In this engaging discussion, Dr. Mike Spaeder, a Professor of Pediatrics and director of the Pediatric Critical Care fellowship at UVA, shares crucial insights into fellowship project design in pediatric medicine. He emphasizes the dual roles of mentorship and research, and how vital support systems enhance productivity. The conversation covers the specific challenges fellows face in publishing research, the importance of funding, and the evolving landscape of career opportunities after fellowship. Dr. Spaeder's expertise in mentorship shapes a supportive environment for aspiring clinicians and researchers.
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Scholarly Activity Requirement
US PICU fellows must complete scholarly activity typically involving a research project or quality improvement work.
A completed manuscript usually must be submitted by graduation to fulfill American Board of Pediatrics requirements.
insights INSIGHT
Publication Realities for Fellows
Not every graduating PICU fellow publishes in flagship journals like Pediatric Critical Care Medicine.
Fellows should target multiple journals and consider brief manuscript formats to increase publication chances.
insights INSIGHT
Purpose of Fellowship Scholarly Work
The three-year fellowship with scholarly activity exists primarily to develop clinician-scientists, addressing a shortage in pediatrics.
Future changes may include shorter clinical tracks without research requirements.
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By the end of this series, listeners should be able to:
Understand the research expectations of PICU Fellows in the United States.
Explain the types of research available to PICU fellows and how a new fellow might explore their local options.
Explain the work necessary to refine a research question and write mature specific aims for a project.
Understand the key factors involved in getting a fellowship paper submitted, including the common pitfalls for each type of research
About our Guest:
Mike Spaeder is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine and a pediatric critical care physician at the UVA Children's Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia. He received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Trinity College and his master’s in statistics from George Washington University, where he also received his medical degree. He completed his pediatrics residency at Hasbro Children's Hospital/Brown University and his pediatric critical care fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is now the director of the Pediatric Critical Care fellowship at the UVA Children's Hospital. His research is based at the Center for Advanced Medical Analytics at the University of Virginia, where he focuses on modeling physiologic signatures of illness to identify patients at risk for clinical deterioration.
Selected References:
Horvat CM, Hamilton MF, Hall MW, McGuire JK, Mink RB Child Health Needs and the Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Workforce: 2020-2040. Pediatrics 2024 Feb 1 153
Tasker RC. Writing for PCCM: The 3,000-Word Structured Clinical Research Report. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2021 Mar 1;22(3):312-317.
Sanchez-Pinto, L. Nelson MD, MBI1; Badke, Colleen M. MD, MS1; Pololi, Linda MBBS, FRCP (hon)2. Group Peer Mentoring: A Strategy to Promote Career Development and Improve Well-Being Among Early-Career Faculty in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine ():10.1097/PCC.0000000000003763, May 15, 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000003763
Scott K. Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity. New York: St. Martin's Press; 2017. 1st ed.
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