How to Apply

Our program is designed to maintain balance between education and service; humanities and science; and personal and professional satisfaction. This balance encourages our fellows to think broadly while preparing them to make educated career choices that best fit their personal and professional goals.

We treasure that our fellowship is smaller than others at centers of similar clinical size, historically accepting one fellow yearly. This has permitted increased attention to the individual needs of our fellows in their clinical training and research projects, with a goal of tailoring individualized training based on each trainee’s needs. We now accept two fellows per year and continue to focus on individualized training and fostering the invaluable inter-fellow support, training, and camaraderie that comes with larger fellowships.

Appointments are made through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). We participate in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Three letters of recommendation are required. Interviews generally begin in August and run through late October and are by invitation.  All candidates must have passed Step 3.

Children's Mercy primarily accepts applicants with J-1 Visa status. To be eligible for appointment, all international citizens must be sponsored by the ECFMG for the J-1 non-immigrant Visa classification and have and maintain valid ECFMG certification throughout the length of their training program. Applicants must also have participated in a US ACGME accredited residency program. In some cases, Children's Mercy will sponsor an H-1B Visa. Residents/Fellows who wish to change their immigration classification while pursuing a graduate medical training Program at CMH must seek prior written approval from the GME Department. Failure to seek such approval will subject the trainee to immediate termination from his/her training Program. 

Thank you for your interest in the Children's Mercy Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Program.

Andrew Ausmus, MD
Program Director
(816) 234-3462
aausmus@cmh.edu

Gene Peir, MD
Associate Program Director
(816) 234-3041
ghpeir@cmh.edu

Toni M. Zaner, BA 
Fellowship Coordinator 
(816) 760-8818
tmzaner@cmh.edu

International medical school graduates

Graduates of international medical schools, whether American or foreign nationals, must have and maintain a valid ECFMG certificate for entrance into a Graduate Medical Education training program at Children's Mercy Hospital. Graduates of international medical schools should contact the Medical Board of Missouri for requirements to commence postgraduate training and to receive subsequent licensure.

State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts
(866) 289-5753

Foreign nationals must consider current visa requirements for training. Either a permanent resident card or a J1 visa sponsored through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) is required. J1 visas allow for a maximum stay of seven years and require passing of Steps I and II of USMLE. The ECFMG may be contacted directly for visa sponsorship application information and current immigration regulations for post-graduate training. You may contact the ECFMG at:

Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
(215) 386-5900

For additional information, foreign nationals considering application to a Children's Mercy training program should contact:

Susan Hathaway, PhD
Vice Chair/Senior Administrative Director
Graduate Medical Education
(816) 983-6905
sbhathaway@cmh.edu