Clinical training

Pediatric anesthesia fellows are typically assigned to a specific operating room in the first one to two months of training. After that, fellows play an increasingly supervisory role, gaining far greater clinical experience, and can begin to pursue a range of interests directed toward their career goals. Flexibility exists such that a fellow may seek out a rare or interesting case in one area while on another rotation.

Rotation schedule

Rotation descriptions

• General pediatric anesthesia. Fellows spend four months in the general operating rooms, with experience in general pediatric surgery, ENT, neurologic surgery, orthopedic surgery, urology and plastic surgery. Other opportunities include EXIT procedures and transplant anesthesia.
• Cardiovascular (CV) anesthesia. Fellows receive a multifaceted CV experience, including up to three months in cardiac anesthesia. An additional rotation in the specialized pediatric CV ICU includes extensive training in the care of pediatric patients on ECMO.
• Critical care. This is a required one-month rotation split between the pediatric ICU and neonatal ICU.
• Pain medicine. The pain rotation includes training in acute, chronic, and interventional pain treatment in children. Fellows also gain exposure to our unique Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Center, which uses an intensive and multidisciplinary approach to pain management in children with chronic pain.
• Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and preoperative clinic. Residents rotate in the PACU and preoperative clinic for one month and gain consistent experience with both environments throughout the year.
• Extramural elective. An optional extramural elective allows fellows to rotate for one month at Nemours Children's Specialty Care in Jacksonville, Florida. This allows fellows the opportunity to experience a different practice type and new patient population.

Research and academic development

A one-month research rotation, with access to multiple research mentors, allows academic development during the fellowship year. Fellows have access to multiple examiners from the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) for oral board preparation and receive active mentorship and guidance for career development.

Didactic training and education

The curriculum includes weekly interactive didactics specifically created for our fellows, including morbidity and mortality conferences, journal clubs, and mock oral exams. Fellows have access to daily morning conferences for our core program and Grand Rounds as well.

International opportunities

Our fellows routinely take advantage of opportunities to perform anesthetic care in resource-poor environments internationally. Our most recent fellows have traveled to South America, Africa, and Asia with Mayo surgeons and anesthesiologists.

The Mayo International Health Program offers scholarships of up to $2,500 to facilitate international health rotations in underserved locations.

Additional training

Opportunities exist for an additional fellowship year focusing on research. An enormous variety of research is available, both within and outside the Department of Anesthesiology. Projects may be included as part of either a certificate or master's program in clinical research.

Previous fellows have pursued additional years of training in pediatric pain medicine, pediatric regional anesthesia, and pediatric cardiac anesthesia.