Physician Assistant - Pediatric Surgery Fellowship

The Surgery PA Fellowship Programs at Texas Children’s Hospital are the first of its kind in the country to provide a specialized training opportunity specifically for PAs.

The PA fellowship programs at Texas Children’s Hospital was established in 2013. The program has evolved and together the three programs have contributed to the integration and success of the TCH Department of Surgery:

•   The Surgery PA program offers an intensive 12-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, ENT, general pediatric surgery, hand/microsurgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic, otolaryngology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, surgical hospitalists, transplant, trauma, and urology.

•   The Community PA program is an intensive 12-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 ENT, general pediatric surgery, plastics, orthopedic, surgical hospitalists and urology.

•   The Orthopedic PA program offers an intensive 12-month spectrum of orthopedic super-subspecialties, including Cerebral Palsy, General orthopedic, hip, inpatient, lower extremity, spine, sports, trauma, upper extremity, and general orthopedics.

These one-year programs include clinical pediatric surgical subspecialty experience, dedicated research time, and specialty workshops including 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 PAs who would like to 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 Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the PA (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Clinical Postgraduate Program status to the Texas Children’s Hospital Surgery, Community and Orthopedic PA Fellowships 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. Texas Children’s Hospital Surgery PA Fellowship Program anticipates a site visit review of its application for continued Clinical-Postgraduate Accreditation status in October 2024.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation/accredited-programs/

Mission:
Texas Children’s Hospital’s Mission statement is to create a healthier future for children and women throughout our global community by leading in patient care, education and research. 
Texas Children’s Hospital PA Surgical Fellowship Program Mission statement is to provide a dynamic pediatric surgical training experience for PAs 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 PA Fellowship Programs 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 
•   Develop graduated responsibility in providing care to patients including assisting surgical procedures 
•   Develop skills in performing invasive procedures
•    Provide fundamental knowledge on the PA first-assist role within the operating room 
•   Provide opportunities to explore the PA professional role 
•   Experience the PA 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:
$88,566.40 will be offered in addition to the following:  
Professional liability insurance 
$75,000 group term life insurance 
One white coat  
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 investment program

Qualifications:
•   Required Bachelor's Degree
•   Required Master's Degree in Physician Assistant/ Associate Studies
•   Preferred current board certification for PA or scheduled PANCE 
•   Preferred 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, Community or Orthopedic PA Fellowship programs    
•   One professional recommendation letter 
 

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

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