Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship

• Expanding to 9 fellows in the program with 3 fellows per year of training
• Individualized education with focus on career development
• Fellows participate as team leaders of the Connecticut Children’s Neonatal Transport Program
• Training takes place in our level 4 NICU at Connecticut Children’s in Hartford with elective opportunities at our level 3 NICUs at UCONN Health and the Hospital of Central Connecticut
• The level 4 NICU at Connecticut Children’s in Hartford has 48 beds (expanding to 65 beds with the opening of our new NICU slated for late 2025).
• Connecticut Children’s is home to more than 30 pediatric medical and surgical subspecialists, including ECMO, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Fetal Surgery Programs
• Opportunities for clinical, basic science or translational research in the Division of Neonatology, Connecticut Children’s, UConn Health and the University of Connecticut.
• Quality improvement and patient safety educational opportunities from experts in the Division of Neonatology and Connecticut Children’s
• Global health opportunities led by faculty in the Division of Neonatology

• 4 weeks of vacation per year
• Strong benefits package from the University of Connecticut  
• Educational resource allotment for attendance to medical meetings and conferences, and educational expenses, including electronics
• Strong administrative support including Program Director and centralized coordinator office
   

• Fellows have the opportunity to collaborate with and participate within a clinically integrated network of nurseries, delivering services within multiple models of neonatal care
• Connecticut Children’s Neonatal Transport team provides services to NICUs and nurseries across CT, NY and MA. Fellows serve as transport team leader, overseeing a team of nurses and respiratory therapists while transporting the smallest and sickest babies to our level 3 and 4 NICUs in Hartford and Farmington.
• The size of our fellowship program allows us to offer a personalized education with flexibility to achieve each fellow’s unique career goals
• Faculty members in the Connecticut Children’s Division of Neonatology have a diverse interest in scholarly pursuits including nutrition, microbiome and NEC, neuroscience and patient safety/quality improvement
• Our program has access to research opportunities across not only the Division of Neonatology, but also the Department of Pediatrics, Connecticut Children’s, Jackson Laboratories and the University of Connecticut at large, including facilities at both UConn Health and UConn Storrs
• The Division of Neonatology works closely with the Fetal Care Center at Connecticut Children's

Locations

• NICU East – Connecticut Children’s level 4 NICU located in Hartford
• NICU West – Connecticut Children’s level 3 NICU at UConn Health in Farmington

Additional Information

• Fellows participate in the Neonatal Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up Clinic for one half day during each Research block
• Elective or vacation time can take place in 1 week increments during any Research months for up to 4 weeks

Clinical

The fellowship includes 15 blocks of clinical service. Clinical rotations at Connecticut Children’s Level 4 NICUs provide first year fellows with a high degree of supervised direct patient contact and responsibility in the NICU, and gradually increase autonomous responsibility for second and third year fellows. Typically, fellows will spend six blocks of the first year, four blocks in the second year and four blocks in the third year rotating in the NICU. Second and third year fellows may do clinical rotations at Connecticut Children’s Level 3 NICU at UCONN Health in Farmington. Second year fellows also do a CICU rotation to gain experience in the care of critically ill newborns with complex congenital heart disease. During their clinical rotations, fellows function as primary consultants to the house staff in each of the participating nurseries, supervising hour-by-hour care of critically ill newborn infants. Transport of the critically ill newborn infant forms an essential part of this experience, during which they serve as team leaders for neonatal transports. Fellows take in-house call, approximately 48 calls/year of training.

With attending supervision and guidance, fellows are responsible for overseeing care of all NICU patients, whether cared for by pediatric residents or advanced practice providers, and are the first-line supervisor in the NICU. Fellows participate substantially in the education of pediatric residents as well as medical students doing a fourth year critical care elective. Fellows also participate in resident conferences and didactics, either as co-attendees or as presenters.

As part of the fellowship curriculum, fellows receiving training in quality improvement and are required to participate in a QI project. This may include initiation of their own project or participation in an ongoing project. Participation continues throughout the fellowship.

Fellows attend the Neonatal Follow-up Clinic during all three years of the fellowship. Over the period of three years, fellows attend one half-day session per non-clinical/research block during which they evaluate discharged high-risk newborns and perform neurodevelopmental evaluations.
 

Research 

The program's research training provides a solid foundation for academic endeavors and successful independent inquiry in a supportive and collaborative setting. The program offers a broad variety of scholarly activities consistent with ABP guidelines, including but not limited to:

• Basic, Clinical or Translational Biomedicine
• Health Services; Quality Improvement
• Bioethics
• Education
• Public Policy

Fellows must complete a research project. Fellows spend 24 blocks of their time in fellowship completing one or more scholarly projects. The fellow may choose a research mentor from among members of the faculty of the Division of Neonatology, other subspecialty divisions in the Department of Pediatrics, or other faculty at UConn Health or UConn School of Medicine. For fellows interested in basic laboratory projects, a vast selection of research faculty members and laboratory facilities exist at the medical school.

We encourage fellows to attend a regional and/or national research conference during the first year. During the second or third years, fellows are encouraged to present their research at regional and/or national conferences.

Related Links

• Research Support at UConn Health
• Research Support at The Jackson Laboratory

How many fellows are in the Neonatal-Perinatal Training Program at UConn/Connecticut Children’s?

We have a total of 9 positions, with 3 fellows in each year of training.

What is the structure of the Neonatal-Perinatal Training Program?

Fellows do a minimum of 12 and maximum of 15 blocks of clinical service at the level 4 NICU at Connecticut Children’s main campus in Hartford. Currently, clinical service time is weighted toward the first year of training with 1st year fellows doing 6 blocks of clinical service time, 2nd years doing 5 blocks and 3rd years 4 blocks of clinical service time. 

The remaining 24-27 blocks are dedicated time to complete the scholarly product requirements for the American Board of Pediatrics.

If fellows are meeting or exceeding expectations with regard to clinical training and progress with their scholarly project, they may request 1-3 blocks of elective time to pursue global health or other electives or do additional clinical or research time as needed to fulfill individual career goals.

What are the on-call expectations?

Fellows are expected to take in-house overnight and weekend call. Fellows do approximately 48 calls per year of training. Their primary responsibility is to serve as team leader for the Neonatal Transport Program, responding to requests for transport from Connecticut Children’s referral base across Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts. When not responding to transport calls, fellows provide oversight of the NICU, respond to deliveries and complete antenatal consultations.

What options are available to fulfill the scholarly project requirement for the American Board of Pediatrics?

Fellows may participate in basic science or translational research, prospective or retrospective clinical research projects, quality improvement, and bioethics. Fellows have access to mentors and laboratories across the University of Connecticut, including UConn Health and the undergraduate campus in Storrs as well as Jackson Laboratories located on the UConn Health campus in Farmington. We are dedicated to tailoring each fellow’s scholarly project to their individual interests and career goals.

What didactic teaching sessions are offered?

Fellows are given 2-4 hour blocks of protected time each week for didactic sessions. These include a 3-year rotating Physiology/Pathophysiology curriculum based on the content specifications for the ABP Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine subspecialty training exam, a weekly fellows’ conference given by neonatal and pediatric medical or surgical subspecialists on cutting edge topics in neonatal medicine, monthly Neonatal-Perinatal morbidity and mortality conferences, monthly neonatal-perinatal conferences given jointly with Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists, a journal club, monthly Fetal Care Conference and fellow-run board review sessions. Simulation sessions are integrated into the curriculum. Fellows also participate in procedural simulation days and simulation sessions with providers in the Division of Neonatology.

Neonatal fellows also participate in Connecticut Children’s ACGME required Core Curriculum with trainees from our other fellowship programs.

What medical and surgical subspecialty services are available at Connecticut Children’s?

Connecticut Children’s has a complete service line of pediatric medical and surgical subspecialists. We have a Cardiothoracic Surgical program and an ECMO program.

Where do fellows go after completing the program at UConn/Connecticut Children’s?

Our fellows have been successful in securing positions in academic neonatology, as well as private practice. Some have pursued physician-scientist career tracks, while others have chosen clinical positions. Our goal is to provide each fellow with the skill set they will need to pursue their individual career goals. We meet with each fellow multiple times throughout their training to discuss their goals, review development of the curriculum vitae, identify potential positions and prepare for interviews.

Where do fellows live?

In general, fellows live in the suburbs of Hartford, including West Hartford, Farmington, Avon, Simsbury, and Manchester, all within a 20 minute drive of Hartford.

What is the application process?

The University of Connecticut Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship program participates in the Match. Applications are submitted through ERAS beginning on July 1. The deadline for submitting applications is October 1.

We select our applicants based on several criteria. We consider both past academic and professional performance as well as demonstrated interest in neonatology and scholarly interests that align with areas of focus in our division. Interviews are offered and scheduled through ERAS from September through October.

Along with an individual’s application, their interview also plays a significant role in the decision making process.

Does the program offer Master's Degree opportunities?

Yes! The Department of Pediatrics will support one 2nd year pediatric fellow annually to enter the Master's in Clinical and Translational Research Program (MCTR) at UConn Health. If interested, please ask the program director for additional information.

• Jennifer Trzaski, MD – Fellowship Program Director
• Usha Prasad, DO – Fellowship Program Associate Director
• Elizabeth Anderson – Fellowship Program Coordinator
• Andrea Orsey, MD– Associate Chair of Education
• Marianne Custer – Administrative Director, Medical Education
• Kierstyn Connors – Manager, Graduate Medical Education

Division Leadership

• Jeff Shenberger, MD – Division Head
• Annmarie Golioto, MD – Medical Director
• David Sink, MD – Medical Director
• Nancy Louis, MD – Medical Director
• Brett Citarella, MD – Medical Director
• Arvin Bundhoo, MD – Medical Director
• Marilyn Sanders, MD – Medical Director Neonatal Transport

Neonatologists – NICU East

• Adam Matson, MD
• Les Wolkoff, MD
• Hala Saneh, MD
• Julie Sheehan, MD
• Semih Gork, MD
• Allison Sadowski, MD
• Kinga Zgutka, MD
• Poonam Thakore, MD
• Kendall Johnson, MD

Neonatologists – NICU West

• Naveed Hussain, MD
• Mariann Pappagallo, MD
• Ted Rosenkrantz, MD
• Shikha Sarkar, MD

Neurodevelopmental Follow-up

• Shabnam Lainwala, MD
• Emily Gritz, MD
• Carla Jacobsen-Kiel, MD
• Arpana Mohnani, MD
• Mishika Malik, MD

Neonatology/Fetal Care

• DonnaMaria Cortezzo, MD
• Alaina Pyle, MD
   

• Jacob ‘Coby’ Kelner, DO
• Nazifa Rahman, MD
• Surabhi Khasgiwala, MBBS
• Zohaib Sayyed, MBBS
• Jordyn Harler, DO
• Mandeep Takhar, MD