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 that 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 that ensures a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a full spectrum of pediatric surgical subspecialties, including ENT, general pediatric surgery, plastics, orthopedics, surgical hospitalists and urology.
• The Orthopedic PA program offers an intensive 12-month spectrum of orthopedic super-subspecialties, including cerebral palsy, 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, DMSc, PA-C, Academic Program Director; Jacqueline Broda, MS, PA-C, Program Director; Jordan Rodriguez, Sr. Project Manager, and Angel McKnight, MSHA, PA Fellowship Academic Coordinator.

This fellowship program is suitable for both new PA program graduates and experienced PAs who wish to redirect their careers into 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 of the Clinical Postgraduate program remains in effect until the program closes, withdraws from the accreditation process, or accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards, ARC-PA requirements or procedures. Accreditation of the Clinical Postgraduate Program does not guarantee any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from the 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 2031.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation/accredited-programs/

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

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