The Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) supports a total of four pediatric anesthesia fellows per year. Positions are currently available for the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 academic years. We are interested in candidates entering their CA-4 year or beyond, who have a special interest in pediatric anesthesia, cardiac pediatric anesthesia, pain medicine, and perioperative care of children. Additional experience or training in pediatrics is desirable, but not required.
FELLOW ELIGIBILITY, SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT
ELIGIBILITY
All applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Ability to carry out the duties as required of the Pediatric Anesthesiology fellowship program.
The ability to reside continuously in the U.S. for the length of training.
Not more than 5 years elapsed since completion of medical school training or 2 years away from the clinical practice of medicine as a physician.
A passing score on the USMLE step 1, step 2 and step 3 exams.
Proficient in the English language to include reading printed and cursive English, writing (printing) English text, understanding spoken English on conversational and medical topics, and speaking English on conversational and medical topics as determined by the program director and/or selection committee.
Meet one of the following qualifications:
Graduate of a medical school in the United States or Canada accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
Graduate of a college of osteopathic medicine in the United States or in Canada accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
Graduate of medical school outside the United States who has completed a Fifth Pathway program provided by an LCME-accredited medical school.
A graduate who holds a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a US licensing jurisdiction
Graduate of a medical school outside the United States or Canada with the following qualifications:
A currently valid certificate from the Education Committee for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), or
A full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a US licensing jurisdiction
SELECTION
Applications are reviewed weekly for eligibility and completion by the program coordinator. The following information must be received before the application will be considered and before an applicant is invited for an interview:
A completed, signed application form
Documentation of valid ECFMG certificate (if applicable)
Personal statement
Passport style photograph
Three letters of recommendation (one of which must be by the Chair of the applicant’s anesthesiology department OR the residency director of his/her residency program)
Once an applicant has been found to meet minimal selection criteria, the program coordinator contacts him/her by e-mail or telephone to schedule an interview.
An applicant invited for an interview should review and be familiar with the terms, conditions and benefits of appointment (and employment) including financial support, vacation, professional leave, parental leave, sick leave, professional liability insurance, hospital and health insurance, disability insurance, and other insurance benefits for the resident and their family, and conditions under which living quarters, meals andlaundry or the equivalents are provided. Applicants can access this information through the UAMS Resident Handbook at www.uams.edu/gme/toc.htm.
The interview consists of a full day of one-on-one interviews with faculty, tours of the ACH facilities, and meetings (including lunch) with the fellows and residents at the program. Dinner with the faculty is organized as permitted by the applicant’s schedule.
The faculty who interact with the applicant will complete a form that evaluates the applicant for communication skills, motivation, maturity and other attributes apparent in the interview.
Criteria for selection:
Review and confirmation of eligibility requirements
Performance on standardized medical tests
Overall academic performance in medical school
Recent clinical training or experience
Demonstrated ability to choose goals and complete the tasks necessary to achieve those goals
Maturity and emotional stability
Honesty, integrity and reliability
Lack of history of drug or alcohol abuse
Motivation to pursue a career in the specialty of pediatric anesthesiology
Prior research and publication experience
Verbal and written communication skills
Letters of recommendation from faculty
The ability to reside continuously in the US for the length of the training
Following the interview, the Program Selection Committee, composed of faculty in the division of pediatric anesthesiology, reviews the applicant’s file and written interview evaluations and ranks the applicant based on the criteria above.
Following discussion and decision by the Program Selection Committee, the Program Director will offer a letter of acceptance as indicated, based on relative ranking of applicants and positions available in the training program. Letters of acceptance will be sent out as early as feasible to accommodate both the
applicant and the program.
APPOINTMENT
Upon verification by the Program Director that the applicant has met eligibility requirements, completed the application process and been selected according to established criteria, the applicant will begin the process of appointment and registration with the College of Medicine. An applicant is considered fully appointed and registered only after all of the following documents have been completed and returned to the Director of Housestaff Records. Once the Director of Housestaff Records has received all the documents, the applicant is registered in the payroll system to receive a stipend and may begin the fellowship program.
Documentation of a negative drug test
Completion of a background check (contact program coordinator for directions)
Verification of successful graduation if previously anticipated (e.g., final transcript, letter from Registrar,copy of diploma, currently valid ECFMG certificate, if applicable)
All of the following with valid signature:
Resident Agreement of Appointment (contract)
Medical Records Agreement
Attestation acknowledging receipt of GME Committee policies and procedures
Confidential Practitioner Health Questionnaire
Employee Drug Free Awareness Statement
Housestaff Medical Screening Form
Post Doctoral Medical Education Biographical Form
Copy of currently valid ECFMG certificate and valid visa (if applicable)
