Obstetrical anesthesia fellowship

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania offers two one-year fellowship positions per year. The goals and objectives of the fellowship are to cultivate experts who are competent in providing compassionate perinatal care for both uncomplicated and high-risk obstetric patients in full accordance with the ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Obstetric Anesthesiology through:

• Technical mastery of Obstetric Anesthesia Techniques: Development of advanced skills in administering neuraxial anesthesia and analgesia, non-neuraxial analgesia, general anesthesia for routine and complex obstetric patients, and point-of-care ultrasound to ensure safe maternal and fetal outcomes.
• High-Risk Pregnancy Management: Develop competency in managing anesthesia care for high-risk pregnancies. Fellows will participate in the division’s high risk obstetric anesthesia consult service and work in collaboration with interdisciplinary care teams inclusive of maternal fetal medicine, neonatology, cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, hematology, and interventional radiology specialists, among others. Fellows will be involved in the anesthetic management of deliveries for patients with placenta accreta spectrum, adult congenital and acquired cardiac disease among many others.
• Teaching and Scholarly Activity: Involvement in teaching, quality improvement, journal club and research activities are expected. Skills in crisis resource management and advanced resuscitation will be reinforced using simulation-based education approaches. Fellows will receive training in advanced debriefing skills and in the facilitation of simulation-based education.
  Weekly attendance at Departmental Grand Rounds is required, and fellows are expected to participate in a once yearly presentation at this forum. Participation in the division’s scholarly activities is expected to culminate in at least one presentation at a national specialty forum such as the SOAP Annual Meeting.
  Fellows will participate in required 2-week elective rotations in both Maternal Fetal Medicine and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
  The Department of Anesthesia budgets $2,000 per academic year for use at the fellow's discretion for books, journals, or expenses incurred while attending approved continuing education activities.
• Professional Development: Preparation to serve as leaders in multidisciplinary obstetric care teams. Your training will foster the development of patient-centered, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive patient care skills. Ongoing mentorship and sponsorship of fellows in their career paths to achieve satisfaction with their professional growth is a priority.

How to apply

Candidates should be from accredited anesthesia residencies and have completed a CA-3 year by the beginning of the fellowship. Penn participates in the match process provided by SF Match. Applicants and programs participate by registering with SF Match.

Frequently asked questions

• There are opportunities for moonlighting.
• The fellowship is ACGME-accredited.
• Life in Philly: Philadelphia is a vibrant, historic city with an internationally renowned food scene. Living here means access to rich cultural experiences, from iconic historical sites like the Liberty Bell to world-class museums like the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Barnes Foundation. The local theater and music landscape is thriving with over 40+ concert venues. Philly is one of only a few cities with five major league sports franchises and is home to a passionate sports fan base. Just 3.5 miles to the south of Center City is the South Philadelphia Sports Complex- the home of the Eagles football team (Lincoln Financial Field), Phillies baseball team (Citizens Bank Park) and the Flyers hockey team (Wells Fargo Center).

Philadelphia is a healthcare hub with a high concentration of educational and research institutions, the reason that it is claimed that 1:6 doctors in the US has trained in Philadelphia. Compared to other major U.S. cities, the city is walkable and bike friendly and offers affordable housing options. Finally, Philadelphia is one of the most racially diverse cities in the United States, reflecting a rich blend of cultures and ethnic backgrounds, which is mirrored in the patient population that we proudly serve.

Program Director