Peds Fellows Class of 2020

Residency: UT Southwestern Medical Center

Medical School: University of Alabama School of Medicine

"I chose WashU because of the faculty and the previous fellows that I met. When I came to interview everyone was very open and welcoming. Their commitment to education in a busy education system was impressive and it felt like they knew me so well from the minute I arrived. The fact that they had dedicated time to unite the incoming fellows made me feel like I was very important to the program as an individual."

Residency: Boston Medical Center

Medical School: Saba University School of Medicine

Residency: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Medical School: M.S. Ramaiah Medical College

"My relationship with Washington University in St. Louis goes all the way back to 2011 when I worked as a Clinical Researcher in the Pediatrics Anesthesiology department. I had just arrived in the US from India. I felt very welcomed in the department by the amazing people around me. After a couple of years, I moved to the east coast to do my residency at Rutgers. When the time came for choosing a fellowship, I knew where exactly I would like my training to be.

I chose the Pediatric Anesthesia fellowship program at St. Louis Children’s Hospital because I knew that it offers a very good mix of clinical and research opportunities. I knew I would be able to train in handling complex cases. I also knew I could develop skills in regional anesthesia, which I am especially interested in. I knew I could learn from the very best faculty and co-fellows.

During my training at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, I learned a lot from my faculty, co-fellows, and the APRNs. I had a wonderful experience and training with a very sick population, complex cases, and loads of index cases. I loved my pain rotations, as they made me very confident with acute pain management and regional anesthesia skills. Outside of work, I enjoyed the huge central park, restaurants in the Central West End, and loads of fun activities for my then 6-year-old.

I am currently working as an assistant professor at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, a stand-alone children’s hospital for the state of Arkansas, with level 1 trauma, NICU, PICU, and burns unit. Training at St. Louis Children’s Hospital has made my journey as a faculty very smooth and made me confident in my skills. If I had to choose my fellowship journey again, I would not hesitate to be back in St. Louis, I love the place and the people."

Residency: Walter Reed Military Medical Center

Medical School: University of Puerto Rico

"Going back to training after many years as an attending entails a big investment in many different aspects. It took me very little time in this fellowship to see that my decision was a good one. The faculty in this program are fully committed to the fellow’s education, pursuit of academic and research interests, and areas of interest. As fellows, all doors are literally open for you to discuss questions, concerns, management strategies in difficult cases and personal anecdotes with all attendings, regardless of experience level and leadership position. Most of the attendings feel like mentors, and you can feel their enthusiasm about your progression as a fellow. Even though my academic interests are regional anesthesia, cardiac anesthesiology for non-cardiac cases, and solid organ transplantation, there are plenty of opportunities to excel in many other areas. The pain and regional experience is robust. The cardiac attendings are one of the most approachable and helpful educators of the group. And I dare you to find a more collegial surgical suite environment like our cardiac and cath lab rooms. Also, the faculty as a group are very collegial amongst each other and go the extra mile to help each other, and that is very refreshing to see as a fellow. My fellowship class feels like a family, and independence is given for conflict resolution amongst each other in the many variables of life as a fellow. Regardless if you’re married or single, with human or fur babies, St. Louis has plenty to offer outside of the hospital, without the hassles of a big city. Good food, recreational activities (most of them free!) and kid-friendly places are in abundance. The fellowship program is a reflection of the city: a small big place with plenty of good people."

Residency: Washington University in St. Louis

Medical School: University of Washington

"I was fortunate to train at Wash U/St. Louis Children’s Hospital for residency. The delightful and welcoming environment drew me to pediatric anesthesiology. I had an open mind in terms of fellowship location during CA 2 year. After a half dozen of interviews from coast to coast, I decided to choose WashU again for my pediatric fellowship. I had no doubt it would provide excellent training in terms of caseload, complexity, and research opportunities. In addition to a well-balanced curriculum, what made WashU stand out for me was its dedication to fostering a culture for learning and camaraderie. Six months into fellowship, I truly feel at home. The department’s quick response to our feedback and needs for both professional and personal growth is evident. Coming from Seattle, I have loved living in St. Louis for the past 4 and a half years. It has the convenience that is typical for a smaller city, but at the same time has plenty to offer. I remember being initially surprised by my easy commute, affordable housing, great food, and fun cultural scene. Also, being situated in the Midwest means it is not too far from anywhere! Being a traveler at heart outside medicine, my husband and I have been able to visit 15 countries and many midwestern states during residency and fellowship. I consider myself lucky to have found a place that offers superb training and allows me to pursue my personal passions."