Program Overview

Introduction to the Subspecialty Excellence in Educational Leadership & Scholarship (SEELS) Program

The University of Colorado Department of Pediatrics offers the Subspecialty Excellence in Educational Leadership & Scholarship (SEELS) Program, designed for subspecialty pediatric fellows committed to an academic career in medical education. The SEELS program is an 18-month initiative that provides research mentorship, coaching, and instruction to equip fellows with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes for success as future medical educators.

Program Objectives and Structure

The overall goal of SEELS is to foster educational scholarship and professional identity development among its participants. This is achieved through faculty and peer mentorship, as well as engagement in an educational community of practice. The program focuses on developing future medical educators through a structured approach that includes research mentorship, educational scholarship, and community engagement.

Residents and Fellows as Educators Elective (RFEE)

The RFEE is a graduate medical education-wide 3-week elective offered twice a year, in April and December. It provides residents and fellows with a solid foundation for their careers as medical educators, covering essential topics and skills necessary for effective educational leadership.

NICU Intern Bootcamp

The NICU intern bootcamp is a half-day orientation held on the first day of each intern NICU rotation. It encompasses key areas such as:

• NRP review and skills practice
• Fluid and nutrition management in the NICU
• Ventilator management 101 Fellows have the opportunity to teach these sessions, which can count towards their fellowship elective time requirement.

NRP Instructor

Fellows can become NRP instructors, which helps them maintain their NRP skills, develop stronger bonds with ancillary NICU staff, and generate additional income.

Pediatric Education Group (PEG)

The Pediatric Education Group is a community of education scholars within the Department of Pediatrics. They meet on the third Thursday of each month to share updates, receive feedback on their education scholarship, and build skills and expertise in education scholarship.

Scholarship in Education and Innovation (ScEI) Club

The ScEI Club is a monthly lunchtime "brown bag" group session where participants learn about different educational topics, network, and present educational scholarship. It is open to educators from any discipline across the University of Colorado campus and partner sites, at any stage of their career. The club meets on the first Thursday of every month.

Education Grand Rounds

The campus-wide Education Grand Rounds are held virtually on the second Thursday of every month, featuring discussions on various educational topics.

Education and Innovation Symposium

The Education and Innovation Symposium is an annual event dedicated to the latest developments in medical education from the University of Colorado School of Medicine campus. It serves as a platform for future and current education scholars to showcase their work, network, and learn new approaches.

Academy of Medical Educators

The Academy of Medical Educators provides a supportive environment for teachers and a mechanism to enhance all educational programs and teachers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. It offers a community and web of mentors for future and current clinician-educators and education scholars.

Teaching Opportunities

There are numerous teaching opportunities available through the school of medicine and pediatric residency, including leading small group sessions with trainees throughout the year. These opportunities are valuable for fellows to gain experience and develop their educational leadership skills.