pediatric Colorectal Course
• Course for Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery (Northwestern)
• Elective conference, chosen by the fellow

Program Requirements

Applicants must have completed training in general surgery and be eligible to take the qualifying examination in general surgery given by the American Board of Surgery or the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. Interested applicants should apply to the program via the Electronic Residency Application Services (ERAS). One fellow is selected every other year through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). The program start date is August 1 of every other year, and the end date is July 31 of the second year.

Program Faculty

• Manish Raiji, MD, Professor of Surgery, Program Director
• Grace Mak, MD, Chief of Section of Pediatric Surgery, Associate Program Director for Pediatric Surgery Fellowship

Past and Current Fellows

Current Pediatric Surgery Fellows:

• 2024: Laura Rausch, Residency: Oregon Health & Science University

Past Pediatric Surgery Fellows:

• 2023: Saunders Lin, Residency: Oregon Health & Science University, Current Position: Le Bonheur Children's Hospital
• 2022: Frances Okolo, Residency: University of Pittsburgh, Current Position: Maynard Children's Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center
• 2021: Marielena Bachier-Rodriguez, Residency: University of Puerto Rico, Current Position: University of Chicago
• 2020: Minna Wieck, Residency: Oregon Health & Science University, Current Position: UC Davis Health
• 2018: Lindsay Talbot, Residency: Duke University, Current Position: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
• 2017: Manish Raiji, Residency: Georgetown University Hospital, Current Position: University of Chicago
• 2016: Erica Carlisle, Residency: University of Chicago, Current Position: University of Iowa
• 2015: Jonathan E. Kohler, Residency: University of Washington, Current Position: UC Davis Health
• 2014: Juan Carlos Pelayo, Residency: University of California San Francisco, Current Position: Cedars Sinai Maxine Dunitz Children's Health Center
• 2013: Anthony Hogan, Residency: University of Miami, Current Position: University of Miami
• 2012: Sara Chang, Residency: Baylor College of Medicine, Current Position: Children's Hospital of Central California
• 2010: Erika Newman, Residency: University of Michigan, Current Position: University of Michigan
• 2009: Grace Z. Mak, Residency: University of Cincinnati, Current Position: University of Chicago

Program Participation

The Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Program will participate in the 2025 Match for Appointment Year 2026.