Program Overview

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Introduction to the Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Program

The Pediatric Surgery Fellowship at the University of Colorado and Children's Hospital Colorado is a two-year ACGME-accredited training program. The program is committed to developing exceptional pediatric surgeons who are clinically outstanding, academically productive, and fully prepared to enter independent practice.

Program Description

The program provides a comprehensive clinical experience, graduated operative responsibility, robust surgical education, and active mentorship in quality improvement, research, and professional development. Fellows gain extensive experience in neonatal surgery, pediatric surgical oncology, thoracic surgery, trauma and acute care surgery, and complex congenital conditions, with a significant emphasis on minimally-invasive techniques.

Mission

The mission of the program is to train future leaders in pediatric surgery by providing comprehensive clinical experience, graduated operative responsibility, robust surgical education, and active mentorship in quality improvement, research, and professional development.

Program Structure

The fellowship spans two years and provides a carefully structured, high-volume operative and clinical experience designed to ensure competency, independence, and professionalism.

Year 1 — Foundational Pediatric Surgery Training

During the first year, the junior fellow focuses on developing broad competence in pediatric surgical care, including rotations in:

• Pediatric Surgery (8 months; general, neonatal, thoracic, oncology, minimally invasive surgery)
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (1 month)
• Pediatric Critical Care (1 month)
• Pediatric Colorectal Surgery (1 month)
• Pediatric Urology (1 month)
• Elective subspecialty rotations, based on fellow interest (Optional)

Year 2 — Chief Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Year

The senior year emphasizes leadership, autonomy, and advanced operative experience. Fellows assume a central role in operative planning, perioperative decision-making, and supervising surgical residents and physician assistants.

Operative Experience

Fellows gain substantial exposure to all major areas of pediatric general surgery, including neonatal cases. The annual operative experience includes:

• Total major cases:
• Abdomen/GI: 600-700
• ECMO: >30-45
• Trauma/Critical Care: 200-250 (>20 operative trauma)
• Oncology: 60-70
• Thoracic: 100-160
• Head&Neck/Endocrine, GU, ARM: 65-100
• Robotic surgery: >25
• Endoscopy: 60-80

Clinical Care Team

The pediatric surgical team includes:

1. Fourteen full-time attending pediatric surgeons
2. Two accredited pediatric surgery fellows
3. One accredited pediatric critical care fellow
4. One non-accredited pediatric colorectal surgery fellow
5. Over 15 advanced practice providers (PA or NP)
6. Between two and five general surgical residents
7. University of Colorado medical students
8. Research fellows (on-call responsibilities)

Training Site

All fellowship training occurs at Children's Hospital Colorado on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Research & Academic Scholarship

Fellows are encouraged and supported to participate in meaningful academic work, including:

1. Clinical outcomes, health services research, robotic surgery
2. Quality improvement and patient safety initiatives
3. Multi-institutional collaborations and registry development
4. Mentored publications and national conference presentations

Conferences

The program includes various educational activities, such as:

• Pediatric Surgery Grand Rounds
• Morbidity and Mortality Conferences
• Pediatric Surgery SCORE Curriculum
• Surgical Gastrointestinal Conference
• Surgical Critical Care Conference
• Surgery Pathology Radiology Conference
• Multidisciplinary Trauma Lecture Series
• Journal Club
• Case Presentations
• Research Conferences prior to national conferences
• Trauma Education

Admission Criteria

Applicants must have successfully completed an ACGME-accredited General Surgery Residency. While there is no minimum USMLE Step I score requirement, scores above 220 are considered advantageous. Three letters of recommendation are required, and no more than four letters will be accepted.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS) by completing all required forms and uploading the necessary supporting documents. Selected candidates will be invited for a virtual interview.

Program Details

• Number of Positions: 1 per year
• Fellowship Duration: 2 years
• Start Date: August
• Match Date: May