Cardiac Anesthesia Services

Training tomorrow's specialists

Boston Children's Hospital is recognized throughout the world as a center of excellence for both the treatment of pediatric patients and the training of physicians and researchers. The Department of Anesthesia is fortunate to share in this distinguished reputation. Working with interdisciplinary specialists throughout the hospital, members of our department play an active role in the training of future specialists in the field of cardiac and pediatric anesthesia.

The Department of Anesthesia offers the following fellowships:

• Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship
• Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Fellowship
• Combined Longwood Medical Area Pain Fellowship
• Critical Care Medicine Fellowship
  (offered through the American Board of Pediatrics)
• Conferences and Educational Programs

Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Fellowship

Each year, Boston Children's Hospital offers 12-month fellowships in pediatric cardiac anesthesia. Boston Children's Hospital is one of the few institutions in the nation with the depth and breadth of clinical and academic activity necessary for the success of this training. The minimum requirements for acceptance into this fellowship program are completion of board eligibility requirements in anesthesiology, as well as completion of a pediatric anesthesia or adult cardiac anesthesia fellowship. In addition, an 18-month combined pediatric anesthesia/pediatric cardiac anesthesia fellowship continuum is available to exceptionally qualified candidates who have completed board eligibility requirements in anesthesiology, but have not completed pediatric anesthesiology or adult cardiac anesthesiology fellowships.

During the fellowship year, nine months of clinical anesthesia activity is devoted to developing expertise in the management of pediatric cardiothoracic patients in the operating room, cardiac catheterization laboratory, cardiac intensive care unit and other locations. Three months of elective time is allotted to provide exposure to related areas such as intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography, postoperative management in the cardiac intensive care unit, and clinical or laboratory-based research. Of note, this structure is the template being used in the ongoing effort to gain ACGME accreditation for pediatric cardiac anesthesia fellowships.

All fellows receive appointments at both Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Applications should be received 8-12 months prior to the anticipated starting date. Candidates should note that acceptances are issued on a "rolling" basis, affording substantial flexibility regarding starting dates.

Other Training Opportunities

All Children’s Hospital Boston pediatric anesthesia fellows receive 2-3 months of pediatric cardiac anesthesia training. Our program can also accommodate adult cardiac anesthesia fellows and attending-level pediatric or adult cardiac anesthesiologists from outside institutions for 1-6 month rotations.