Academic Curriculum

Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Fellowship

PCCM fellows participating in noon didactic conference.

Our academic curriculum highlights Tuesday and Wednesday noon lectures that are protected time for fellows. We develop our didactics based on ABP content specifications and current “need-to-know” topics. Each academic year begins with cardiopulmonary core topics. Throughout the year, each core physiology topic is linked to a book chapter, relevant evidence-based article, podcast or SCCM Virtual Critical Care Rounds module to prime each fellow learner for the topic. Built into our core didactics, we have a PICU specific ethics curriculum, quality and safety curriculum and academic and professional development curriculum. We provide evaluations to fellows and faculty in order to improve education on an ongoing basis.

Each academic year also begins with an inter-disciplinary simulation boot camp for first year fellows. Fellows are then involved with yearly ECMO simulations and monthly multi-disciplinary fellow simulations in the PICU. These are designed to help develop leadership skills and give fellows multiple opportunities to practice difficult conversations. Fellows have the opportunity to participate as either a participant or facilitator in Code Lite, which is a short, weekly multi-disciplinary simulation. Please find a comprehensive list of didactic offerings below.

Fellows may pursue optional certificate programs in clinical research, health professions curriculum and evaluation or pediatric bioethics offered through Children’s Mercy or UMKC. Additional information regarding these programs can be found on the Masters and Certificate Programs page.

Required conferences

Critical care specific conferences

PCCM Core Curriculum

Weekly noon conference prepared by CM faculty or fellows focusing on clinical or physiology topics.
- Includes specific lecture series for cardiac critical care and neuro critical care.
- Includes diversity/equality lectures both within the department and institution

PCCM Scholarly Conference

Weekly noon conferences prepared by CM faculty or fellows that provide a foundation for clinical research and opportunity to discuss ongoing research endeavors.
- Includes specific series for quality improvement, research design and diversity/equality
- Includes case conference and journal club

PCCM Education Conference

Monthly continuing education conference prepared by CM faculty or fellows on a topic of their choosing. PCCM is a lecture designed by fellows with the goal of exploring critical care topics in depth and discussing controversies and challenges in the field. This opportunity allows fellows to expand their knowledge on a specific topic, apply evidence-based medicine, and potentially guide their practice towards improved patient care.
Presented to critical care physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, pediatric residents and medical students.

PCCM Morbidity and Mortality Conference

Monthly PICU and Heart Center conferences.
Case summaries prepared by PCCM or Cardiology fellow or attending.

ECMO Conference

Quarterly multidisciplinary conference required for all ECMO providers in the hospital covering a variety of topics including case conference, QI updates, etc.

Cardiac Disposition Conference (Optional)

A biweekly conference to review echocardiographic, radiologic, clinical and catheterization data of children with congenital heart disease.
Attended by physicians, nurses, trainees, and other multidisciplinary staff.

Fellow Administrative Meeting

Monthly meeting are held to discuss administrative aspects of fellowship and provide opportunity to discuss fellow questions/concerns.

Quarterly ECMO Conference

Multidisciplinary conference required for all ECMO providers in the hospital covering a variety of topics including case conference, QI updates, etc.

GME or Hospital Conferences

Optional conferences

Grand Rounds - Local and national speakers present pertinent pediatrics topics weekly.
Professor Rounds – Case-based presentations for residents and faculty prepared and presented by a senior resident each week.
Pediatric Resident Morbidity and Mortality – A monthly conference structured to define ways to improve quality of care through the analysis of recent cases.
Faculty Development Lecture Series – Fellows are invited to attend lectures and workshops organized by Children’s Mercy’s Office of Faculty Development.