Physician Assistant Pediatric Surgery Fellowship

About Texas Children's Hospital

Summary:

The Surgery Physician Assistant Fellowship Program at Texas Children’s Hospital is the first of its kind in the country to provide a specialized training opportunity specifically for physician assistants. This intensive12-month didactic and clinical pediatric training program ensures a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a full spectrum of pediatric surgical subspecialties, including congenital heart surgery, general pediatric surgery, hand/microsurgery, neurosurgery, otolaryngology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, surgical hospitalists, transplant, trauma, and urology. 

The one-year program includes clinical pediatric surgical subspecialty experience, dedicated research time, and specialty workshops to include suture, cadaver and simulation labs. Training will be provided in clinics, on the surgical floors and in the operating room and will involve pre-, intra- and post-operative care. Learn more about our curriculum.  

The program is led by Dr. Larry Hollier, Surgeon-in-Chief, Medical Director; Kris Marsack, MS, PA-C, Academic Program Director; Jacqueline Broda, PA-C, Program Director; Jordan Rodriguez, Project Manager, and Magda C. Gonzalez, PA Fellowship Academic Coordinator. 

This fellowship program is suitable for both new PA program graduates as well as experienced physician assistants who would like to plan and/or redirect their future career in a surgical subspecialty.

Upon successful completion of the program, a certificate will be awarded from the Texas Children’s Hospital Department of Surgery.

The pediatric surgery PA fellowship program at Texas Children’s Hospital was established in 2013. The fellowship program has evolved, grown, and has proven that physician assistants are integral in the success of the department of surgery.

Texas Children’s Hospital Surgery Physician Assistant Fellowship Program has applied for Postgraduate Accreditation - Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Texas Children’s Hospital Surgery Physician Assistant Fellowship Program anticipates review of its application for Postgraduate Accreditation - Provisional status at the February 2022 ARC-PA meeting.

The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Clinical Postgraduate Program status to the Texas Children’s Hospital Surgery Physician Assistant Fellowship sponsored by Texas Children’s Hospital. Accreditation-Clinical Postgraduate Program is the status of accreditation granted when a new or currently accredited clinical postgraduate program is in compliance with the Standards for Clinical Postgraduate Programs. Accreditation-clinical postgraduate program remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards, ARC-PA requirements or procedures. Accreditation-Clinical Postgraduate Program does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class. The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-texas-childrens-hospitalsurgery-physician-assistant-fellowship-pg/

Mission:

Texas Children’s Hospital’s Mission statement is to support excellence in patient care, education and research with a commitment to quality service and cost-effective care to enhance the health and well-being of children locally, nationally and internationally. 

Texas Children’s Hospital Physician Assistant Surgical Fellowship Program Mission statement is to provide a dynamic pediatric surgical training experience for physician assistants enabling them to provide the highest level of care and create a healthier future for pediatric patients. At the largest Pediatric institution in North America, PA fellows will gain foundational knowledge through simulated workshops, skills labs, cadaver labs and a lecture series to help increase their surgical knowledge base while working alongside world-class surgeons and ancillary staff. By rotating through multiple pediatric surgical subspecialties, PA fellows gain remarkable operative technical skills and become accomplished pediatric surgical providers. The PA fellows receive training in the clinics, operating rooms, inpatient floors, and ICUs where they will become proficient in pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative care. Our PA fellows will receive vital exposure under appropriate supervision, to basic and advanced surgical concepts and techniques, that will help them gain confidence and experience necessary to practice in a wide variety of pediatric surgical subspecialties in academic and private settings.

Program Goals: 

The goal of the Surgery Physician Assistant Fellowship Program is to:  

Acquire knowledge of all pediatric surgical subspecialties within Texas Children’s Hospital to allow for appropriate assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of the pediatric surgical patients in a busy children’s hospital setting 
Strengthen physical assessment skills essential for the care of the pediatric and adolescent surgical patient 
Develop baseline understanding of indications and associated benefits, risks, and potential complications related to the diagnosis and treatment of specific surgical diagnoses and procedures using scientific evidence 
Graduated responsibility in providing care to patients including assisting surgical procedures 
Develop skills in performing invasive procedures 
Provide fundamental knowledge on the physician assistant first-assist role within the operating room 
Provide opportunities to explore the physician assistant professional role 
Experience the physician assistant collaborative role among the healthcare team and other medical disciplines within Texas Children's Hospital 
Integrate a knowledge base necessary to educate patients and families 
Learning how to critically review and apply the pediatric surgical literature to clinical practice

Finances:

$65,000 will be offered in addition to the following:  

Professional liability insurance 
$75,000 group term life insurance 
Two white coats  
Paid time off (PTO) accrual 

Additional benefits offered:  

Medical insurance  
Dental insurance 
Life insurance 
Short term disability insurance  
Long term disability insurance 
Prescription drug program 
Health Care reimbursement account 
Retirement program 

Qualifications:

• Being fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including any booster dose(s) of the COVID-19 vaccine recommended by the Centers for Disease Control when eligible, is required for all employees at Texas Children’s unless approved for a medical or religious exemption
• Required Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in Physician Assistant Studies
• Preferred current board certification for PA or scheduled PANCE and current or Temporary Texas PA License with the Texas Medical Board
• Completed career application with current Curriculum Vitae 
• One-page personal statement focusing on why you are interested in the Surgery Physician Assistant Fellowship program    
• One professional recommendation letter 

Responsibilities:

• Under the direct supervision of a PA or Physician, utilizes advanced practice knowledge and skills to systematically collect and evaluate health assessment data
• Under the direct supervision of a Physician Assistant, consistently demonstrates effective communication skills and works to eliminate communication barriers
• Under the direct supervision of a Physician Assistant, provides educational resources for the patient and family
• Under the direct supervision of a Physician Assistant, consistently applies new knowledge relevant to pediatric nursing to clinical practice
• Under the direct supervision of a Physician Assistant, demonstrates current professional, managerial, and/or technical knowledge and skills