Benderson Family Heart Center | Education & Training

Training the next generation of pediatric cardiologists is critical to the mission of Boston Children’s Department of Cardiology: providing outstanding clinical care to our patients and families and sparking the spirit of innovation, discovery, and leadership.

If you’re considering training at one of the nation's best pediatric hospitals and helping advance the field of pediatric cardiovascular care, learn more about our senior fellowship programs:

• Pediatric Cardiology Senior Fellowship Program
• Advanced Senior Fellowship in Exercise Cardiology Program
• Boston Adult Congenital Heart (BACH) and Pulmonary Hypertension Senior Fellowship Program
• Cardiac Imaging Senior Fellowship Program
• Interventional Cardiology Senior Fellowship Program
• Preventive Cardiology Senior Fellowship Program
• Cardiac Registry Senior Fellowship Program
• Electrophysiology Senior Fellowship Program
• Acute Cardiac Care Senior Fellowship Program
• Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) Senior Fellowship Program

The Boston Children’s Hospital Observership Program is an opportunity for international and U.S.-based physicians and high school and undergraduate students to have an informal learning experience within the Department of Cardiology. These experiences are not formal training and do not include hands-on patient care or contact. It is an opportunity to promote the exchange of ideas and improve pediatric care worldwide.  

Please visit the Boston Children's Hospital Observership Program webpage for further details on an observership for international physicians.

Here are more details about observing:

• Observers from the U.S.
  • U.S.-based practicing, licensed clinicians to watch and listen with no hands-on patient contact or research activity
  • Send email of interest to Cardiologyobservershipprogram@childrens.harvard.edu
  • Must be affiliated with a home institution
• International observers
  • Not accepting international observers in the months of July and August
  • Not accepting international observers for Echo/Cardio Imaging
  • Must be English proficient
  • This is a watch and listen observership with no hands-on patient contact or research activity
  • Must be a currently practicing, licensed clinician, with a home institution affiliation or be enrolled in a formal training program such as a residency or fellowship 
  • Applications should be submitted a minimum of 6 months before desired timeframe
  • Statement of purpose in application should be specific, including areas of interest in cardiology
  • Interested? Email the Boston Children’s Hospital Observership department (observership.program@childrens.harvard.edu)
• Undergrad student observers
  • Request must come from Boston Children's sponsor to Cardiologyobservershipprogram@childrens.harvard.edu
  • Must be enrolled in high school or undergraduate college
  • Must be in good standing at current institution 
  • Must have support of advisor from current institution 
  • Observation only — no hands-on contact with patients
• Medical students to observe or perform research
  • Request must come from Boston Children's sponsor to Cardiologyobservershipprogram@childrens.harvard.edu
  • Must be enrolled in medical school
  • Must be in good standing at current institution
  • Must have support of advisor from current institution (details to be provided)
  • Clinical observation only — no hands-on contact with patients

Rotators are residents and fellows in accredited pediatric, or med-peds residency programs who are looking to gain meaningful insight into cardiology. They will have an ability to provide clinical care during their elective rotation and attend lectures and didactic sessions to gain knowledge in pediatric cardiology.

• Outside resident/fellow rotators
  • Four-week program for current pediatric residents
  • Send CV, letter of interest, and timeframe requested
  • Provide program coordinator’s and program director’s name and email address
  • Send email to Cardiologyobservershipprogram@childrens.harvard.edu

Innovation and research is an essential component of Boston Children's Hospital and the Department of Cardiology. We accept a number of MDs and PhD to spend time conducting clinical or basic research with our faculty physicians. Typically, research fellows spend 12 months working on projects, but length of stay can vary depending on the project.

• Research fellows
  • Request must come from Boston Children's PI sponsor to Joy.Gueverra@cardio.chboston.org
  • Must have completed an MD or PhD
  • Must ensure adequate funding per NIH and Boston Children's standards (will be determined once CV is reviewed)
  • No funding can be from personal sources
  • J1 visa required if international fellow (Boston Children's will file on your behalf)
  • Minimum of six months 
  • Processing time: four to six months ahead of accepted start date

Experienced undergraduate and high school students can apply to conduct research or work on a project with the supervision of one of our faculty physicians. Students can generally apply and receive independent study credits for the work they do. Typically done during the summer months, most internships last around three months but can be extended at the discretion of the principal investigator.  

• Undergrad student interns (for credit)
  • Request must come from Boston Children's sponsor to Cardiologyobservershipprogram@childrens.harvard.edu
  • Must be enrolled in high school or undergraduate college
  • Must be in good standing at current institution
  • Must be able to provide letter detailing credit toward degree or provide details of stipend provided by institution
  • Observation only — no hands-on contact with patients