University of Iowa Neonatology Fellowship Program: Department of Pediatrics

Example of 3-year Neonatal/Perinatal Fellowship Monthly Assignments

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Orient: (Education) Designates the initial one-month block devoted to orienting new fellows to key research and clinical aspects of our program. A major goal during this month is to assist new fellows begin the process of selecting an area of research, a mentor, and a research project. During this period, first-year fellows shadow senior fellows in the NICU and in their research laboratories. First-year fellows are encouraged to spend 2 or 3 one- to two-week blocks of time in the laboratories of funded investigators in finding one that is "a good fit."

NICU1 and NICU2: (Clinical Care ) Designates clinical service time done in either our high acuity 13-bed NICU1 or in our lower acuity 36-bed and 15-bed NICU2s. During clinical months, fellows' call is 2 nights a week. All clinical activities take place in one hospital, University of Iowa Children's Hospital

Res: (Research) Designates time blocks devoted primarily to research, but also includes other training-related activities, e.g., fellows' core curriculum seminar, journal club, physiology review, lectures/seminars, etc. A primary goal in the second and third years is to provide several contiguous, uninterrupted blocks of research time. During research blocks, fellows average 1 call night per week.

Vac: (Benefits) Vacation is included in the 3 weeks per year of paid time off.

On Call Schedule:  The fellows' night and weekend call schedule is prepared by the fellows with approval and oversight by our faculty. On call days average one in every six over the course of the year and are done in house.

Moonlighting:  Moonlighting at outside institutions is allowed only with approval of the Program Director. Elective opportunities for enhanced clinical training (in which fellows are compensated) are available within our program. Time devoted to either of these activities is included in the ACGME's weekly 80 duty hours.